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.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men’s Basketball links

11 O’Clock Tick Tock [David Borges – New Haven Register]

No Excuse for Hitting Players, Jim [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Calhoun criticized for sideline behavior [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Andre Drummond’s Timeline [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

Calhoun: ‘Sorry If People Misconstrued My Interaction With DeAndre Daniels’ [Hartford Courant]

Calhoun Must Pull His Punches [Hartford Courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

SNY stepping up attempts to televise UConn games [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

The ugly aftermath of a 61-point win [Lee Lewis – The Republican-American]

Hartley Paying Tribute To Paschall In Subtle Fashion [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

With Young Team, A Protective Auriemma Stresses Patience [Hartford Courant]

CPTV is where home should always be for the UConn women [The Day]

UConn Football links

Video: Good news for UConn [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

Catching Up With UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni: Part One [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Catching Up With UConn Coach Paul Pasqualoni: Part Two [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Swimming. Huskies Compete At Copq Coqui Meet [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Track. Women’s Track & Field Tabbed 20th In Preseason Rankings [UConnHuskies.com]

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Boston, MA  January 11, 2012 – Signing on to help raise money for kids in need, platinum selling artist, singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw will join Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis at the second annual Youk’s Kids Not Your Average Idol event, presented by New Balance.  The event takes place on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at the State Room in Boston.

Not Your Average Idol will feature musical performances, comedy and much more, all designed to raise money to support Youk’s Kids.  The event will be hosted by Sarah Colonna and Josh Wolf of Chelsea Lately.  Other performers include AHMIR, one of the most popular R&B groups on YouTube, former American Idol contestant Ayla Brown, comedian Tony V,and Boston recording artist Will Dailey.

In addition to the performances, the event will feature a silent and live auction as well as food tastings from many of Boston’s top restaurants, including Bin 26, Bina Osteria, Blue Ginger, Bokx 109, Davio’s, Eastern Standard, The Fireplace, Island Creek Oysters, Lala Rokh, Not Your Average Joe’s, Samba Steak and Sushi, Starbucks, Sweet and Upstairs on the Square.  U.S. Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown are the honorary co-chairs of the event.  Tickets for the event are $250.00 and $500.00 and can be purchased online at www.youkskids.org or by calling 617-964-9685 (YOUK).

Youk’s Kids is a nonprofit organization founded by Kevin Youkilis.  The organization aims to create a community of support, increase awareness, and advocate for the health and well-being of children in need.  The organization supports Josh Cares, a surrogacy program for critically-ill children in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, at-risk youth at the Italian Home for Children in Jamaica Plain, MA; and most recently a new program called Athletes for Heroes that provides grants to the minor children of fallen or severely disabled men and women of service so that they might participate in team and academic enrichment activities.

“As a professional athlete, I have the opportunity to give back and make a difference for kids who are facing significant challenges in life.  That’s what Youk’s Kids is all about,” said Kevin Youkilis.  “I’m thrilled that Gavin DeGraw and all the performers are coming together to help us raise the funds needed to help these kids.  It’s going to be a great night at the State Room on January 26.”

In addition to New Balance, the 2^nd annual Not Your Average Idol event is sponsored by American Airlines, Above All Transportation, Barefoot Wine, Harpoon Brewery, Hotel Commonwealth, KPMG, Mohegan Sun, Polar Beverages, the Red Sox Foundation, Spectrum Marketing, Sun Trust, System’s Evolution and Liberty Bay Credit Union.

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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.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Huskies Making Academic Headway With Inter-Session Courses [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Jeremy Lamb Toughens Up Against West Virginia [Hartford Courant]

Evolution of Andre Drummond has begun [New Haven Register]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

All 11 players get involved in win over Providence [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Auriemma defends his young team [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Geno Auriemma On How To Address Defeat [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Come Meet Renee Montgomery [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Emptying Out The UConn Women’s Notebook [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Auriemma Discussed Losing At UConn At Length Tonight [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Video: Highlights of UConn Women’s 96-35 Win Over Providence [SOX & Dawgs]

UConn women rebound with rout of Providence [CT Post]

Huskies Take It Out On Friars, 96-35 [Hartford Courant]

Bench Players Beginning To Develop [Hartford Courant]

No. 3 Huskies blow out Providence [New Haven Register]

UConn Football links

Early 2012 Big East power rankings [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

UConn DC Don Brown: Looking Forward To Year Two [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Details Of Contract Likely Kept Don Brown From Taking Yale Job [Hartford Courant]

Other UConn related links

Field Hockey. Paul Caddy Named Assistant Coach For 2011-12 USA U21 [UConnHuskies.com]

W. Ice Hockey. Women’s Hockey Ties For Fourth Time in Last Five Games [UConnHuskies.com]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Coming off of a game that they probably should have won on Saturday, you had a feeling that the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team would play a lot better on both ends of the floor. And that’s what they did as they put on a clinic on Tuesday night.

