Destination Red Sox Nation – 8/10

Destination Red Sox Nation

Destination Red Sox Nation is our look at how the minor league teams of the Boston Red Sox fare each night. Game story and box score links as well as links to team rosters, team stats and league standings can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

If you would like to listen to any of the Red Sox minor league affiliates’ games, MiLB.com offers them for free.

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

pawtucket red sox Pawtucket Red Sox

The PawSox won the completion of the suspended game with the Charlotte Knights 6-1. They then won the regularly scheduled game 5-1.

How Sweep it Is! PawSox sweep Doubleheader [PawSox.com]

Lavarnway homers twice in sweep by PawSox [Providence Journal]

Pawtucket Red Sox @ Charlotte Knights 8.9.11 game 1 box score [MiLB.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox @ Charlotte Knights 8.9.11 game 2 box score [MiLB.com]

Pawtucket Red Sox 2011 Roster

Pawtucket Red Sox stats

International League standings

Pawtucket Red Sox website

Portland Sea Dogs Portland Sea Dogs:

The Sea Dogs pounded out 14 hits in a 9-2 win over the Akron Aeros.

Haeger and Hassan Lead Sea Dogs to 9-2 Win [PortlandSeaDogs.com]

A parade of floaters [Portland Press Herald]

Akron Aeros @ Portland Sea Dogs 8.9.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Portland Sea Dogs 2011 Roster

Portland Sea Dogs stats

Eastern League Standings

Portland Sea Dogs website

salem red sox Salem Red Sox:

Stolmy Pimentel picked up his second win in as many outings in Salem’s 7-4 win over the Potomac Nationals.

Red Sox give Pimentel plenty of support in victory [Roanoke Times]

Pimentel’s Quality Effort Guides Salem to Tuesday Triumph [OurSports Central]

Salem Red Sox @ Potomac Nationals 8.9.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Salem Red Sox 2011 Roster

Salem Red Sox stats

Carolina League standings

Salem Red Sox official blog

Salem Red Sox website

greenville drive Greenville Drive:

The Drive were off on Tuesday.

Greenville Drive 2011 Roster

Greenvillle Drive stats

South Atlantic League standings

Greenville Drive website

lowell spinners Lowell Spinners:

The Spinners had just two hits in a 7-0 loss to the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Spinners Slog Through Loss, 7-0 [LowellSpinners.com]

Lowell Spinners @ Hudson Valley Renegades 8.9.11 box score [MiLB.com]

Lowell Spinners 2011 Roster

Lowell Spinners stats

NY-Penn League Standings

Lowell Spinners Blog

Spinners website

gulf coast red sox Gulf Coast League Red Sox

The GCL Orioles got two runs in the 9th for an 11-10 win over the GCL Red Sox in the completion of the suspended game. The GCL Red Sox lost the second game, 6-1.

GCL Red Sox @ GCL Orioles 8.9.11 game 1 box score [MiLB.com]

GCL Orioles @ GCL Red Sox 8.9.11 game 2 box score [MiLB.com]

GCL Red Sox 2011 Roster

GCL Red Sox stats

Gulf Coast League Standings

Gulf Coast Red Sox website

Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots Preseason Game 1

This Week

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots

The New England Patriots host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Patriots are 0-0 in the preseason.  The Jaguars are 0-0 in the preseason.

This is the first preseason game for each team.

Here are the rosters for the Jaguars and Patriots.

The Line/Prediction

As of Sunday the line on the game from Yahoo! Sports: Patriots minus 4.  The over under is 35 1/2.

My Prediction is Patriots 24, Jaguars, 13 give the points (Patriots) and take the over.

Getting to the Game

If you’re lucky enough to be going to the game in Foxboro make sure you check out the links.

Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Foxboro, MA.

Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking information and map and a Gillette Stadium seating chart.

To continue the Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots Preview, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television

The Patriots Preseason Television Network is televising the game through out New England and parts of Canada.

Longtime national play by play announcer Don Criqui and former NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross will call the game with help from WBZ sports anchor Steve Burton on the sidelines.

