Category Archives: Articles

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 5/15/14

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 the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

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

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UConn Football links

Former UConn Standouts Stephen, Smallwood Taken In 2014 NFL Draft [sox & dawgs]

Toms River North’s Jordan Craig earns first offer from UConn, talks recruitment [the star-ledger]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Auriemma and Ollie Honored by the New York Athletic Club With Prestigious Winged Foot Award [sox & dawgs]

Seton Hall’s Bozzella Believes Butler Could Be An All-American [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Auriemma Talks About His USA Basketball Staff [john altavilla – hartford courant]

UConn’s Auriemma likes makeup of national team staff [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn expected to submit Tuck’s medical hardship paperwork next week [jim fuller – new haven register]

Natalie Butler, Big East’s Top Freshman, Coming To UConn [hartford courant]

Kalana Greene claimed off waivers by the Washington Mystics [swish appeal]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Auriemma and Ollie Honored by the New York Athletic Club With Prestigious Winged Foot Award [sox & dawgs]

Kevin Ollie: “I Am Not Looking for Another Job” [david borges – new haven register]

UConn notebook: APR score pleases Ollie, White House trip set for June 9 [william paxton – ct post]

Ollie: UConn Talks ‘Progressing;’ Gets Award With Auriemma [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Three National Champions At UConn, Three Perfect APR Scores [sox & dawgs]

W. Swimming. Christine Pedersen Continues To Impress In The Pool [uconn huskies]

M. Track. Men’s Track & Field Gears Up For IC4A Championship [uconn huskies]

W. Track. UConn Women Head to Princeton for ECAC Championships [uconn huskies]

Baseball. UConn Hosts UCF For Final Regular Season Series, Senior Day Friday [uconn huskies]

Three National Champions At UConn, Three Perfect APR Scores

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut men’s basketball, women’s basketball and field hockey teams, all of which won NCAA national championships this past year, were three of the 14 Husky squads that posted perfect 1000 Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores during the 2012-13 academic year.

The NCAA announced its latest report of the APR for all Division I schools on Wednesday, which included single-year scores for 2012-13 and four-year multi-year scores from 2009-13.

“I want to congratulate our men’s basketball, women’s basketball and field hockey teams for achieving the highest pinnacle both athletically and academically,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel.

The 1000 score by the Husky men’s basketball team was its third outstanding score in a row as it posted a 978 in its national championship year of 2010-11 and a 947 in 2011-12.

“Our men’s and women’s basketball programs have shown the country that you can win multiple national championships and have outstanding academic success,” said Manuel. “I want to commend head coaches Kevin Ollie and Geno Auriemma and their staffs for the outstanding work that they have done with their young men and women.”

The UConn women’s basketball team also had a four-year APR rate of 989 to go along with its single-year 1000 score.

“The entire country watched our men’s and women’s basketball teams earn dual national championships for our University this past spring,” said Manuel. “Now, the country knows that these teams are both champions academically as well.

The UConn field hockey team had a perfect 1000 score in both their single-year and multi-year scores.

“The University of Connecticut is very lucky to have head coach Nancy Stevens leading our field hockey program,” said Manuel. “Her team consistently performs at a national level while enjoying incredible athletic success.”

A total of 14 UConn teams earned a perfect 1000 APR score for the 2012-13 academic year – including men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, field hockey, men’s golf, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field and volleyball.

Five UConn teams had perfect 1000 four-year APR scores – men’s cross country, field hockey, men’s golf, women’s tennis and men’s outdoor track and field while 20 UConn teams scored 970 or better in that mark.

“All of our student-athletes in each of our 24 sports are committed to excellence in both academics and athletics,” said Manuel. “I want to recognize all of them for the outstanding dedication that they show in the classroom each and every day.

“I also want to acknowledge the dedication of our staff of the Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletes. They care deeply about the success of our student-athletes and are committed to helping them gain success in the classroom.”

Among the other highlights for UConn in the latest NCAA report were:

* A multi-year score of 957 for the football team during a time period in which UConn played in bowl games in two seasons. The football team’s score is six points higher than the average score for all football teams nationally. The football team also had a 964 score in 2012-13, which was a point above the national FBS average.

* A multi-year score of 978 for the baseball team during a time in which it qualified for three NCAA tournaments and appeared in the 2011 Super Regionals.

* A multi-year score of 1000 for the men’s outdoor track and field team and a 995 for the men’s indoor track and field team during a period when the Huskies won five combined Big East Conference championships.

* A multi-year score of 986 for the women’s indoor track and field team and a 990 for the women’s outdoor track and field team during a period when the Huskies won six combined ECAC championships.

