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American Athletic Conference 2013-14 Women’s Basketball Awards

The UConn Huskies women's basketball team cleaned up in the first round of American Athletic Conference postseason honors that were announced on Thursday.

The Player of the Year award along with the Coach of the Year award will be announced on Friday at 3:40 p.m.

Here's the release:

STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women’s basketball team placed seven players on American Athletic Conference regular season teams in awards announced Thursday afternoon by the league. Stefanie Dolson headlined the group, earning Defensive Player of the Year, the American Sportsmanshp Award and a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Joining Dolson as First Team selections were Bria Hartley, Moriah Jefferson and Breanna Stewart. Juniors Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Kiah Stokes landed on the All-Conference Second Team while rookie Saniya Chong received was an All-Freshman team choice.

UConn HuskiesStefanie Dolson (Port Jervis, N.Y.) becomes the fourth Husky to earn a Defensive Player of the Year nod, though the three previous recipients came under the former Big East Banner. Most recently, Kelly Faris received the title from the Big East last season and was the first Husky since 2003 to claim the distinction. Dolson has posted 71 blocks this season as she and teammates Breanna Stewart and Kiah Stokes became the first Husky trio to reach 50 blocks apiece in one season. The three also helped UConn break the program’s single-season record of 250 blocks set in 1994-95. The Huskies crashed through that marker, entering this weekend’s American Conference Championship with 261 rejections. Dolson also boasts the second-highest rebounding average in the conference at 9.1 board per game and leads the league in defensive rebounds with 214.

Dolson also ranks third in the team in both scoring and assists with 12.4 points per game and 130 helpers. Her 56.6 field goal percentage ranks second-best in the conference and she leads the American in free throw percentage at 78.5. Dolson was also recognized as the co-recipient of the league’s Sportsmanship Award, which she shares with Louisville’s Tia Gibbs. The senior center also earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team with her stellar play after landing on the All-Big East First Team last season, Honorable Mention status in 2011-12 and receiving a spot All-Rookie Team in 2010-11.

Bria Hartley (North Babylon, N.Y.) joined her classmate as a unanimous choice on the All-Conference First Team. The New York native was named to the All-Big East First Team in 2011-12, a Second team choice in 2010-11, an All-Rookie selection in her freshman season and, last year, garnered Honorable Mention. The senior has posted career numbers so far in her final season at UConn, ranking second on the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game and accumulating 130 assists. On Jan. 26 Hartley became just the third UConn player to tally 1,500points/500 assists/500 rebounds in her career, joining the ranks of illustrious former Huskies Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi.

Hartley has set career-highs in both points and assists this season, knocking down 30 points at Rutgers on Jan. 19 and dishing out 11 assists at Temple on Jan.28. The senior has been selected as American Athletic Conference Player of the Week twice this season, including National Player of the Week honors by the USBWA. She, along with Dolson and Stewart, is a finalist national semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy. Hartley and Moriah Jefferson are also finalists for the Nancy Lieberman Award, bestowed on the top point guard in women’s college basketball.

Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, Texas) earned a spot on the First Team thanks to a breakout sophomore campaign in which she has been a key starter for the Huskies. A member of the 2012-13 Big East All-Rookie Team, Jefferson has consistently performed at a high level this season. Jefferson leads the conference in assists (5.2 per game), field goal percentage (56.9 percent) and assist to turnover ratio (3.0) in addition to ranking second in steals with 81. She has far surpassed her freshman year numbers in almost every category, nearly doubling her 79 helpers from 2012-13. In February, Jefferson was added as a finalist for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award.

Breanna Stewart (Syracuse, N.Y.), the American Athletic Conference selection for Preseason Player of the Year and AP Preseason All-American, rounds out UConn’s All-Conference First Team choices. Stewart averages 19.5 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest this season for the Huskies. She has hit double-digits in 28 games including a stretch of 22 consecutive games scoring double-figures dating back to Dec. 1. Moreover, the sophomore has netted 20 points or more in 16 games this season. In UConn’s last seven games the 6-4 forward averaged 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. The sophomore standout is a four-time American player of the week choice and received a National Player of the Week nod from the USBWA on Dec. 23. Against UCF on Feb. 19, Stewart became just the fifth Husky sophomore and second-fastest UConn player to reach surpass 1,000 career points.