Stations in the Patriots Preseason TV Network include:

  • WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston MA
  • WNAC-TV Channel 64 in Providence RI
  • WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester NH
  • WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland ME
  • WCTX-TV Channel 9 in Hartford/New Haven CT
  • WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield MA
  • WVII-TV Channel 7 in Bangor ME
  • WVNY-TV Channel 22 in Burlington VT
  • Canadian Maritimes on Rogers Sports Net East

In the Jacksonville Market, you can watch the game on:

  • WTEV-TV 47 in Jacksonville FL
  • WRBW-TV 65 in Orlando FL
  • WJHG-TV 7 in Panama City FL
  • WSAV-TV 3 in Savannah GA

Check your local listings for your station.

There is NO DirecTV designation.

Radio

The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston, MA.  Gil Santos handles the play by play while former Patriot Gino Cappelletti does the color commentary.

All NFL Games are also available on Sirius Satellite Radio.  The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 94.  The Jaguars Radio network has Brian Sexton calling play by play and Jeff Lageman provides the color via their flagship station WOKV AM & FM.  Their call is available on Sirius Channel 113.  XM Satellite Radio also carries all the NFL games under a special additional package.  They usually only carry the home team feed and that is available on XM Channel 225.

Last Week

Both teams were idle.

Next Week

The Patriots visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday.  Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. on the Patriots Preseason Television Network.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem

2011 Patriots Radio Network

2011 Patriots Radio Network

For the 2011 season, New England Patriots fans can listen to every play of every game on the “Safety Insurance, 98.5 The Sports Hub, Patriots Radio Network”. Each game, home and away, from preseason to post season is broadcast from the three-time Super Bowl Champions flagship station WBZ-FM in Boston.  The legendary Gil Santos is calling the Patriots play-by-play for his 35th season (1966-79; 1991-present).  Santos has also called Boston College and Penn State football, Providence College basketball, Big East Basketball and the NFL for CBS Television and ABC Radio.

Patriots Hall of Fame member Gino Cappelletti provides the color commentary for his 30th season (1972-78; 1988-present).  “The Duke” is the 2nd leading scorer in Patriots franchise history, one of only 20 players to play in all 10 seasons of the AFL and the 1964 AFL MVP.

The 2011 season marks the 28th season that Santos and Cappelletti have worked together as the Patriots announcing team.

To get you ready for the game, make sure you tune in along the Patriots Radio Network three hours prior to game time for Patriots Preview and stay for three hours after the game with Patriots Postgame. Veteran TV and radio personality Gary Tanguay hosts both shows and is joined by former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak and sports radio personality Andy Gresh.

Patriots Preview is an information packed prelude to kickoff, and has the only game-day interviews with head coach Bill Belichick and Patriots president Jonathan Kraft.

Patriots Postgame wraps up the game with a breakdown of the game, live press conferences with the players who made a difference and reaction from you, the fans.

A full look at the stations in the 2011 Patriots Radio Network can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Below is a list of the stations in the Patriots Radio Network. If you are outside of the broadcast area of the stations on the Patriots Radio Network you can purchase NFL Field Pass.  Field Pass allows you to listen to any NFL game live on your computer and you can select which broadcast you want to listen to. NFL game feeds are available with a subscription to Sirius Satellite Radio and you can also receive NFL games on XM Satellite Radio with a “XM Premier Package” subscription added to your regular XM account.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem

Patriots Radio Network Affiliates

Massachusetts

WBZ

Boston

98.5 FM

WAQY

Springfield

102.1 FM

WBEC

Pittsfield

1420 AM

WPKZ

Fitchburg

1280 AM

WNAW

North Adams

1230 AM

WBSM

New Bedford

1420 AM

WPVQ

Greenfield

95.3 FM

WSAR

Fall River

1480 AM

WSBS

Great Barrington

860 AM

WWFX

Worcester

100.1 FM

WXTK

Hyannis

95.1 FM

Maine

WBLM

Portland

102.9 FM

WEBB

Augusta

98.5 FM

WWMJ

Bangor

95.7 FM

WEGP

Presque Isle

1390 AM

Connecticut

WCCC

Hartford

106.9 FM

WINY

Putnam

1350 AM

WXLM

New London

104.7 FM

WGCH

Greenwich

1490 AM

New Hampshire

WGHM

Nashua

900 AM

WGAM

Manchester

1250 AM

WPKQ

North Conway

103.7 FM

WSAK

Hampton

102.1 FM

WSHK

Portsmouth/Dover

105.3 FM

WTPL

Concord

107.7 FM

WLKZ

Laconia

104.9 FM

WKNE-HD2

Keene

99.1 FM

Vermont

WBTN

Bennington

1370 AM

WCPV

Burlington

101.3 FM

WMOO

Derby Center

92.1 FM

WEXP

Rutland

101.5 FM

WORK

Barre/Montpelier

107.1 FM

WKVT

Brattleboro/Keene

92.7 FM

WSTJ

St. Johnsbury

1340 AM

WMXR

Woodstock

93.9 FM

Rhode Island

WPRO

Providence

630 AM

WEAN

Providence

99.7 FM

New York
WCKL Catskill 560 AM

2011 Patriots Preseason Television Network

The Patriots Preseason Television Network is televising three of the Patriots four preseason games through out New England and parts of Canada. The lone game not covered by the Patriots Preseason Television Network will be carried nationally by CBS on Saturday August 27th from Detroit.

New England PatriotsLongtime national play by play announcer Don Criqui and former NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman Randy Cross will call the game with help from WBZ sports anchor Steve Burton on the sidelines.

Stations in the Patriots Preseason TV Network include:

  • WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston MA
  • WNAC-TV Channel 64 in Providence RI
  • WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester NH
  • WMTW-TV Channel 8 in Portland ME
  • WCTX-TV Channel 9 in Hartford/New Haven CT
  • WWLP-TV Channel 22 in Springfield MA
  • WVII-TV Channel 7 or WFVX-TV Channel 22 in Bangor ME
  • WVNY-TV Channel 22 in Burlington VT
  • Canadian Maritimes on Rogers Sports Net

Check your local listings for your station.

There is no DirecTV channel designation for preseason games.  DirecTV is not allowed to carry preseason games per the NFL Broadcast Rules.  Preseason television rights belong to the teams and not to the league, hence no DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket until Week 1 of the regular season.

Notes From Patriots Camp – 8/9

In The Red Zone

The bombshell from Patriots camp today is that WR Chad Ochocinco wants to spend a few weeks living with a fan in Boston while he looks for a place to live.  The only requirements are that they have an Internet connection and an X-Box.  This could be interesting.

Already Boston Globe sports writer Peter Abraham has put in a request via his Twitter account, saying he has both, he is only 20 minutes from Foxboro and he is hardly ever home.

Ochocinco is also learning the city by driving around it.  For anyone who has spent anytime driving through downtown Boston or even in its neighborhoods you know what a challenge this can be.  From the traffic to the one way streets to multiple streets of the same name it can be frustrating and confusing.  I give him credit though he is doing all this with his GPS unit turned off.

The Patriots announced that they would wear a patch on their game jerseys this season to honor the late Myra Kraft.  It will bear her initials “MHK” in silver on a navy oval.

The team will be bringing 80 fans onto the field Thursday prior to the game against Jacksonville.  It’s all part of a thank you from the organization for staying with them through out the lockout.

Today’s session was run in shorts and shells and there was once again no Albert Haynesworth, Brandon Spikes, Dan Connolly or Rob Gronkowski who all got hurt the day before.  They are all listed as day-to-day.

DL Myron Pryor filled in nicely for Haynesworth, while rookie TE Lee Smith showed his soft hands with some nice catches.  Second string QB Brian Hoyer also has a good day as he was on point the entire session.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

New DL Shaun Ellis is on the PUP list.  He was placed there as part of the whole arrangement in signing with the Patriots.  He has a past hip ailment and they want to work him at a bit slower pace.

After practice, the team claimed OL Mark Wetterer off of waivers from Cincinnati.  He is a 6’5”, 319-pound rookie out of Louisville.  The team waived S Ross Ventrone to make room on the 90-man roster for him.