Behind 65.5% shooting for the game plus a strong defensive effort, the Huskies easily beat the Providence Friars 96-35 in front of 8,381 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 13-2 (3-1 Big East) and extend their streak to 47 wins after a loss. The last time the Huskies lost two in a row was in March 1993 when they lost to Providence and Louisville. The Friars, who were coming off an upset win over DePaul, fall to 9-8 (1-3).

Senior Tiffany Hayes and sophomore Bria Hartley led the way for UConn with 19 points each. Both added four rebounds while Hayes had four assists while Hartley added three assists and three steals. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis rebounded from a poor performance in the loss to Notre Dame with a nice night of 13 points, a team-high eight rebounds and six assists.

The six assists tied her for the team-high with Kelly Faris who also had six helpers to go along with her six points and four rebounds. Stefanie Dolson also had a nice game with 12 points, three rebounds and five assists.

The Friars were led by New Haven, CT native Lauren Okafor’s eight points. Alicia Cropper had seven points while Providence’s leading scorer and rebounder, Teya Wright was held to just six points and four rebounds. Wright had come into the game as the only member of the Big East averaging a double-double.

After committing 27 turnovers in the loss on Saturday, the Huskies came out a little sloppy early on as they had four turnovers. This allowed the Friars to keep the game close for the first six and half minutes of the game.

But after a Cropper three for the Friars cut UConn’s lead to 12-9, the Huskies went on a 16-2 run to open up a 28-11 lead. It was UConn’s tough pressure defense that helped them this lead and also was a factor in a 15-0 run that was part of a 21-6 run to close out the first half that saw UConn holding a 49-17 lead.

It was more of the same in the second half for the Huskies as they continued to build their lead higher and higher.

Given that the Friars were coming off the upset of DePaul, I think we all expected a little closer game. Instead, it turned out to a be a great bounce back game for the Huskies after the tough loss on Saturday. It was nice to see them respond with solid efforts on both ends of the floor.

The Huskies are off until Saturday when they’ll travel to just outside the City of Brotherly Love for a matchup with the Villanova Wildcats. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the game will be televised locally here in Connecticut on CPTV.

To continue reading the Providence Friars @ UConn Huskies recap, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Notes and musings:

Providence Friars @ UConn Huskies 1.10.12 box score

Here are the postgame quotes from UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and Providence head coach Phil Seymore. There are also quotes from the players as well.

UConn’s home winning streak now stands at 94 games.

They have beaten Providence 27 straight times with the last loss coming the semifinals of the Big East Tournament in 1993.

The starters for the Huskies were the usual five suspects of Bria Hartley, Caroline Doty, Tiffany Hayes, Kelly Faris and Stefanie Dolson.

UConn shot 65.5% (36-55) from the floor while the Friars shot 30% (15-50).

The Huskies had an astounding 29 assists on their 36 made baskets.

UConn was 5-of-10 (50%) from beyond the arc while Providence was just 1-of-16 (6.3%).

The Huskies also had success at the free throw line where they were 19-of-22 (86.4%).

UConn dominated the glass as they outrebounded the Friars 42-18.

The Huskies outscored Providence 56-14 in the paint and 12-2 on the fast break.

UConn had 16 second chance points to just seven for the Friars.

UConn had 33 points off of 25 Friars turnovers. Providence had eight points off of 16 Huskies turnovers.

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Photo credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE (No. 12 in gallery)

Here’s the release from UConn that announces that defensive tackle Kendall Reyes and placekicker Dave Teggart have been named to the All-ECAC Team.

STORRS, Conn. –  University of Connecticut senior defensive tackle Kendall Reyes (Nashua, N.H.) and senior kicker Dave Teggart (Northborough, Mass.) have both been named to the 2011 ECAC Division I Football Bowl Subdivision All-Star team.

Reyes was a First Team All-BIG EAST Conference pick for the second time in a row this season. He started 41 games during his UConn career and was third on the UConn team with 13.5 tackles for loss while making 46 total tackles in 2011. For his career, he had 32.5 tackles for a loss – tenth in school history.

Teggart was also a First Team All-BIG EAST pick. Teggart was a four-year standout and holds the UConn career records for field goals (74), extra points (128) and points (350). Teggart kicked a field goal in 22 of his final 25 collegiate games and had multiple field goals in eight games this year and had 11 career games with three or more field goals.

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It looks as though new Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine has reached out to an old friend to join his coaching staff.

According to MLB.com and Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Valentine has hired Randy Niemann to be the assistant pitching coach/coaching assistant. Niemann was the New York Mets pitching rehabilitation coordinator in 2011.

