The UConn men's basketball team held a spirited practice Friday at Gampel Pavilion in preparation for a nationally televised match up with the Indiana Hoosiers at the Hartford Civic Center on Saturday. I spoke with head coach Jim Calhoun, Josh Boone and Denham Brown after practice about what they expect from Indiana as well as UConn's strategy for the game.

The coaches and players are excited to play Indiana and the timing couldn't be better. This will be the first real test of the season for the Huskies, who are starting to play with confidence and come together as a team. They also look forward to the opportunity to play an Indiana program that brings a tradition of excellence.

"For someone who loves basketball clearly having Indiana come into your gym or having us go there next year is what you want," said Calhoun. "Anytime you have North Carolina coming you feel the same way, or Kentucky or the great traditional programs, so we're looking forward to the opportunity...it's a great opportunity for us to play a program that's been very symbolic of basketball excellence.

Josh Boone is looking forward to the challenge the Hoosiers present. "Indiana coming in that's like a Big East or ACC type team," said Boone. "So it will be a good test for us tomorrow."

Calhoun echoed Boone's thoughts. "It comes at a good time for us, we have a chance to go against a big ten team who has talent, so it will give us a good look at who we are."

Although Indiana is coming off a close loss to North Carolina, and they have played solid defense, they really don't have much of a post presence and they haven't been scoring well from the perimeter either. Couple that with UConn's dominant inside presence and incredible early season rebounding numbers and the Hoosiers could be in big trouble if their outside jumpers are not falling.

"It's going to be a real hard game for them if they're not shooting it well, said Denham Brown. "We've got guys like Josh, and Marcus White who's been crazy on the offensive and defensive rebounds."

Calhoun detailed the Huskies strategy. "We would like to try and get the ball inside early," said Calhoun. "They will double and triple down (in the post), they have done that to everybody...then we're probably eventually going to have to make some jump shots, but clearly we'll try to dominate them inside."

Although Indiana seems to be in a down year Calhoun is not taking them lightly. "Bracey Wright is, in my opinion, one of the better guards in the country," said Calhoun. "DJ White was one of the better players that we've seen. Their offense just hasn't clicked, it's probably as simple as that, they haven't made shots...I know they're going to have a bust out game, I would just like them to wait until after tomorrow."

Game Notes

Expect to see the same starting lineup of Josh Boone, Charlie Villanueva, Denham Brown, Rashad Anderson and Marcus Williams for UConn. Jim Calhoun feels that since they have already won two games with this group starting and no one has really played well enough (or poorly enough), to warrant a change in the lineup, it will likely remain the same.

Denham Brown, who has been getting treatment on a sprained ankle he suffered in UConn's win over Florida International on Tuesday has progressed quickly and practiced today at full speed. Brown says he expects to be fine for the match up with Indiana.

Connecticut plays Indiana at noon on Saturday at the Hartford Civic Center. The game will be televised nationally by CBS TV.

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