When they were teammates with the Washington Redskins DL Andre Carter once called out Haynesworth.  When asked about it now he said, “That was then.  We’re Patriots now.”  One of the reports on Carter was that he was a good locker room guy and looks like he is showing it right off the bat.

DE Gerard Warren knew all along that the Patriots would be calling him.  Head coach Bill Belichick told him to sit tight and if he had a spot for him he wanted to bring him back.  Warren said Belichick “is a man of his word.”  So he sat and waited and he even told his agent “don’t tell me about other teams until you hear from New England.”

Warren said, “I’m glad to come back.  Last year was a great experience.”

Today was rookie slip and slide day at practice.  QB Tom Brady hosed the rookies down and the team watched them battle for waterlogged fumbles.

Belichick also broke out the hose at the end of the session wetting down the ball for the field goal drill.

Tomorrow’s training session will be at 10 am and will be open to the public.  The walk through will be conducted inside Gillette Stadium as the team prepares for the Thursday night game against Jacksonville.

Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem

Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/9

After a rousing come-from-behind win last night, the Boston Red Sox look to extend their winning streak to four-games in the second game of a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins tonight at Target Field.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. and will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Twins broadcast area, you can catch the game on Fox Sports North. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Erik Bedard makes his second start in a Red Sox uniform and his 18th overall this season. In his previous 17 starts, Bedard is 4-7 with a 3.64 ERA. He picked up a win in his only start of the year against the Twins while he was a member of the Seattle Mariners, which is also his lone career Target Field start. In that start on May 25th, he allowed no runs while giving up six hits and a walk in six innings pitched. He’s made 11 career starts against the Twins and is 2-5 with a 4.18 ERA. Six of those starts have come in the Twin Cities where he is 1-2 with a 3.76 ERA.

Francisco Liriano makes his 21st start of 2011 for the reeling Twins. In his previous 20 starts, Liriano is 7-9 with a 5.03 ERA. He was named  AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2010 where he made two starts against the Red Sox. In those two starts, he was 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA (5 ER/11.2 IP). He’s had a tough time against the Red Sox in four career starts as he is 1-3 with a 7.78 ERA (17 ER/19.2 IP). Two of those starts have come in the Twins Cities where he is 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA (12 ER/8.2 IP). He had been scheduled to face the Red Sox earlier in 2011 but was scratched with a sore throat and flu-like symptoms.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

Boston Red Sox71-43 Minnesota Twins51-64
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF 1. Ben Revere CF
2. Dustin Pedroia 2B 2. Joe Mauer 1B
3. Adrian Gonzalez 1B 3. Michael Cuddyer 2B
4. Kevin Youkilis 3B 4. Jason Kubel RF
5. David Ortiz DH 5. Jim Thome DH
6. Jed Lowrie SS 6. Danny Valencia 3B
7. Carl Crawford LF 7. Delmon Young LF
8. Jason Varitek C 8. Tsuyoshi Nishioka SS
9. Darnell McDonald
RF 9. Drew Butera C
Erik Bedard
SP Francisco Liriano
SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

Boston Red Sox @ Minnesota Twins batter/pitcher matchups

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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

Photo: Dustin Pedroia SI Cover [SOX & Dawgs]

Pedroia May Need To Look Over His Shoulder [SOX & Dawgs]

Centering further attention on Ellsbury [Chad Finn’s Touching All The Bases]

Pedroia on Ortiz: ‘I can’t imagine him playing for somebody else’ [Clubhouse Insider]

Red Sox shortstop uncertainty returns [CSN New England]

Report: MLB reverses call, gives RBI back to Ortiz [CSN New England]

Jacoby Ellsbury feeling no pain [ESPN Boston]

Aceves makes a little history of his own [ESPN Boston]

Ortiz awarded RBI after all [ESPN Boston]

Latest SI cover boy: The Muddy Chicken [ESPN Boston]

Bedard faces Twins in second start for Red Sox [ESPN Boston]

Baseball in the heart of the city [Extra Bases]

Get to know Jed Lowrie a little better [Extra Bases]