Niemann has spent 24 years with the Mets organization and was part of Valentine’s staff from 1997 to 1999 when Bobby V was the skipper there.

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While the Boston Red Sox have been adding some low cost pitching depth over the past few days, is it possible that former Los Angeles Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda is coming to the Beantown? If we are to believe Jim Bowden of ESPN, the answer is yes.

On Bowden’s ESPN Insider blog, he reports that the Red Sox are closing in on a short-term deal with Kuroda. Just yesterday, Kuroda announced he would be staying in the United States for the 2012 season and not returning to his native Japan.

Here’s what Bowden had to say:

The Boston Red Sox appear to be closing in on a short-term deal with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to add him to a rotation that already has Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard. This move, along with the trades for relievers Mark Melancon and Andrew Bailey, quickly puts the Red Sox back among the AL’s elite. Kuroda is extremely underrated for the valuable innings he can provide from the back of a rotation.

However, if we are to believe Alex Speier of WEEI.com, the Red Sox are not close to a deal with Kuroda.

According to a major league source, a report from ESPN’s Jim Bowden suggesting that the Red Sox are “closing in on a short-term deal” with free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda is inaccurate, with another source suggesting that such a claim was “baseless.”

The Red Sox did try to acquire Kuroda from the Dodgers last year at the trade deadline but Kuroda decided not to exercise his no-trade clause and stayed in the mess that Frank McCourt created with the team.

Kuroda went 13-16 with a 3.07 ERA for the Dodgers in 32 starts last season. He did go over the 200 innings mark (202) which is something the Red Sox didn’t get from any of there starters.

Given that Kuroda is seeking a short-term deal, he could fit into the Red Sox plans. Of course that is going to depend on how much money he wants for a one-year deal. But with the New York Yankees and other teams out there still needing starting pitching, it’s quite possible his short-term asking price could be too high for the wallets of the Red Sox ownership group.

This will definitely be something to keep an eye on though over the coming days.

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Photo credit: AP Photo

New Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington continues to add low cost pitching depth just a day after adding Aaron Cook to mix.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting that the Red Sox have signed right hander Justin Germano to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.. Heyman stated that Germano turned down more money in Korea where he finished the 2011 season.

Germano actually started the 2011 season with the Cleveland Indians where he was 0-1 with a 5.68 in nine appearances. He was with Triple-A Columbus but then he headed to Korea to play for the Samsung Lions when the Indians sold his contract to them.

Germano threw a perfect game for the Columbus Clippers while he was there on July 26, 2011 against the Syracuse Chiefs.

In parts of six seasons in the big leagues with the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds and Indians, Germano is 8-20 with a 5.02 ERA in 79 appearances (36 starts). He spent the 2009 season in Japan with the Fukuoka Hawks where he was 5-4 with a 4.38 ERA in 14 games.

My guess is that Germano, if he decides to stay stateside, will start the 2012 season in Triple-A with the Pawtucket Red Sox.

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Photo credit: Reuters Pictures

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.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

It’s game day for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team as they’ll host the Providence Friars tonight at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised locally in Connecticut on CPTV.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Notre Dame loss not sitting well with Huskies [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

UConn’s Problems Are Relative But Real [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Auriemma Takes Philosophical Approach [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Mosqueda-Lewis On Her Big Turnover At Notre Dame [John Altavilla – Hartford Courant]

Game preview: UConn women vs. Providence [Lee Lewis – The Republican-American]

Looking For A Change, Faris Taking Leadership Role For Huskies [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

Mosqueda-Lewis Not Happy With Performance At Notre Dame [Rich Elliott – CT Post]

No. 3 UConn At XL Center on Tuesday Against Providence [UConnHuskies.com]

Faris, UConn feel a need to improve [CT Post]

UConn Must Turn It Around Against Providence [Hartford Courant]

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis committed to getting out of funk [New Haven Register]

UConn women hoping to bounce back today against Providence [The Day]

UConn Women’s Basketball Glance [The Hour]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Calhoun: ‘They May Throw Me Out, But I’m Gonna Fight’ [David Borges – New Haven Register]

A Tale of Two Coaches [David Borges – New Haven Register]

Jim Calhoun’s Take [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Wrapping Things Up [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

Dom also answered a few questions in his mailbag [Dom Amore – Hartford Courant]

UConn men 64, West Virginia 57 [Ed Daigneault – The Republican-American]

Post-game breakdown, video: West Virginia [Gavin Keefe – The Day]

Notes/Quotes from West Virginia: “There wouldn’t be a damn ant alive if they had any in here.” [Kevin Duffy – CT Post]

Rims everywhere beware: Andre Drummond is coming for you [Neill Ostrout – Journal Inquirer]

