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Charles Okwandu is the only player facing right in his mugshot.
While the game will be the first live action for Kemba Walker and Scottie Haralson, fellow frosh Charles Okwandu will be relegated to the bench because of a small snafu with his eligibility that needs to be cleared up.
"We just kind of want to put the pieces together," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. "Because it's an exhibition game, we're just not going to play Charles tomorrow night. It's basically got to do with a final clarification of everything."
Calhoun said he expects things to be worked out shortly, but Okwandu's status for Sunday's game with UMass-Lowell is still in question.
More from practice, including how Calhoun is a str8 balla, after the jump.
- So if you haven't heard, Calhoun used to play basketball at AIC in the '60s before he became a coach for the Yellow Jackets. Well, just in case you were wondering how good the Cal-man was, take a look at this stat sheet (on the sixth and seventh pages) SID Kyle Muncy dug out from Calhoun's senior season. Calhoun led the team in points on the day, with 27 ... although it looks like the number three is crossed out. We're not suggesting that there was tampering going on. Perhaps the coach was working on his calligraphy. Seeing that they don't know mathematics at AIC, we'll give him a pass. We'll also overlook the nine he scored against UConn the previous year.
- Calhoun didn't say who'd be starting, but considering what's been said thus far, I can conjure up a guess: Jeff Adrien, Hasheem Thabeet, A.J. Price, Jerome Dyson and ... Jonathan Mandeldove. No, seriously, I think it will be Craig Austrie. Although, if it were up to me, the Dove would play every minute. But then again, we wouldn't want swooning women jumping onto the floor trying to get a piece of the D-man. Prepare yourself for a season on Mandeldove references, my five readers. It's a long season. ... and don't think you're getting off he if redshirts, either.
- Speaking of redshirts, Mike Anthony of the Courant writes in his blog that the Dove is still talking to his coaches about whether he'll end up redshirting or not.
- Final note: Apparently Calhoun has been getting on Craig lately, for reasons neither would specify. But Calhoun said Craig practiced well the last two days and everything seems to be hunky dory again. Really, this happens every season:
- Craig is surpassed on the depth chart my a more talented player,
- Said talented player stumbles, does something stupid.
- Crag earns starting role through "hustling," being the only player not to do something stupid.
- Craig becomes Jesus.
- Jesus falls from grace the next season
In the future, I'll probably put some stuff up about the opposing team. But for AIC, just know that their biggest player is 6-7.
Check back tomorrow for more, because I'm guessing I'll be really bored during the game/have plenty of time to post.