Fighting through a challenging junior season to earn Second Team All-Conference is Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Anaheim Hills, Calif.). An elbow injury against Stanford on Nov. 11 sidelined the sharpshooter for eight games, but she returned with a bang by knocking down a career-high seven three-pointers against No. 2 Duke on Dec. 17. Mosqueda-Lewis steadily climbed back, posting another pair of 21 point games in the two-game contest against Memphis. After scoring 13 points against then-No. 4 Louisville on Feb. 9, the California native was sidelined for four games with mononucleosis but again rebounded strong in her return performance. In the rematch with No. 3 Louisville to close out the regular season, the forward posted her second double-double of the season to pace the Huskies in the early going. She enters the conference tournament averaging 12.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and shooting 46 percent from the floor.

Kiah Stokes (Marion, Iowa) collects the second postseason award of her career after being named to the Big East All-Rookie team in 2011-12. The junior has been a rebounding machine this season, bringing down 7.4 boards per game while averaging 19.3 minutes per contest. The center has also been a menace for opposing teams’ in the paint, blocking 76 shots on the season.

Rookie Saniya Chong (Ossining, N.Y.) earned her first postseason accolades as a Husky with as an American All-Freshman Team selection. Chong averages 5.7 points and logs 20 minutes per game for the Huskies, but received her first four starts in Mosqueda-Lewis absence. The freshman posted a breakout game against UCF on Deb. 19, going 7-for-13 from the floor and chasing down 13 rebounds for her first career double-double.

The American Athletic Conference will announce its selections for Player of the Year and Coach of the Year at a press conference tomorrow on Friday, March 7. To watch the event live, follow THIS LINK to The American Digital Network with host Tara Petrolino. The Digital Network will provide wraparound coverage and highlights of the Championship this weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena.

American Defensive Player of the Year
Stefanie Dolson, UConn, Sr., C
 
American Most Improved Player of the Year
Asia Taylor, Louisville, R-Sr., F
 
American Sportsmanship Award
Stefanie Dolson, UConn, Sr., C
Tia Gibbs, Louisville, R-Sr., G
 
American Sixth Player of the Year
Rateska Brown, Temple, Jr., G
 
All-Conference First Team
*Stefanie Dolson, UConn, Sr., C
*Bria Hartley, UConn, Sr., G
Moriah Jefferson, UConn, So., G
*Breanna Stewart, UConn, So., F

Sara Hammond, Louisville, Jr., F
Asia Taylor, Louisville, R-Sr., F
*Shoni Schimmel, Louisville, Sr., G
Ariel Hearn, Memphis, So., G
Kahleah Copper, Rutgers, So., G
Courtney Williams, USF, So., G
*Keena Mays, SMU, Sr., G
 
All-Conference Second Team
Jeanise Randolph, Cincinnati, Sr., F
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn, Jr., F
Kiah Stokes, UConn, Jr., C

Bria Smith, Louisville, Jr., G
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers, Jr., G/F
Tyler Scaife, Rutgers, Fr., G
Alisia Jenkins, USF, So., F
Inga Orekhova, USF, Sr., G
Akil Simpson, SMU, Sr., F
Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple, Fr., G
Natasha Thames, Temple, R-Sr., F
 
All-Freshman Team
*Zykira Lewis, UCF, Fr., G
Bianca Quisenberry, Cincinnati, Fr., G
Saniya Chong, UConn, Fr., G
Emmonnie Henderson, Louisville, Fr., F
Breigha Wilder-Cochran, Memphis, Fr., G
Mooriah Rowser, Memphis, R-Fr., G
*Tyler Scaife, Rutgers, Fr., G
Ariadna Pujol, USF, Fr., G
*Kiara Perry, SMU, Fr., G
*Feyonda Fitzgerald, Temple, Fr., G
Taylor Robinson, Temple, Fr., C
 
[*] denotes unanimous pick                  
 
Ties are not broken

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UConn Football To Take on Army at Yankee Stadium in November

UConn Huskies vs Army Black Knights at Yankees Stadium

BRONX, N.Y. – Yankee Stadium will host its first college football game of 2014 on Saturday, November 8, when the Army Black Knights take on the University of Connecticut Huskies. The game will air on the CBS Sports Network with a kickoff time to be determined.The game was announced at a press conference at Yankee Stadium on Thursday morning.

Tickets for the game will go on sale beginning Tuesday, March 11, at 11:00 a.m. at www.goARMYsports.com, (877) TIX-ARMY (849-2769),www.uconntickets.com and (877) AT-UCONN (288-2666).

Further information on how to purchase tickets at Yankee Stadium, online at www.yankees.com or through Ticketmaster will be provided at a future date.

The game will mark Army’s third appearance at the current Yankee Stadium, having played in the venue’s inaugural college football game on November 20, 2010 vs. Notre Dame and on November 12, 2011 vs. Rutgers. Their game vs. Notre Dame in 2010 marked the 50th all-time meeting between the programs.

Army played 38 times at the original Yankee Stadium, compiling a combined mark of 14-19-5 against Air Force (1959), Columbia (1936), Illinois (1930, ’47), Michigan (1945, ’50), Navy (1930-31), Notre Dame (1925-29, ’31-46, ‘69), Oklahoma (1961), Pittsburgh (1962), Princeton (1942), Southern California (1951), Stanford (1928, ’48) and Syracuse (1960, ’64).

While playing at the original Yankee Stadium in the 1940s, Army also won back-to-back national titles in 1944 and ’45 and produced two Heisman Trophy winners in Johnny Blanchard (1945) and Glenn Davis (1946).

This will mark the sixth game between the two schools and the first since 2006. The Huskies, who will be making their first ever appearance in the Bronx, hold a 4-1 all-time edge over the Black Knights.

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photo credit: ian bethune – sox & dawgs

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 3/6

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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 Women's Basketball links

Huskies begin preparation for AAC tournament [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Jefferson Contiunes To Produce In Big Way For Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn's Jefferson spreading her wings [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn recruiting target honored [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Video: UConn Men Survive Challenge From Rutgers, 69-63 [sox & dawgs]

Video: UConn's DeAndre Daniels Brutally Misses Dunk [sox & dawgs]

Video: 2014 UConn Men's Basketball Senior Night Ceremonies [sox & dawgs]

Wrapping Things Up At Gampel [dom amore – hartford courant]

A Special Senior Night for Shabazz Napier, Niels Giffey, Tyler Olander [david borges – new haven register]

Post-game breakdown, video: Rutgers [gavin keefe – the day]

UConn notebook: Napier hears “MVP” chants; Giffey has career night [william paxton – ct post]

UConn report card: Seniors carry the load [william paxton – ct post]

Ollie: See you in April [john silver – snyuconn.com]

Turbulent Waters [uconn huskies basketball]

Ollie's message shows his belief in Huskies [ct post]

Huskies Beat Rutgers In Regular Season Home Finale [hartford courant]

An Emotional Night For Seniors [hartford courant]

With Mom's Support, Napier Finishes What He Started [hartford courant]

UConn seniors save best for last, beat Rutgers [new haven register]

UConn seniors leave Gampel with a win [the day]

Other UConn related links

M. & W. Swimming. A Look Back At The 2013-14 Season [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Ice Hockey. Robby Nichols Named AHA Goaltender of the Month [uconnhuskies.com]

Softball. UConn Softball Ready For Winthrop/Adidas Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Lacrosse. UConn Dropped By New Hampshire, 11-7 [uconnhuskies.com]

W. Tennis. Huskies Blank Fairfield Stags, 7-0 [uconnhuskies.com]

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 3/5

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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 and Senior Night for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team as they'll host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Gampel Pavilion. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU. You can also watch the game online at WatchESPN. If you live locally and can't catch the television broadcast, you have the option of listening to Joe D. and Wayne Norman on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

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

UConn Men's Basketball links

Video: Shabazz Napier – All-American Candidate [sox & dawgs]

Shabazz Napier: ‘If You’ve Got The Chance To Be A Hero, Why Not?’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

Tyler Olander: ‘It’s Been An Unbelievable Ride’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

