During the annual Big East Men’s Basketball Media Day in New York City on Wednesday morning, the UConn Huskies men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the conference during the 2009-10 season. The Villanova Wildcats, who joined the Huskies in the Final Four last year, were picked to win the conference.

The Huskies didn’t have any one on the Preseason First Team but did place senior Jerome Dyson and sophomore Kemba Walker on the Preseason Second Team. Senior Stanley Robinson was also named to the Honorable Mention Preseason Team.

The Huskies will take on AIC (11/4) and UMass Lowell (11/8) in exhibition games before kicking off the regular season on November 13 against William & Mary at Gampel Pavilion.

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year

• Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year

• Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team

• Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (Player of the Year), F, Sr., 6-8, 255, Schererville, Ind.
• Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Sr., 6-1, 190, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, So., 6-11, 247, New Orleans, La.
• Lazar Hayward, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-6, 225, Buffalo, N.Y.
• Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
• Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team

• Jerome Dyson, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-3, 190, Potomac, Md.
• Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, So., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.
• Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, So., 6-9, 260, Trelawny, Jamaica
• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
• Dominique Jones, USF, G, Jr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
• Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, So., 6-9, 210, Long Island City, N.Y.

* a tie in the balloting created six positions

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention

• Stanley Robinson, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-9, 210, Birmingham, Ala.
• Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse, C, Sr., 6-9, 275, Lanham, Md

UConn Football links

Depth Chart News [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Video: UConn Coach Randy Edsall Opens His Weekly Press Conference Tuesday In Storrs [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Rev. Jesse Jackson Checks In (Again) [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

You Can Remember Jazz On Campus Tonight [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Donald Brown’s Uncle Speaks… [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Big East midseason review [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Midseason review: Connecticut [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Big East stock report [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Second-half preview: Connecticut [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Tuesday update (mostly football) [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

UConn Tuesday notes part I [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Scenes from practice. [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Howard’s parents deliver emotional message to Huskies [Connecticut Post]

UConn teammates remember Jazz [Connecticut Post]

UConn returns to practice, try to prepare for West Virginia [Connecticut Post]

Teammates Of Slain UConn Football Player Draw Strength From His Family [Hartford Courant]

Howard Tributes Planned For UConn-West Virginia Game [Hartford Courant]

Huskies Face Painful Journey [Hartford Courant]

UConn Police Seeking Photos From Melee That Claimed Howard’s Life [Hartford Courant]

Clemson player to wear Howard tribute [AP via Norwich Bulletin]

Pain still fresh from Howard’s death, Huskies back at it [Norwich Bulletin]

Huskies planning several tributes for fallen teammate [Norwich Bulletin]

UConn team mourns with player’s family [New Haven Register]

A win would be great, but honoring Howard comes first [New Haven Register]

Feeling and Dealing: ‘It’s all business right now’ is rallying cry for Huskies [New Haven Register]

Family of slain UConn player confident of arrest [New Haven Register]

Heartbroken Huskies try to move on [Waterbury Republican-American]

Moving forward [Journal Inquirer]

Back to Business [Journal Inquirer]

Howard’s stepfather: ‘Play your heart out for Jazz’ [New London Day]

Huskies begin process of healing [New London Day]

Howard came to UConn to give family a better life [AP via New London Day]

UConn coach: No indication football players involved in fight [CNN.com]

WVU Students ‘Band’ Together for UConn’s Howard [WBOY.com]

WVU to remember Howard [Bluefield Daily Telegraph]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Elliott Brings New Tone To Cincinnati [Hartford Courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Cory Joseph [Mike Anthony – Hartford Courant]

Caron Butler: The Rebirth [UConn Huskies Basketball]

Men’s Basketball: Gampel Basketball Season Tickets Shipped via UPS [UConnHuskies.com]

Other UConn related links

Women’s Volleyball: Non-Conference Foe is Ahead of Volleyball on Wednesday [UConnHuskies.com]

Men’s Soccer: Huskies Down Yale 2-0, Earn Eighth Straight Shutout [UConnHuskies.com]

When the UConn Huskies and West Virginia Mountaineers take the field on Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia, the Huskies will be paying tribute to their slain teammate Jasper Howard by wearing his initials on their helmets. The Mountaineers will also pay tribute by wearing a #6 decal on their helmets.

This is a very classy move by West Virginia and one that will never be forgotten by anyone.

There will also be a moment of silence before the game and the two teams will exchange handshakes before kickoff. UConn will also have Howard’s jersey and helmet with them.