Red Sox and Yankees pull in viewers [Extra Bases]

Podcast: Walkoff wins, the Yankees and an unsung contributor [Extra Bases]

David Ortiz gets disputed RBI back [Extra Bases]

John Kruk on M&M: ‘They have to do something’ about slow pace of Sox-Yankees games [Full Count]

Kevin Youkilis Credits Experience, Luck, Mental Strength to Busting Out of Slumps [NESN.com]

Red Sox Nation Shouldn’t Be Upset With Kevin Youkilis’ Desire to ‘Go to Cincinnati’ to Play for Reds In Front of Family Someday [NESN.com]

Adrian Gonzalez Will Maintain Consistency, Lead Baseball in RBIs Rest of Season, According to Projections [NESN.com]

Video: Ryan Kalish Impressive in Return to Pawtucket, Could Provide Boost to Red Sox Bench Down Stretch [NESN.com]

Video: Jim Rice Says Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s a Better Young Catcher Than Orioles All-Star Matt Wieters [NESN.com]

Video: Dustin Pedroia’s Heart and Soul on Display With New Sports Illustrated Cover, But Second Baseman’s Game Is Truly Special [NESN.com]

Yankees Post Mortem [Nuggetpalooza]

J.D. Drew taking soft toss [Projo Sox Blog]

David Ortiz gets his RBI back [Projo Sox Blog]

Francona picks and chooses with conventional strategy [Projo Sox Blog]

Can A-Rod’s return help the Yankees level playing field vs. Boston? [Providence Journal]

Bedard looking for longer outing vs. Twins [RedSox.com]

All the parts in place for impressive Red Sox [RedSox.com]

Expect to see Phillies, Red Sox in World Series [RedSox.com]

Players of the Week, 8/1-8/7: Kolbrin Vitek & Chris Hernandez [SoxProspects.com]

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

Photo credits: Reuters Pictures, AP Photo

Possible 2011 Patriots 53-Man Roster

One of the fun things for outside observers, the media and us bloggers is the speculation on who makes the 53-man roster.  This does not include the practice squad that should include some of the draft picks and rookie free agents that do not appear on this list.

New England PatriotsHere is my take on the 53-man by position:

Offense – 24

Quarterback – 3

  • Tom Brady
  • Brian Hoyer
  • Ryan Mallett (R)

Running Backs – 5

  • BenJarvus Green-Ellis
  • Shane Vereen (R)
  • Danny Woodhead
  • Kevin Faulk
  • Stevan Ridley  (R)

Tight Ends – 3

  • Rob Gronkowski
  • Aaron Hernandez
  • Lee Smith (R)

Wide Receivers- 5

  • Wes Welker
  • Chad Ochocinco
  • Deion Branch
  • Taylor Price
  • Brandon Tate

Offensive Linemen – 8

  • Dan Connolly G
  • Dan Koppen C
  • Mark LeVoir T
  • Matt Light T
  • Logan Mankins G
  • Sebastian Vollmer T
  • Chris Morris C/G
  • Nate Solder T (R)

For a look at the defensive projections, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Defense – 24

Defensive Linemen – 9

  • Andre Carter DE
  • Shaun Ellis DE/DT
  • Albert Haynesworth DT
  • Vince Wilfork DT/DE
  • Gerard Warren DE
  • Eric Moore DE
  • Myron Pryor DT
  • Kyle Love DT
  • Mike Wright DE

Linebackers – 7

  • Jerod Mayo OLB/ILB
  • Rob Ninkovich OLB
  • Brandon Spikes ILB
  • Gary Guyton ILB
  • Jermaine Cunningham OLB/DE
  • Dane Fletcher ILB
  • Tracy White OLB

Defensive Backs – 8

  • Devin McCourty CB
  • Leigh Bodden CB
  • Brandon Meriweather S
  • Patrick Chung S
  • Ras-I Dowling CB
  • Darius Butler CB
  • James Sanders S
  • Sergio Brown S

Special Teams – 5

Kicker – 1

  • Stephen Gostkowski

Punter – 1

  • Zoltan Mesko

Long Snapper – 1

  • Matt Katula

Kick Returner – 1

  • Matthew Slater (WR)

Punt Returner – 1

  • Julian Edelman (WR)

UConn Women’s Basketball 2011-12 Non-Conference Schedule Released

Here’s the release from UConn detailing the UConn Huskies women’s basketball 2011-12 non-conference schedule. The full schedule should be released in early September.