Niels Giffey: ‘It’s About More Than Basketball’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

Kevin Ollie On The Class of 2014: ‘We Needed Those Guys To Stay’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

UConn a 50-to-1 Bet to Win National Title [david borges – new haven register]

Kevin Ollie on UConn's Seniors: "That Loyalty They Showed … Really Means A Lot to Me" [david borges – new haven register]

Tyler Olander, Niels Giffey Wax Nostalgic Day Before Their Final UConn Home Game [david borges – new haven register]

UConn men: Seniors get their due [lee lewis – waterbury republican-american]

Time to….say good-bye [neill ostrout – journal inquirer]

Napier, Giffey, Olander prepare for final home game [william paxton – ct post]

Napier the program’s pillar [john silver – snyuconn.com]

No. 19 UConn Hosts Rutgers In Regular Season Home Finale [uconnhuskies.com]

UConn seniors want to leave on a high [ct post]

Special Night At Gampel For Napier, Giffey, Olander, Kromah [hartford courant]

UConn's Tyler Olander has seen the good times and bad times [new haven register]

UConn men honoring three who have endured [the day]

Huskies' seniors wouldn't have changed a thing [waterbury republican-american]

Nation's best point guards under pressure [espn.com]

UConn Women's Basketball links

UConn Women's Breanna Stewart Named AAC Player of the Week [sox & dawgs]

Mosqueda-Lewis lends experienced hand [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Notebook: Jefferson becoming a big shot [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Huskies Shut Down Cardinals To Cap Perfect Regular Season [rich elliott – ct post]

Auriemma Thinks Louisville Deserves A No. 1 Seed [rich elliott – ct post]

Mosqueda-Lewis comes through again for UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

Another title for former UConn star [jim fuller – new haven register]

Geno, UConn Women Say It's Time To Relax And Take It All In [hartford courant]

One and only Stewie [journal inquirer]

UConn guard Moriah Jefferson gives and takes [new haven register]

UConn Football links

Tribe Football's David Corley Resigns for Assistant Position at UConn [williamsburg yorktown daily]

Other UConn related links

W. Lacrosse. UConn Set To Play New Hampshire On Wednesday [uconnhuskies.com]

National Champions UConn Field Hockey Visits State Capitol [uconn huskies youtube]

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UConn Women’s Breanna Stewart Named AAC Player of the Week

In the last American Athletic Conference weekly honors for the 2013-14 women's basketball season, UConn Huskies super sophomore Breanna Stewart was named the AAC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Breanna StewartStewart averaged 21.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.67 blocks per game in wins at SMU, against No. 24/RV Rutgers and at No. 3/4 Louisville.

The sophomore opened the week with a 23-point, five rebound outing on 11-for-21 FG shooting at SMU on Feb. 25.

Stewart posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds versus the Scarlet Knights on Saturday and helped UConn win the inaugural American women's basketball regular-season title on Monday. Stewart finished with 22 points while clearing a game-high 14 boards vs. Louisville.

The UConn women will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT when they'll take on the winner of the 8/9 game between UCF and Cincinnati.

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photo credit: john woike – hartford courant

Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 3/4

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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 Women's Basketball links

Video: UConn Women Take Outright AAC Title in 68-48 Win Over Cards [sox & dawgs]

Stewart, UConn wrap up AAC regular season title [carl adamec -snyuconn.com]

Louisville’s Schimmel: We’re going to get them [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

UConn’s Postseason Road Begins Saturday [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Geno Asks His Team To Enjoy Its AAC Moment [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Cardinals Had Plenty To Say After Latest Loss To UConn [rich elliott – ct post]

Quite a night at KFC Yum! Center [jim fuller – new haven register]

Defense never rests at UConn [jim fuller – new haven register]

Pairings Announced for 2014 American Women’s Basketball Championship [the american]

No. 1 UConn, Stewart roll No. 3 Louisville [ct post]

Huskies take time to savor regular-season title [ct post]

UConn Women Beat Louisville 68-48 [hartford courant]

With Top Seed, UConn Awaits Winner Of 8-9 Game [hartford courant]