* A 989 four-year score for the women’s lacrosse team, including a 984 in 2012-13, the year the Huskies made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament.

Last week, the NCAA announced that three UConn athletic programs were recognized for top academic performance as part of the NCAA’s academic reform program. Based on their most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates, the UConn field hockey, men’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field and women’s tennis programs have earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards. These awards are given each year to teams scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their APRs.

Auriemma and Ollie Honored by the New York Athletic Club With Prestigious Winged Foot Award

New York – University of Connecticut head men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie and head women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma were honored as recipients of the 2014 Winged Foot Award on Tuesday evening at the New York Athletic Club in New York. The Winged Foot Award honors the national champion men’s and women’s basketball coaches. Auriemma received the award for the eighth time while Ollie earned his first.

The men’s basketball Winged Foot Award was instituted in 1996 while the women’s award began in 1999.

Approximately 450 guests attended Wednesday evening’s dinner and awards ceremony in Manhattan, which was emceed by longtime college basketball television analyst Billy Packer and included comments from Auriemma, Ollie, former UConn men’s basketball coaches Dee Rowe and Jim Calhoun and former men’s basketball standout Donny Marshall.

Auriemma led UConn to its ninth national championship in 2013-14 and took home the championship hardware in undefeated fashion for the fifth time. UConn finished the year 40-0 and defeated Notre Dame, 79-58, in the national title game in Nashville. Auriemma sports an 879-133 record in 29 years as head coach in Storrs.

Ollie led the Huskies to a 32-8 record en route to their fourth national championship this past season. The Winged Foot honor is the fourth for a UConn head coach, marking the most won by any men’s basketball program. Ollie is 52-18 after completing his second year as head coach.

About the New York Athletic Club
The New York Athletic Club was founded in 1868 by Henry Buermeyer, John Babcock and William Curtis. All were accomplished athletes with a singular commitment to the growth and development of amateur sport in the United States. Furthermore, they possessed the foresight to realize that the time was right to introduce some organization – and uniformity of measurement – into sporting endeavors across the country, if not around the world. So, on September 8th of that year, Buermeyer, Curtis and Babcock, with 11 other similarly inclined sportsmen, gathered in a Manhattan tavern known as the Knickerbocker Cottage for the first meeting of what would become the NYAC. Though all were men of vision, none could have foreseen the impact their club would have on the world of amateur and Olympic sport.

It is impossible to detail the entire accomplishments – both sporting and commercial – of the New York Athletic Club and its members. Suffice it to say that the Club holds a unique place in the sporting pantheon, a position it bolsters with each passing year.

Forty NYAC athletes competed at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. These athletes continued a tradition that began over 140 years ago, a tradition illustrating all that can be accomplished by individuals of ability, vision and commitment, individuals who comprise the cornerstone of the New York Athletic Club.

NYAC members have won 119 Olympic gold medals, 53 silver medals and 59 bronze medals.

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/14/14

After falling in walk-off fashion last night, the Boston Red Sox look for the victory tonight in the second game of a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Twins television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports North. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Felix Doubront steps to the bump for the eighth time in 2014. In his previous seven starts, Doubront is 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA. He made one appearance against the Twins in 2013 and had a no decision after allowing six runs in 5.1 innings of work. He’s made two career appearances (one start) against the Twins and has no record with a 9.58 ERA (11 ER/10.1 IP). Tonight marks his first start at Target Field.

Kevin Correia is also making his eighth start of 2014. In his previous seven starts, Correia is 1-4 with a 6.34 ERA. He picked up the win in his lone start of 2013 against the Red Sox when he allowed three runs in 6.1 innings of work at the Fens. He’s made two career appearances (one start) against the visitors and is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA. He’s never faced the Red Sox at Target Field.

19-19		18-19
1. Dustin Pedroia	2B	1. Brian Dozier	2B
2. Shane Victorino	RF	2. Joe Mauer	1B
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Trevor Plouffe	3B
4. Mike Napoli	1B	4. Chris Parmelee	RF
5. Grady Sizemore	LF	5. Kurt Suzuki	DH
6. A.J. Pierzynski	C	6. Josmil Pinto	C
7. Xander Bogaerts	SS	7. Eduardo Nunez	LF
8. Will Middlebrooks	3B	8. Eduardo Escobar	SS
9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	3B	9. Aaron Hicks	CF
Felix Doubront	SP	Kevin Correia	SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

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

Red Sox relive challenges that come with do-or-die, Game 7 dynamic facing Bruins [rob bradford – weei]

Farrell on struggling Bogaerts, Middlebrooks, Bradley: ‘These are our guys’ [clubhouse insider]