Urgency [UConn Huskies Basketball]

UConn rallies to defeat West Virginia [CT Post]

UConn Rallies From 10 Points Behind To Beat West Virginia, 64-57 [Hartford Courant]

After Passing On West Virginia, No Hard Feelings Toward Boatright [Hartford Courant]

When Pressed, Drummond Stepped Up [Hartford Courant]

Huskies end two-game slide with win over West Virginia [New Haven Register]

Huskies rally past West Virginia 64-57 [The Day]

Calhoun’s urgent call is heard [The Day]

Hope in the land of the Huskies [The Hour]

UConn still struggling [Yahoo! Sports]

Youthful core could make UConn dangerous come tournament time [SI.com]

Leadership questions surround Connecticut basketball team [USA Today]

Shabazz Napier, UConn grasp for leadership [Eamonn Brennan – ESPN.com]

UConn Football links

Final Big East power rankings [Andrea Adelson – ESPN.com]

UConn’s Don Brown Withdraws Name For Yale Coaching Job [Hartford Courant]

Don Brown pulls name from coaching search [New Haven Register]

Other UConn related links

M. Ice Hockey. Fans Have A Blast Skating With The Huskies [UConnHuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Men’s Hockey Takes Home Two Weekly Awards [UConnHuskies.com]

UConn Begins Process Of Hiring Athletic Director [Hartford Courant]

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Here’s the press release from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) that names UConn Huskies redshirt freshman running back Lyle McCombs to the 2011 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

NEW ORLEANS (FWAA) – The 11th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team has been announced, with all six Bowl Championship Series conferences and Notre Dame well represented on the 26-man roster. A total of 23 players came from the Pac-12, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC and Big East conferences and the independent Fighting Irish.

Southern California and Kansas State were the only schools with two players on the team. Two of the special teams selections hail from Australia.

West Virginia’s first-year coach Dana Holgorsen claimed the first-year coaching honors after his Mountaineers won the Big East Conference championship and finished with a 10-3 record after routing Clemson, 70-33, in the Discover Orange Bowl.

The team and coach are selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel. Both true freshmen (14 players) and redshirt freshmen (12 players) were considered for the team and are so noted.

To see the 2011 FWAA Freshman All-America Team, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

2011 FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
QB	Sean Mannion, Oregon State	6-5	218	Pleasanton, Calif.
RB	Giovani Bernard, North Carolina	5-10	205	Davie, Fla.
RB	Lyle McCombs, Connecticut	5-8	172	Staten Island, N.Y.
WR	Matt Miller, Boise State	6-3	213	Helena, Mont.
WR	• Marqise Lee, USC	6-0	190	Inglewood, Calif.
WR	• Sammy Watkins, Clemson	6-1	200	Fort Myers, Fla.
AP	• De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon	5-9	173	Los Angeles, Calif.
OL	• Reese Dismukes, Auburn	6-3	300	Spanish Fort, Ala.
OL	B.J. Finney, Kansas State	6-4	297	Andale, Kan.
OL	Chaz Green, Florida	6-5	306	Tampa, Fla.
OL	• Kaleb Johnson, Rutgers	6-4	298	Jacksonville, Fla.
OL	Jake Smith, Louisville	6-4	315	Jacksonville, Ala.
DEFENSE
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
DL	• Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina	6-6	254	Rock Hill, S.C.
DL	• Timmy Jernigan, Florida State	6-3	297	Lake City, Fla.
DL	• Aaron Lynch, Notre Dame	6-6	265	Cape Coral, Fla.
DL	Marcus Rush, Michigan State	6-2	250	Cincinnati, Ohio
LB	Dion Bailey, USC	6-0	200	Lakewood, Calif.
LB	Jeremy Grove, East Carolina	6-1	230	Frederick, Md.
LB	• A.J. Johnson, Tennessee	6-3	245	Gainesville, Ga.
DB	• Blair Burns, Wyoming	5-10	170	Plano, Texas
DB	Ibraheim Campbell, Northwestern	5-11	205	Philadelphia, Pa.
DB	• Quandre Diggs, Texas	5-10	200	Angleton, Texas
DB	Merrill Noel, Wake Forest	5-10	180	Pahokee, Fla.
DB	• Eric Rowe, Utah	6-1	185	Spring, Texas
SPECIALISTS
Pos.	Player, School	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown
P	Brad Wing, LSU	6-3	184	Melbourne, Australia
K	Michael Hunnicutt, Oklahoma	6-0	175	Richardson, Texas
PR	• Scott Harding, Hawaii	5-11	195	Brisbane, Australia
KR	• Tyler Lockett, Kansas State	5-11	170	Tulsa, Okla.
HEAD COACH
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia
• Denotes true freshman

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Photo credit: AP Photo