Louisville's Bark Exceeds Its Bite [hartford courant]

Huskies cap unbeaten regular season with win over No. 3 Louisville [new haven register]

Cardinals, community embrace Shoni [espnW]

UConn Men's Basketball links

Shabazz Napier Named American Athletic Conference Player Of The Week [sox & dawgs]

Huskies Ranked Again, at No. 19. … Rise in RPI [dom amore – hartford courant]

A fight to the finish [gavin keefe – the day]

UConn Football links

UConn Football Names David Corley Director of Player Engagement/RB Coach [sox & dawgs]

Diaco On Energizing The Rent On Game Day [desmond conner – hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. Six Former Huskies Receive MLB Spring Training Invites [sox & dawgs]

W. Tennis. Huskies Drop Matches to Cincinnati and James Madison [uconnhuskies.com]

M. Golf. Huskies Finish Fifth At Colleton River [uconnhuskies.com]

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Six Former Huskies Receive MLB Spring Training Invites

STORRS, Conn. – With the 2014 Major League Baseball season set to kick off on March 31, six former University of Connecticut baseball players have received invitations to 2014 Spring Training.

In the 118 years of the program, 12 former UConn players have reached the big leagues, including a streak of 23 of out of the last 24 seasons with a former Connecticut player in MLB. Below is a look at the current Spring Training invitees:

UConn Huskies BaseballOF George Springer (2009-11): The 2013 MiLBY Award for Offensive Player of the Year, Springer  batted .303 with 37 home runs, 108 RBIs and 45 stolen bases across the highest two minor league levels of the Houston Astros organization last season. The former UConn center fielder is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Astros organization and appeared in 62 games for the Oklahoma RedHawks (Triple A) last season, boasting a .425 OBP and .626 slugging percentage. In two Spring Training games in 2014, Springer has notched one hit in three at-bats, driving in a run and scoring twice.

While at UConn from 2009-11, Springer hit .346 with 46 home runs, 196 RBIs and 76 steals in 186 games. He was a 2009 Baseball America Freshman All-America First Team member, and became the first Husky to take home BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honors. In 2011, Springer was the league's Player of the Year, garnering First Team All-America nods from Perfect Game USA, Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

RHP Matt Barnes (2009-11): Ranked as the 86th best prospect on the Major League Baseball's top-100 prospect list, Barnes figures to be a major piece of the Boston Red Sox organization in 2014. Barnes spent the majority of 2013 with AA-Portland of the Eastern League, making 24 starts and posting a 4.33 ERA along with 135 strikeouts against 46 walks in 108 innings. Barnes was called up to AAA-Pawtucket for one start at the end of the year, in which he went 5.1 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just three hits to pick up a win. In an exhibition game against Boston College on Feb. 27, Barnes tossed a scoreless inning of relief, recording one strikeout and allowing no baserunners.

During his career in Connecticut from 2009-11, Barnes went 24-11 with a 3.30 ERA in 45 career appearances, 37 starts. In 256.2 career innings, he struck out a program-record 247 batters against 81 walks and allowed just 212 hits. His 2011 year was one for the record books, as Barnes went 11-5 with a 1.93 ERA and a 117:33 strikeout to walk ratio in a program-record 121 innings. He was named a First Team All-American by the NCBWA and Louisville Slugger, also taking home Second Team honors from Perfect Game USA and Baseball America. Barnes was the 2011 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-Conference selection. 

LHP Greg Nappo (2007-11): An 18th round pick by the Florida Marlins, now known as the Miami Marlins, in 2011, Nappo spent the majority of the 2013 season in advanced A ball with the Jupiter Hammerheads before being called up to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs near the end of the season. In high A ball, Nappo appeared in 36 games, boasting a stellar 1.15 ERA in 55.0 innings. The 6'0 lefty held a .927 WHIP and recorded 56 strikeouts while issuing just nine walks. In two appearances with New Orleans, Nappo worked two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Nappo has appeared out of the pen once for the Marlins in Spring Training, tossing a 1-2-3 frame with one strikeout.

