You can feel it in the air in Storrs, Connecticut as you approach Gampel Pavilion. No, I'm not talking about the four degree temperatures that students are braving as they camp out in what is beginning to resemble a tent city. I'm talking about the electric atmosphere surrounding the game that fills the air as you make your way onto the UConn Campus. And there is plenty to be excited about.

Not only has Connecticut-Pittsburgh turned into the premier match-up in the Big East over the last three years, culminating in the last three Big East champions, but the national attention surrounding the game has reached a fevered level.

From ESPN2's morning sports talk show "Cold Pizza," which was on location at the UConn Co-Op filming a segment on the Huskies for their Friday morning show, including interviews with UConn sophomore forward Charlie Villanueva and former UConn star Chris Smith, to ESPN's "College Basketball Gameday" show which will debut live from Gampel Pavilion Saturday Morning at 11:00 am with Rece Davis, Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale, Andy Katz and Digger Phelps, excitement fills the air at UConn.

Throw in an ESPN "Insiders" Article by Jay Bilas about UConn alumni's dominance in the NBA and an online chat before the game with Bilas, Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps and it all adds up to maximum exposure for the Huskies.

"Once the game begins that other stuff is all aside, we're trying to win a basketball game, I think it's really that simple," said head coach Jim Calhoun. "But do we like all the other stuff? Some coaches say they don't care, but I care. I care greatly and I think it's one of the reasons that this program continues to be where it is because we do care about getting kids to see us and getting national recognition and to get those kinds of things, because you know yourself that the band played on and they march on real quick if you don't win. This game is here and Gameday is here because we won the national chamionship...that's why and because we've had a pretty good reputation over a number of years here at UConn. I think all that kind of stuff has a real positive effect on our program."

Coach Calhoun ran his team through a two hour late afternoon practice on Friday before the coach and several players, along with an ESPN crew, greeted students camped outside of Gample Pavilion. Calhoun addressed the crowd and appreciative students shook hands, got autographs and took pictures with the coach and players. The students also got a question and answer session with Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Digger Phelps of ESPN.

The players certainly appreciated the great support of the UConn students in the extreme weather conditions, although many of them said they wouldn't even think about camping out in this weather.

"They've been camping out since last night in zero degree weather," said Marcus Williams. "As a team I think we really appreciate that they're coming out and supporting us, it's a big game atmosphere."

"I haven't really been outside too much because it's been like -70 degrees out," joked Josh Boone. "It say a lot because there's no way I would camp out to see anybody play, so it just shows how much support we really have on this campus, it's really great."

So would Rudy Gay brave four degree temperatures and sleep out in a tent for this game as many of his fellow students have?

"I would camp out there to see me!" Joked Gay.

But amid all the hoopla, Calhoun has his team focused and ready for the task at hand.

"This is certainly a very,very big game for us and a big game for them too," said Calhoun. "These have been physical games. The game will probably be determined by the style in which the game is allowed to be played at, in my opinion, and our ability to make outside shots."

"It's always fun to play Pitt," said UConn center Josh Boone. "I actually love playing Pitt. They're my favorite team to play against because they're always just so physical on the inside and they always play so hard and that's the type of player that I am so I really play well in that type of circumstance."

ESPN will use the match-up of Big East powers to highlight their three "Gameday" shows. College Basketball Gameday, a spin off off the popular ESPN football show, will debut this weekend and will be shot live on location from Gampel Pavilion with the UConn - Pittsburgh game serving as the backdrop as the ESPN "Prime time Game of The Week." Dick Vitale, Rece Davis, Jay Bilas and Digger Phelps will host the show.

"It's kind of history in a way," said Boone. "This is the first time ever that they're doing basketball for College Gameday so it should be a fun experience, it's something new and it's something that should really pull a lot of members of this campus into it."

UConn officials are encouraging students and the general public to come out to Gampel Pavilion Saturday morning to participate in the 11:00 am segment of College Gameday to be aired live on ESPN. The event is free and tickets for the evening's game are not required to participate in the 11:00 am Gameday show. The UConn - Pittsburgh match-up, at 9:00 pm Saturday evening on ESPN, will be called by Brad Nessler and Dick Vitale.

Because of the possibility of a large snowstorm Saturday ticket holders who will not be attending the game are encouraged to donate their tickets to students who will fill in the seats.

"We want to make sure our fans are safe and sound but we also want to have a full arena," said UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway.

"It's a game that begs for a big crowd and great enthusiasm," said Jim Calhoun.

There are three options available for those wishing to donate their tickets;

Tickets for the men's game may be turned in at the afternoon UConn women's game against Seton Hall at the Hartford Civic Center.

Ticket holders may also e-mail the UConn ticket office at "AthTickets@UConn.edu, and leave their name and ticket location.

Ticket holders may also call the ticket office at 1-877-AT-UCONN and leave their name and ticket location.

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