This is a very classy move by West Virginia and one that will never be forgotten by anyone.

Huskies head coach Randy Edsall also plans to start a memorial fund in Howard’s honor.

“It’s either going to be the Jasper Fund or the Jazz Fund, and one of the things that we’re going to do is go to help at-risk kids and allow kids who maybe don’t have the resources from the inner cities to get to college,” Edsall said. “Because talking with Jazz’s family about that, knowing where he came from and the opportunity he had, if it wasn’t for the opportunity to get a scholarship, he might not have the ability to go to college.

Jazz was the first in his family to go to college and this fund will help people like him who may not have had the opportunity to go to college to get their education.

Edsall also stated that Howard’s number 6 will not be retired but will not be issued to anyone before his graduation date. His locker will also stay the same until then as well.

He also said No. 6 will only be issued to someone who has the same kind of character has Howard did.

And rather than try to download this video tribute to Jazz from UConn, I will send you over to the UConn Huskies video page to watch it. Another very moving tribute to Jazz.

Remembering Jazz [UConnHuskies.com]

Remembering Jazz [Thoughts From a Fat White Guy]

More Jasper Howard Tribute Plans Announced [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

A Memory From A Teammate [Zac Boyer – Hartford Courant]

Dabney Recalls Joy Howard Expressed At Being A Dad [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

A Fan’s Letter To Coach Edsall [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Edsall Talks About Meeting Between Team, Howard Family [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Howard’s Stepfather Speaks To The Media … His Words [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UC honors UConn player [CNATI.com]

The faces begin to shine [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Foundation for Howard planned [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

More from another emotional day in Storrs [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

A few more words from Storrs [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

UConn Football links

Programs At UConn To Mourn Loss, Celebrate Life Of Jazz [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Announces Plans To Honor Howard’s Memory [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Howard Shirts Sell Out; UConn Working With Nike For More [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

An Update On Arrangements [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

UConn Athletics Working With Nike For More Shirts [Desmond Conner – Hartford Courant]

Leavitt empathizes with Edsall, UConn [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Big East power rankings, Week 8 [Big East Blog – ESPN.com]

Day after [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Live 365 [John Silver – Journal Inquirer]

Edsall updates situation [Chip Malafronte – New Haven Register]

Still numb from news of Jazz’ death [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

A few more notes [Neill Ostrout – Connecticut Post]

Butler did it: Rookie reconciles glory and grief on football field [WBRU.com]

UConn has heavy hearts going to WVU [Charleston Daily Mail]

Bloomfield Man To Face Arrest in UConn Slaying: Attorney [NBC Connecticut]

A sorrowful vigil for Howard [Connecticut Post]

UConn to honor Howard with JH sticker on helmets [Connecticut Post]

UConn’s Bagsby Talks About Players Being Targets [Hartford Courant]

Edsall: Two Players Were With Howard At Time Of Stabbing [Hartford Courant]

Attorney: Police Questioning Bloomfield Man In UConn Stabbing [Hartford Courant]

Players Mourn A Teammate [Hartford Courant]

WVU Prepares Freshman QB For Possible Start Vs. UConn [Hartford Courant]

Schools pay tribute to Howard [Norwich Bulletin]

1 held for interfering after UConn stabbing [Norwich Bulletin]

Arrest expected in UConn death [New Haven Register]

Howard a friend to many Huskies [New Haven Register]

Edsall: 2 of killed player’s teammates were with him at time of incident [Waterbury Republican-American]

UConn students join together in wake of campus murder [New London Day]

Jasper Howard did indeed live every day like it was his last [New London Day]

Huskies resuming practice after cornerback’s death [AP]

WVU plans to honor UConn’s Howard [The Daily Athenaeum]

Dan Davis: I can’t believe my teammate was killed [Norwich Bulletin]

Continue reading →

Before I start with the good news for the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team, I want to say that it’s not easy to talk about much else. It’s been a trying time as of late regarding anything UConn related due to the death of UConn Huskies cornerback Jasper Howard.

While I didn’t know him personally, I felt like I did watching him over the past three seasons and being a fan of UConn sports since I was little, it’s hard to fathom what his family, teammates, coaching staff and friends are going through.

Unfortunately life must go on. You may have noticed that I have placed a JH on the right sidebar. Once the official remembrance is put out by UConn, I will post it. It will stay there permanently for as long as this blog is around.

On Sunday afternoon, the UConn women’s basketball program learned that high school junior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had committed to the program. And on Monday night, the news got even better when high school senior Bria Hartley from North Babylon, NY gave a verbal commitment to join UConn next season.