After four seasons at UConn, Nappo holds the program record for innings pitched at 311.1 and ranks fourth with 215 career strikeouts. In 2011, Nappo became the fourth player in UConn history to win 10 or more games in a season with a 10-3 record in his senior campaign and became just the second player in Connecticut history to record 25 career wins. He was an integral part of the 2011 squad that reached the NCAA Super Regional for the first time in school history and was named the 2011 Clemson Regional Most Valuable Player.

3B Mike Olt (2008-10): The last former UConn player to make his major league debut, which occurred for the Texas Rangers in August 2012, Olt aims for a return trip to the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 2014. The former Husky INF/OF spent the first half of the 2013 season in Triple-A, playing for the Round Rock Express. In 230 at-bats, the right-handed batter smashed 11 home runs and drove in 32 RBI. After being sent to the Cubs organization as part of the Matt Garza deal, Olt saw time with the Iowa Cubs, compiling a .168 batting average with three homers and eight RBI in 39 games. In limited Spring Training action, Olt is 0-for-2 at the dish.

Olt was selected as the 49th player in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, which at the time was the highest pick under current head coach Jim Penders. Olt finished the 2010 season hitting .318 with 23 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .659 slugging percentage and a .401 on-base percentage in 64 games. The 6'2 INF/OF currently ranks second in UConn history with 44 homeruns, fourth in total bases (378), and holds the single-season program record with 23 homeruns in 2010.

RHP Scott Oberg (2009-12): Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 15th round with the 468th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Oberg has enjoyed success at the minor league level in his first two years of professional baseball. In 2013, the righty spent the year in Advanced-A ball, appearing in 56 games for the Modesto Nuts. In 52.1 IP, Oberg held opponents to just 34 hits, struck out 61 batters and boasted a 1.86 ERA en route to a team-high 33 saves. He has appeared out of the pen in one game in Spring Training, surrendering one run and one hit in 1.0 innings of work.

At Connecticut, Oberg ranks fifth in program history with 11 saves, including nine in the 2012 season. The righty made 30 appearances, which at the time was single-season record, in 2010, allowing just 10 earned runs in 26.1 innings of work. After returning from Tommy John Surgery in 2012, he was honored as an All-BIG EAST First Team selection and named to the ABCA Regional Second Team.

SS Nick Ahmed (2009-11): Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the Second Round as the 85th overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft, Ahmed spent the 2013 season in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after being traded as part of the Justin Upton deal. In 136 games for the Mobile BayBears, Ahmed notched 115 hits, including 21 doubles and four home runs to go along with a .236 batting average. The SS was honored with a 2013 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove accolade, finishing first among all full-season minor league shortstops with 441 assists, second in chances (650) and fourth in fielding percentage (.980), all while turning 88 double plays. Ahmed is 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in limited Spring Training action this spring.

Ahmed, who finished fourth on the team with a .333 batting percentage in 2011, was named to the Clemson Region All-Tournament Team as a unanimous selection. During his final season in Storrs, he recorded 61 hits, 51 runs, 35 RBI, 11 doubles and two home runs while posting a .965 fielding percentage. Ahmed was one of 11 Huskies to earn post season accolades from the conference, as he was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.

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Shabazz Napier Named American Athletic Conference Player Of The Week

UConn senior guard Shabazz Napier (Roxbury, Mass.) has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the fifth time this season after he led the Huskies to victories over USF and Cincinnati last week.

Connecticut Huskies guard Shabazz Napier (13) drives to the hoop as Cincinnati Bearcats forward Justin Jackson (5) and Cincinnati Bearcats forward Shaquille Thomas (3) defend during the second half at the XL Center Saturday afternoon in Hartford. Napier averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals for the two games, which upped the Huskies’ record to 23-6 overall and 11-5 in the AAC.

Napier scored 17 points, including 15 in the second half, with 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals as UConn rallied from behind in the second half to defeat USF, 61-56, in Tampa  last Wednesday.

On Saturday, before a sellout crowd at the XL Center, Napier registered his sixth double-double of the season and the eighth of his career with 18 points and 11 rebounds, along with 2 assists and 2 steals, as UConn upended No. 11/12 Cincinnati, 51-45. Napier was 6-of-6 from the foul line down the stretch to help secure the victory.

