It sounds like Jim Calhoun will return for another season but in addition to losing five players this spring and the specter of not playing in the 2013 postseason, the program suffered another blow, albeit minor by comparison: the Huskies have been left out of the Big East/SEC Challenge.
Because there are 16 Big East teams and just 12 SEC teams, every year at least four teams won't be on the schedule. So it's just coincidence -- UConn knew about drawing the short stick weeks ago -- but losing out on the national exposure certainly won't help with the Huskies' image, particularly when it comes to recruiting.
UConn wisely made contingency plans, accepting an invitation to face N.C. State in the Jimmy V Classic N.C. State on December 4.
In case you're interested in which teams the Huskies won't face, here's the Big East/SEC schedule:
Thurs., Nov. 29
Kentucky at Notre Dame
Marquette at Florida
South Carolina at St. John's
Seton Hall at LSU
Fri., Nov. 30
Syracuse at Arkansas
Tennessee at Georgetown
DePaul at Auburn
Georgia at South Florida
Sat., Dec. 1
Alabama at Cincinnati
Villanova at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at Providence
Rutgers at Mississippi
Because of all the conference upheaval -- both in the Big East and elsewhere, Pitt (they're headed to the ACC) and Louisville will join the Huskies on the sidelines this season. The newest SEC members, Missouri and Texas A&M also won't participate in the Challenge to keep the numbers even.
It will be the second annual get-together for the conferences. In 2011, the Big East dominated, winning eight of the 12 games.
