Before last night's game I spoke with UConn director of athletics Warde Manuel in large part because, as the UConn football beat writer, I wanted to get his reaction on George DeLeone relinquishing the offensive coordinator spot with the Huskies.

Once I was done talking to him on various football topics, I got his take on the third-ranked Huskies.


"It’s disappointing for them that they have had the injuries they have had but they are tenacious, are very talented, they play hard, smart and I look forward to the day where we can get through some of the injuries," Manuel said.

The good news is that day could be Saturday. On his radio show Wednesday night on WTIC-1080, Geno Auriemma said that freshman Breanna Stewart will practice on Thursday and will play Saturday against Syracuse. It will be one of the rare times that the Huskies will have all 11 players able to play this season.

I also inquired about the status of finalizing a new contract for Auriemma.

"We are working through it," Manuel said.

Manuel didn't have a concrete timetable for the contract to be done but looks at it as little more than a formality.

Going back to Auriemma's radio show, he said that assistant coach Shea Ralph will hit the recruiting trail Friday and after the Duke game on Monday, Auriemma and either associate head coach Chris Dailey or assistant coach Marisa Moseley will go out to check up on prospects the Huskies are targeting in the Classes of 2014 and 2015.