Couldn't help myself with the Monty Python reference but back on topic, it was refreshing to actually see UConn challenged.

Notre Dame led by 16 1/2 minutes in the first half and was tied with the Huskies five minutes into the second half before a 22-1 UConn run put the game away.

Here are a few thoughts on the game. While the faces may change, year after year UConn never seems to be able to get much done against Notre Dame's matchup zone. Today was no different. UConn's inability to drive against the zone may them a bit timid. Not surprisingly, it was the trio of Renee Montgomery, Maya Moore and Tina Charles who sparked the run.

As always, the post-game press conference was almost as entertaining as the game itself.

First, here is Auriemma's take on what it's like to live in UConn's world where a two-loss season will lead to questions to what is wrong.

"You are at somewhat of a disadvantage at Connecticut because the lessons that you learn to really help you become a better team is when you lose, you go home, regroup and try to figure out what you did wrong," Auriemma said. "Guys get upset with the way you play and the teams get back on track so you can learn a lot when you lose. It is a disadvantage because you almost never lose so how do teach your guys to learn from wins. That is hard to do."

Auriemma sees similarities to Saturday's style of game to what the Huskies will see on Tuesday when Villanova comes to Gampel Pavilion.

"Tuesday will be similar because both teams are very patient, they want to use the clock, try to use all five players on the perimeter. Tuesday will be a lot like today," Auriemma said.

I asked Auriemma about drawing the biggest crowds of the season at Gampel and then at the XL Center in consecutive home games.

"We had a stretch there for a couple of years when we moaned and groaned at who wasn't coming to the games, we are used to selling out and it hasn't been like that," Auriemma said. "As coaches, we notice that. I remember (UConn assistant coach) Jamelle (Elliott) saying 'hey, they like our team again.' Winning 36 games and going to the Final Four is not enough to make people love you. You have to play a certain way, do certain things and I think this team is easy to love. It was a great crowd and we got a couple of kids (Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley) who got to come visit us and they got to enjoy that. It is fun, you don't get this atmosphere just anywhere."

Tongue in cheek, I asked Auriemma if he was concerned that Dolson (who committed to UConn on Christmas Day) and Hartley (who is expected to be offered a scholarship assuming all goes well on her yet to be schedule campus visit) would commit to Notre Dame based on how the game was going.

"They have enough good guards and good players. A couple of kids who were here today say that we could use a couple more scorers so it was perfect we played it just for them."

The subject turned to Saturday's verbal exchanges between UConn men's coach Jim Calhoun and political activist Ken Krayeske.

After Calhoun gave his opening statement, political activist Ken Krayeske questioned Calhoun on his salary since Calhoun is the highest paid state employee.
The line of questioning drew a heated response from Calhoun.

Auriemma was asked how he would have dealt with such a situation.

"You’re just not prepared for it," Auriemma said. `"You come in and you ask somebody `hey, how was attacking the zone or how was their offense different?’ You’re just not prepared for it probably. So it’s probably a little bit of a stunner. That’s one of the perks that you have working at a state school. Everybody knows what you do. Everybody knows what you have. And there comes a point in time when you’re going to be faced with that. You just don’t expect it in this setting. If somebody calls up campus and says `hey, we’ve got a guy that wants to come up and do a story on this.’ But to have it happen in this setting I don’t think I’d wish that on anybody. I’m sure Jim was thrown for a loop and I’m sure he handled it better than most coaches would handle it. I would not have wanted to be that guy 20 years ago and asked Jim that question. So I think Jim handled it pretty well if you ask me.

"I think it’s unfair in that setting," Auriemma said. "I would even go so far as to say it’s unfair to ask someone who’s worked that hard to get to where they are and insinuate that they don’t deserve it. I think it’s unfair in this setting and I would venture to say it’s unfair in any setting. How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life? Any coach can answer questions, and rightly so deserves to be asked questions about how their basketball program is progressing, how their team is progressing, how they use their personnel or how is recruiting going. But once you start I think going down that road there just are some things that I don’t think we as coaches are equipped to deal with in that setting."

Auriemma had one last parting shot at Krayeske, who was arrested in January of 2007 at Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s inaugural parade, where Hartford police charged Krayeske with breach of peace and interfering with an officer. The charges were later dismissed.

"I’ve never met the guy and I don’t know who he is," Auriemma said. "I’m glad he got out of jail when he got arrested, but maybe he got out too soon. He should’ve waited until after basketball season."

After the press conference, Auriemma continued a thought he had following Saturday's practice that Heather Buck, who is sitting out this season as a redshirt, is going to make a major impact in the post when she makes her UConn debut. While some may have viewed Buck's recruitment as a bit of an afterthought, Auriemma has been impressed by Buck's competitiveness and said that the men practice players struggle to defend Buck in practice.

One last time, heard at the game that 8,000 all-session tickets have been sold for the Big East tournament, a 40 percent jump from last year.