Right now, basketball is secondary for the nation's top-ranked women's basketball team.

With the final exam period for the fall semester beginning today and no games on the schedule until Sunday, the Huskies' focus will be on getting the job done in the classroom.

"It’s a fine line between how much do they have to study and getting them out there to try to get some physical exercise," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "It’s hard for us to maintain their conditioning during this time and stay sharp basketball-wise, improve individually and put some things in team wise that can make us better. There’s a lot going on. It’s late nights for the players because they’re trying to get their school work done. So it’s not exactly a 10-day vacation."

UConn didn't practice on either Saturday or Sunday and are scheduled to take Wednesday off. When the team does practice today, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, there will be no marathon sessions. Even if Auriemma is dissatisfied with what he is seeing, when the two-hour mark hits, he will end the practice.

It can be a mentally-draining time for all students but even more so when you throw in the daily basketball sessions intertwined with last-minute preparation for final exams, there is plenty on the plates of the UConn players this week.

"It depends on how you manage your own time," UConn junior forward/center Kaili McLaren said. "When it is time for basketball, it is time for basketball. Once finals come, it is time for school. if you can manage your time and balance your studies, everything will work out fine."

GENO EDGES SHERRI
It came down to the wire, but the tie Auriemma put up for bid in an online auction to raise money for the Kay Yow Foundation earned $15 more than the handbag Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale had up for bid.

Here are the final numbers
Auriemma's tie had 31 bids from 11 different bidders. The winning entry of $295 was placed shortly after midnight on Thursday.
Coale's handbag had 25 bids from 10 different bidders with the top bid of $280 came in just 43 seconds before the auction closed on Saturday at 8 p.m.

SUN PASS
As expected, the Connecticut Sun did not make a pick in the WNBA's Dispersal Draft Sancho Lyttle and former Rutgers guard Matee Ajavon were picked by Atlanta and Washington respectively with the top two picks. Former Sun guard Shannon Johnson was not among the seven players selected in the draft of players under contract to the Houston Comets. The Comets, who won the first four WNBA titles, have suspended operations for the 2009 season. The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday. The Sun are locked into the No. 10 pick.