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has announced its 2011-12 non-conference schedule.  The 14-game non-conference slate includes seven opponents that qualified for the 2011 NCAA Tournament and four opponents that finished the season rated in the top-six of the RPI.  In addition to the 14-game non-conference schedule, the Huskies will also play a pair of exhibition contests.

UConn Huskies Women's Basketball2011-12 women’s basketball season tickets are on sale now.  For more information contact the UConn Ticket Office at 1-877-AT-UCONN or log onto UConnHuskies.com.

Connecticut’s first non-conference showdown will be against Assumption on Thursday, November 3.  The Greyhounds finished the 2010-11 season with a 22-8 overall record and advanced to the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship.

The Huskies will round out the exhibition portion of the schedule with a game against Pace on Wednesday, November 9.  Pace rounded out 2010-11 with a 24-9 record and advanced to the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship.

UConn will open the 2011-12 season on Sunday, November 13 against Holy Cross.  The Crusaders were 10-20 last season and dropped a 117-37 decision to the Huskies in the 2010-11 season opener.  Connecticut is 19-2 all-time against Holy Cross, including 13-0 at home.  UConn has not lost to HC since the 1986-87 season.

Connecticut will then welcome Pacific to the Nutmeg State on Tuesday, November 15.  The Tigers finished 9-22 last season and were the final victory of Connecticut’s record-breaking 90-game winning streak as the Huskies downed Pacific by an 85-42 margin on December 28, 2010.  That game marked the only other contest between the two squads.

The team that snapped the streak, Stanford, is next on the docket for UConn as the Huskies will take on the Cardinal on Monday, November 21.  Connecticut dropped a 71-57 decision to Stanford on December 30, 2010 in Palo Alto.  Prior to that loss, UConn had defeated Stanford three-straight times.

To continue reading, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

The Huskies will remain at home to play host to the 2011 World Vision Classic from Friday, November 25 – Sunday, November 27 at Gampel Pavilion.  Connecticut will welcome Buffalo, Dayton and Fairleigh Dickinson to Storrs for the event and will play the second of the two games each day.  UConn will play FDU on Friday at 7:30, Buffalo on Saturday at 7:30 and Dayton on Sunday at 4:30.  FDU was 14-16 overall and 7-11 in the Northeast Conference last season while Buffalo was 16-15, 8-8 in the MAC.  Dayton had a solid season in 2010-11, posting a 21-11 overall record, including a 9-5 mark in the Atlantic 10 and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Next up for the Huskies is a home game against Towson on Wednesday, November 30.  Towson sported a 9-21 record last year and posted a 3-15 mark in the CAA.  The Huskies eighth-straight home game will come on Tuesday, December 6 against defending national champion Texas A&M in the Jimmy V Classic, which will be hosted by UConn.  The game will mark the first matchup between the Huskies and Aggies.  A&M finished the season with a 33-5 overall record, tied for second in the BIG 12 with a 13-3 mark and finished No. 6 in the RPI.

Connecticut will then hit the road for the first time to face a tough test at Baylor on Sunday, December 18 in Waco, Texas.  Baylor won the Big 12 with a 15-1 record and advanced to the regional final of the NCAA Tournament on the strength of a 35-3 overall record.  The Lady Bears lost to the Huskies by a 65-64 margin at the XL Center on November 16 of last season in a game that pitted the nation’s two top-ranked teams and saw the Huskies improve to 2-0 all-time against Baylor.

From Waco, UConn will travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on the College of Charleston on Wednesday, December 21.  C of C was 9-19 overall last season and registered a 7-13 mark in the Southern Conference.