In addition to his five Player of the Week selections, Napier has also been named to the conference’s weekly Honor Roll eight times, giving him conference recognition in 13 of the season’s 17 weeks. No other AAC player has been Player of the Week more than three times.

Napier is currently on the final watch lists nationally for the Senior CLASS Award, the John Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, the Oscar Robertson Trophy, and the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.

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photo credit: john woike – hartford courant

UConn Football Names David Corley Director of Player Engagement/RB Coach

With the departure of Ernest Jones as Director of Player Engagement/Running Backs Coach a few weeks ago, UConn Huskies football coach Bob Diaco has found his replacement in David Corley.

Here's the release from UConn:

STORRS, Conn. – David Corley, who has spent the past six seasons on the staff at William & Mary, has been named as an assistant football coach at the University of Connecticut and will serve as the Director of Player Engagement and have position responsibility with the running backs.

UConn Huskies Corley joined the William & Mary staff in 2008 and spent the first two seasons as the running backs coach and the next three working with the quarterbacks. He spent 2013 as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

A 2002 graduate of William & Mary, Corley played professionally in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats (2003) and Calgary Stampeders (2006). He also was a member of the Arena Football League's New York Dragons (2005).

In his two seasons working with the running backs at William & Mary, he groomed tailback Jonathan Grimes into one of the nation's top players at the FCS level. Grimes set the Tribe's freshman records for both rushing and all-purpose yards and was named as a honorable mention All-American as a return specialist. Grimes follow-up sophomore campaign moved him into the program's career top-10 lists in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in just his second season. He eventually graduated as the most decorated player in Colonial Athletic Association history with 11 all-conference honors.

Corley returned to William & Mary, where he excelled as a four-year starter and multiple-time all-conference quarterback from 1999 through 2002. He wrote his name in nearly every significant passing record for the school, including graduating as the Tribe's all-time leader in passing yards (9,805), total offense (10,948) and touchdown passes (73).

Corley began his playing career by earning the league's Rookie of the Year honors after the 1999 season, where he started the final eight games of the Tribe's schedule. He twice led the league in passing efficiency (1999 and 2002) and earned postseason honors in each of his final four years. Corley played an important role in helping lead the team to a conference title in 2001 and was selected as the squad's captain for the 2002 season. The native of Columbia, S.C., was named as the College's Outstanding Senior Athlete for the 2002-03 school year and was a two-time runner up for the prestigious Dudley Award, presented annually to the outstanding collegiate player in the state of Virginia.

Corley and his wife Brianne have a three-year-old daughter, Charlie, and son, Bishop, who was born in March 2013.

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Paw Prints – The Daily UConn Roundup – 3/3

UConn Huskies Daily Roundup

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. 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 are in Kentucky for a matchup with the Louisville Cardinals. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2. You can also watch the game online at WatchESPN. And if you live locally in Connecticut and can't watch the broadcast, you can always listen to Bob Joyce and Debbie Baer-Fiske on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

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

UConn Women's Basketball links

Planting seeds for 1st AAC tournament [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Hartley, Schimmel rivals and friends [carl adamec – snyuconn.com]

Nothing Has Changed: Stringer Still Loves The Huskies [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn goes after outright AAC title [jim fuller – new haven register]

No. 1 UConn Battles No. 3 Louisville In Regular Season Finale Monday Night [uconnhuskies.com]

No. 1 UConn at No. 3 Louisville to decide AAC regular-season title [ct post]

UConn, Louisville For All The Cards [hartford courant]

Cards hoping for elusive win over UConn [louisville courier-journal]

Game on: Louisville says weather won't stop women's basketball game against UConn [louisville courier-journal]

Huskies-Cardinals showdown seemingly preordained [new haven register]

UConn Men's Basketball links

February [uconn huskies basketball]

UConn balancing travel, classes, games [ct post]

UConn Guts Out A Schedule That Will Only Get More Grueling [hartford courant]

Other UConn related links

Softball. Huskies Suffer Setback to Wisconsin in Final Day at Texas A&M Invitational [uconnhuskies.com]

Baseball. UConn Drops Series Finale At Lipscomb, 14-1 [uconnhuskies.com]

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