Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as some of the other sports. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

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UConn Men’s Basketball links

The Big East, as it stands [Neill Ostrout – Journal Inquirer]

During a difficult UConn stretch, Ollie always giving to players [CT Post]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Big East Stretch Drive Begins Saturday [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Temple Of Basketball For Big East [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

UConn Women Strive To Get Focus Back [Hartford Courant]

Weekend warriors no match for elite women [espnW]

UConn Football links

Big East position rankings: LB [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Video: Big East players at NFL combine [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

DC answered a question in his mailbag [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Three Huskies At NFL Combine; Four Play In All-Star Games [UConnHuskies.com]

Ex-UConn coach Edsall a national punching bag [CT Post]

Other UConn related links

W. Tennis. Women’s Tennis Drops Pair To BIG EAST Foes [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Soccer. Women’s Soccer Announces 2012 Recruiting Class [UConnHuskies.com]

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The fundraising for athletics at the University of Connecticut continues as the school announced on Wednesday that a former UConn Huskies student-athlete has pledged $3 million to go towards the construction of a new soccer stadium.

One interesting thing to note about this is the fact that when Jeff Hathaway was the AD, he didn’t get these type of donations. So a big tip of the ol’ ball cap goes to interim AD Paul Pendergast for his tremendous fundraising efforts.

Here’s the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut Division of Athletics has received a commitment of $3 million toward the construction of a new soccer stadium on the Storrs campus. The pledge was made by a former UConn student-athlete, who wishes to remain anonymous. The first $1 million is an outright gift and the remaining $2 million will be given over the next five years.

The gift will be directed to the “Morrone Stadium Enhancement Fund.” The detailed scope of the project is still to be determined.

“We are grateful that a former UConn student-athlete has given back to the University and the sport of soccer,” said UConn Interim Director of Athletics Paul Pendergast. “Our men’s and women’s soccer teams are nationally-competitive programs. It is critical that they have facilities comparable to peer institutions, in order to maintain UConn’s standard of excellence.

“I also wish to acknowledge Coach Ray Reid’s ongoing participation in our fundraising efforts for this project, which helped us secure this historic commitment for our soccer programs.”

UConn now has more than $4.5 million in pledges earmarked for this soccer facility project.

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UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun has been away from the team for their last six games as he battles with spinal stenosis. But after meeting with his doctor on Wednesday, it looks as though he may get some relief through a surgical procedure.

Calhoun will undergo the procedure on Monday and have to spend a night or two in the hospital. So for the time being, he’ll miss Saturday’s game against Syracuse and next Tuesday’s game in Providence. Whether or not he returns for the finale, will be up to him and his doctors.

Here’s the full release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun will undergo a surgical procedure Monday to help alleviate the spinal stenosis that has forced him to take a medical leave of absence.

Calhoun is expected to be hospitalized for one or two nights, followed by a recovery period at home. He will not coach the Huskies’ games against Syracuse on Saturday or at Providence on Tuesday, the seventh and eighth games that the Hall of Fame coach has missed due to the lower back condition. His coaching status will then be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

“I’m glad we have finally determined the best course of treatment to deal with the problem,” Calhoun said. “I’m looking forward to having the procedure done, hopefully recovering as quickly as possible, and putting it all in the past.”

The Huskies play host to Pittsburgh in their final regular-season game on March 3 at Gampel Pavilion. Postseason play begins with the BIG EAST Championship on March 6-10 in New York City.

Associate head coach George Blaney will continue in charge of the team in Calhoun’s absence, with Kevin Ollie, Glen Miller, and Karl Hobbs serving as assistant coaches.

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Photo credit: AP Photo