Following the Christmas break, the Huskies will return home to take on Fairfield.  That contest is scheduled for Thursday, December 29 but may be moved to Wednesday, December 28 as that is the first week of the BIG EAST men’s basketball schedule and the league reserves the right to schedule the UConn men to play on December 29.  Fairfield put together a 17-13 record last season and went 10-8 in the MAAC.

Connecticut will play its final non-conference home game on Monday, January 16 when the team squares-off against North Carolina.  The Tar Heels finished 26-8 in 2010-11 and were 8-6 in the ACC.  The Heels are one of six non-conference opponents that advanced to the 2011 NCAA Regional semifinal.  UConn is 6-5 all-time against UNC and has won four-straight meetings.

The Huskies will take on another ACC opponent when the team travels to Durham, N.C. for a showdown with Duke on Monday January 30.  The Blue Devils were the RPI’s second-ranked team last year following a 29-3 overall record.  Duke posted a 12-2 ACC record, tied Miami for the regular-season championship and won the conference tournament.  Duke’s season ended with a 75-40 defeat to UConn in the Philadelphia Regional Final on March 29, 2011.  The Huskies are 7-3 all-time against Duke and have won four-straight vs. the Blue Devils by an average of 32.5 points per game.

UConn’s final non-conference game will be a February 13 tilt at Oklahoma.  The Sooners were 21-11 last season and finished in a tie for third with a 10-6 record in Big 12 action.  A Sweet 16 team last season, OU is 0-9 all-time against the Huskies.

Game times, television coverage and BIG EAST Conference contests will be announced at a later date.  Schedule information is subject to change.

2011-12 Non-Conference Schedule Notes
– Seven of UConn’s 14 non-conference opponents qualified for the 2011 NCAA Tournament
– Three opponents won or shared their league’s regular-season title
– Four opponents finished ranked in the top-six of the RPI
– Six opponents finished ranked in the top-21 of the RPI
– Two opponents advanced to the 2011 Final Four and Texas A&M won the National Championship
– Four opponents advanced to the 2011 Elite Eight
– Six opponents advanced to the 2011 Sweet 16
– Four true road games, 10 homes games

2011-12 University of Connecticut Womens Basketball Schedule

NOVEMBER

Thu. 3 ASSUMPTION (exhib.)
Wed. 9 PACE (exhib.)
Sun. 13 HOLY CROSS
Tue. 15 PACIFIC
Mon. 21 STANFORD

World Vision CLASSIC, Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Conn.

Fri. 25 Buffalo vs. Dayton
CONNECTICUT vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Sat. 26 Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Dayton
CONNECTICUT vs. Buffalo
Sun. 27 Buffalo vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
CONNECTICUT vs. Dayton
Wed. 30 TOWSON
DECEMBER

Jimmy V Classic, Hosted by the University of Connecticut

Tue. 6 TEXAS A&M
Sun. 18 at Baylor
Wed. 21 at College of Charleston
Wed. or Thurs. 28-29 FAIRFIELD
JANUARY
Mon. 16 NORTH CAROLINA
Mon. 30 at Duke
FEBRUARY
Mon. 13 at Oklahoma

Pedroia May Need To Look Over His Shoulder

This week’s SI cover boy, Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, may need to look over his shoulder for a little because of a prank he pulled last week on David Ortiz.

David Ortiz #34 enjoys a light moment in the dugout before a game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park on August 2, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts.We all remember when Big Papi stormed into Terry Francona’s press conference all pissed off about the official scorer taking away an RBI from him in the game the night before. Well it turns out that the whole thing got started when Pedroia made a comment to Big Papi.

Here’s what Pedroia told CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty:

Pedroia told Ortiz that John Henry and Theo Epstein ordered the official scorer to take away Ortiz’s RBI in an effort to keep Ortiz’s stat totals low and therefore give him less leverage when it comes time to negotiate a new contract.

While Pedroia may have taken things a little too far, you have to admit that he got Papi pretty good. But he needs to remember one thing.

Revenge is a dish best served cold and you know Papi will find a way to get him back. Then I’m sure we’ll all be laughing again.

Haggerty: Pedroia pranked Ortiz about lost RBI [CSN New England]

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Photo credit: Getty Images