MLB changes scoring call, gives Ortiz hit vs. Darvish [csn new england]

The power of Papi: Where will he finish on Sox’ HR list? [csn new england]

Notes: Sox being patient with young hitters [csn new england]

Red Sox try to bounce back behind Doubront [espn boston]

Buster Olney on M&M: AL East ‘hasn’t defined itself’ [full count]

John Farrell on Dale & Holley: Jackie Bradley Jr. showing ‘gradually improved approach’ at plate [full count]

Farrell sticking with struggling youngsters [providence journal]

Prospect Mookie Betts looks like he’s got all the tools [providence journal]

Doubront, red-hot Papi looks to even series vs. Twins [red sox]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Former UConn Standouts Stephen, Smallwood Taken In 2014 NFL Draft

Editor’s note: Since I was sick and in bed for the entire weekend plus Monday, I was unable to do much posting if it all. Had I not felt this way, this post would have done on Saturday when they were drafted.

NEW YORK – Two former UConn Football standouts, Shamar Stephen and Yawin Smallwood, were taken in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Stephen was selected by the Minnesota Vikings as 220th overall selection, while Smallwood was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 253rd pick.

The pair became the 20th and 21st NFL Draft picks for the Huskies since 2007, following a school-record five selections last year.

Stephen, a 2013 team captain who started all 12 games at defensive tackle, was named to the All-Conference Second Team after finishing third on the team with 60 tackles and leading the Huskies with 10 tackles-for-loss. His senior campaign was headlined by an eight tackle game against conference rival USF on Oct. 12. He was a participant in the 2014 Senior Bowl following the season.

Smallwood was one of the program’s most productive players last season, leading the team with 118 tackles en route to being named an All-Conference First Team member. He recorded double-digit tackles in six of the Huskies’ 12 games and was a finalist for the Butkus Award. The linebacker notched 13 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack and a forced fumble vs. No. 14 Michigan on Sept. 21, earning CBSSports.com Defensive Player Of The Week honors. He received the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week nod after notching eight tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack and a game-sealing 59-yard interception return for a touchdown at Temple on Nov. 23.

photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 5/14/14

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 Football links

Diaco talks QBs, conditioning, lauds corner Jones [john silver – sny uconn]

Bob Diaco On The American Post-Spring Teleconference [uconn huskies]

Video: New Season Ticket Holder with Changes [uconn huskies youtube]

Diaco Concentrating More On Atmosphere Than No. 1 QB [hartford courant]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn hopes Butler’s best days are ahead of her [carl adamec – sny uconn]

Camara Among UConn’s 2015 Targets [rich elliott – ct post]

Report: Butler To Transfer To UConn [rich elliott – ct post]

McCormick Thinks Butler Is Bound For Greatness At UConn [rich elliott – ct post]

Another honor for UConn’s Breanna Stewart [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Kemba Walker: Most Underrated Point Guard in the League [uconn huskies basketball]

Other UConn related links

UConn Student-Athletes Participate In 2014 Commencement [uconn huskies]

W. Lacrosse. Four Huskies Honored By IWLCA [uconn huskies]

Baseball. Ward’s Shuotut Helps UConn To Doubleheader Split Against Rhode Island [uconn huskies]

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/13/14

After taking two-of-three in Texas and then a day off on Monday, the Boston Red Sox continue their road trip tonight with the first game of a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Jake Peavy toes the slab for the eighth time in 2014. In his previous seven starts, Peavy is 1-1 with a 3.07 ERA. He was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA (3 ER/14 IP) against the Twins last season. In 13 career starts against them, he is 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA. Six of those starts have come at Target Field where he is 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA.

Ricky Nolasco makes his eighth start of the 2014 season as well. In his previous seven starts, Nolasco is 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA. He picked up the win in his only start of 2013 against the Red Sox as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that start, he allowed no runs and just two hits over eight innings. He’s made four career starts against the visiting nine and is 2-2 with a 5.24 ERA.

19-18		17-19
1. Dustin Pedroia	2B	1. Brian Dozier	2B
2. Shane Victorino	RF	2. Joe Mauer	1B
3. David Ortiz	DH	3. Trevor Plouffe	3B
4. Mike Napoli	1B	4. Jason Kubel	LF
5. Grady Sizemore	LF	5. Kurt Suzuki	C
6. A.J. Pierzynski	C	6. Chris Parmelee	RF
7. Xander Bogaerts	SS	7. Eduardo Nunez	DH
8. Will Middlebrooks	3B	8. Eduardo Escobar	SS
9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	3B	9. Danny Santana	CF
Jake Peavy	SP	Ricky Nolasco	SP