“I had a good time on my official visit so I felt like that was where I wanted to be,” Hartley said.

Hartley joins already stacked recruiting class that includes Lauren Engeln, Stefanie Dolson, Michala Johnson and Samarie Walker.

Could they be the new Fab Five at UConn? Only time will tell.

Hartley commits [Jim Fuller – New Haven Register]

Kaleena Lewis will be a Husky [John Altavilla – New Haven Register]

According to the Associated Press, there will be arrest warrants issued in the stabbing death of UConn Huskies cornerback Jasper Howard on Saturday night on campus in Storrs.

Attorney Deron Freeman declined to identify his client, but says the Bloomfield man and others got into a fight “with about six” UConn football players early Sunday after a campus dance.

Freeman says his client did not stab Howard, but was there when it happened.

As time passes, we are learning more about what happened on Saturday. This is the first I’ve heard of it being a fight with UConn football players.

We did find out earlier in the day from WTNH Channel 8 that the other person stabbed was Huskies redshirt freshman wide receiver Brian Parker.

Good to see the UConn police doing their due diligence in this case to catch all of the perpetrators.

Butler Carries On [ESPN Boston]

BOSTON–Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a premier sports-marketing organization that specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, and strategic marketing consulting, today announced that it has entered into a partnership with the world renowned Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League to become its exclusive North American agency of record. Founded in 1879, Fulham is the oldest professional football team in London.

FSG’s primary responsibility will be to secure commercial partnerships for Fulham, including a new jersey sponsor for the 2010/11 season and beyond. In addition to allowing the club to continue investing in on-field talent, securing new partnerships will enable Fulham to continue enhancements and improvements at its historic stadium, Craven Cottage. More than any other club in the Premier League, Fulham has become synonymous with its home field.

“We saw a lot of similarities between Craven Cottage and Fenway Park when reviewing this opportunity and are excited to work with one of the top football clubs in London,” said Fenway Sports Group President Sam Kennedy. “Fulham and the English Premier League are leading sports brands and we are eager to speak with potential corporate partners about how they can achieve their global marketing objectives by partnering with Fulham.”

FSG will be tasked with selling integrated corporate marketing partnerships by leveraging its extensive network of clients to introduce the Fulham legacy and accompanying sponsorship opportunities to some of the most established brands in North America. FSG’s experience with the Red Sox and Fenway Park and Fulham’s experience at Craven Cottage will also allow the two organizations to collaborate on best practices for maximizing revenue and enhancing the fan experience at historic sporting venues.

Fulham FC, which competes in the top tier of English football, entered the 2009/10 season after having its best season ever in 2008/09, finishing seventh in the Premier League and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. The team has played at Craven Cottage, located in South West London on the banks of the Thames River, since 1896. Fulham has longstanding ties to the United States,with several top American players on its roster. Current US National Team stars Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson play for the club while Brian McBride and Kasey Keller have also played for Fulham in recent years.

“We’re thrilled to work with Fenway Sports Group, a proven leader in the sports-marketing industry,” said Fulham Chief Executive Alistair Mackintosh. “FSG has an unparalleled list of corporate contacts, and we’re certain that their sports marketing experience, knowledge, and strategic thinking will give us the best opportunity to tell the Fulham story to our target audience of North American marketing executives.”

Boston-based Professional Soccer Advisors, which works with Fulham on several projects including growing the club`s brand and business interests in North America, was integral in bringing Fulham and FSG together.

“We are thrilled to expand our existing strong relationship with Fulham into this new and important realm,” said Professional Soccer Advisors President Steve Gans. “In joining together Fulham, a leading club in the English Premier League, with FSG, a top-notch sports sales and marketing agency, we see great synergy in connection with this project.”

ABOUT FENWAY SPORTS GROUP

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of New England Sports Ventures (NESV). In addition to Fenway Sports Group, NESV owns the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, and 80 percent of New England Sports Network. A premier sports-management organization headquartered in Boston, FSG specializes in representation, sponsorship sales, and strategic marketing consulting for corporations who conduct business in sports and entertainment. For more information please visit www.FenwaySportsGroup.com.

ABOUT FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB

Established in 1879, Fulham is London`s oldest first-class club. Fulham has just enjoyed the most successful season in their 130-year history and is looking tobuild on last season`s success. Fulham FC is part of the English Premier League, the most popular soccer league in the world. Fulham is owned by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who also owns the world-famous Harrods department store in London. www.FulhamFC.com