UConn G #11 Ryan Boatright slams home two of his 24 points against Bryant at Gampel Pavilion on November 14, 2014.

The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team got their 2014 National Championship rings before Friday night’s season opener. And as another chapter in UConn Basketball history closed, a new one got started.

The Bryant Bulldogs did their best to spoil the Huskies fun but in the end, UConn’s defense was too much as they rallied back for a 66-53 win in front of an announced sell-out crowd at Gampel Pavilion.

It was the season opener for the Huskies out of the American Athletic Conference and the Bulldogs out of the Northeast Conference.

Ryan Boatright led the way for UConn with 24 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Amidah Brimah added 12 points and five rebounds while Sam Cassell Jr. had 10 points.

Freshman Daniel Hamilton had nine points and seven boards in his first career game. Kentan Facey led the Huskies with 12 rebounds to go along with five points.

Bryant was led by Dyami Starks who had 18 points and six rebounds. Dan Garvin added 10 points while Joe O’Shea had a team-high seven rebounds to go along with five points.

photo credit: ian bethune

UConn G #10 Sam Cassell Jr. puts up a shot against Assumption College at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on November 9, 2014.

While he’ll most likely be in the starting lineup for tonight’s game against the Bryant Bulldogs, UConn Huskies guard Sam Cassell Jr. most likely will come off the bench during the season. And he’s okay with that.

When he came off the bench in both exhibition games, he provided the Huskies with the spark they needed to get things going. And Cassell was a big part of the runs that put Southern Connecticut and Assumption College away.

He averaged 17.5 points, two rebounds and an assist during those two wins.

Watch and listen below as head coach Kevin Ollie, Ryan Boatright and Daniel Hamilton talk about the spark Cassell has provided.

photo credit: ian bethune

UConn G/F #5 Daniel Hamilton puts up a shot as #12 Kentan Facey provides a screen against Assumption College at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on November 9, 2014

The UConn Huskies men’s basketball team gets underway tonight at 7 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion against the Bryant Bulldogs and there will be a few new faces for the defending National Champions.

Freshman Daniel Hamilton is one of those faces.

Hamilton has shown a complete all-around game so far during the first two exhibition games. He averaged eight points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists during the wins over Southern Connecticut and Assumption College.

He can dribble, pass, shoot and play defense. He also brings energy to the team when he’s out on the court.

He could also change the way the Huskies bring the ball up as he has the skills of a point guard despite his 6′ 7″ frame.

Watch below as head coach Kevin Ollie, Ryan Boatright, Sam Cassell Jr.  and Hamilton talk about his game.

You can catch the UConn men on SNY tonight or ESPN3 outside of the SNY market. You can also listen to the game on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

photo credit: ian bethune

UConn F #3 Morgan Tuck heads back up court after a play against Post University at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on November 9, 2014.

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team won their second straight National Championship last year. Unfortunately for Morgan Tuck, she was just a bystander on the Drive to Nine.

Tuck blew out her ACL last season and saw action in only eight games. She had a fabulous preseason, albeit against easy competition, as she averaged 15.5 points and 12 rebounds during the two games.

In the final exhibition game against Post, Tuck had a double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds.

Watch and listen below as head coach Geno Auriemma, Kiah Stokes and Tuck talk about Tuck’s health.

photo credit: ian bethune

UConn freshman Gabby Williams puts up a shot against West Chester University at Gampel Pavilion on November 2, 2014.

The UConn Huskies women’s basketball team gets their season underway tonight in Davis, CA when they take on the UC Davis Aggies at 10 p.m. ET. It’s the first time in 10 years the Huskies have opened on the road.

Hopefully freshman Gabby Williams remembered to bring a left and right shoe unlike she did on Sunday in the exhibition game against Post University when she brought two right shoes to the XL Center.

Watch and listen below as head coach Geno Auriemma talks about the equipment malfunction:

You can watch tonight’s game on ESPN3 or listen to it on the UConn IMG Sports Radio Network.

photo credit: ian bethune

During his weekly pregame press conference, UConn Huskies Football Coach Bob Diaco talked about what expects to see from Army’s defense in the game today at Yankee Stadium.

The Army Black Knights will be like no other football team the UConn Huskies have played this year.

Sure UConn has faced running quarterbacks in their games against BYU and Boise State earlier this season. But they haven’t faced an offense like the one Army uses since the 2011 season, the dreaded triple-option.

UConn head coach Bob Diaco has more experience against the triple-option because when he coached at Notre Dame, the Irish played the service academies a little more frequently. But that doesn’t make Diaco’s job nor that of defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter or co-defensive coordinator Vincent Brown’s jobs any easier.

Watch and listen below as Diaco talks about what it’s like to prepare for and face the triple-option of Army.

UConn WR #5 Noel Thomas breaks a tackle on his way to scoring his second touchdown of the day at Rentschler Field on Saturday, November 1, 2014.

If UConn Huskies WR Noel Thomas, a Norwalk, CT native, can continue to keep the off the field distractions to a minimum or even nothing at all, there’s no telling how good he can be for the team.

This is something that head coach Bob Diaco talked about during the preseason. And as Thomas has done his best to do just that along with an injury to Geremy Davis, he’s starting to be a feature target for Chandler Whitmer.

In the loss to the East Carolina Pirates, Thomas had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. In last Saturday’s win over the Central Florida Knights, Thomas had four catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

In his previous six games, he had just three catches for 40 yards and no touchdowns. His three receiving touchdowns ties him with Davis for the team lead. Thomas has a long way to go catch Davis in catches and yards.

Watch and listen below as Diaco and Whitmer talk about the improvement of Thomas: