Here are a couple of videos I took at UConn's media day. The first is of freshman Michala Johnson talking about being cleared to take part in on-court drills and the second features UConn coach Geno Auriemma discussing Johnson and fellow freshman Samarie Walker, who will likely be sidelined for the first week of practice because of a strained left hamstring

FIRST NIGHT SCHEDULE
Here are some details about First Night being held on Friday night
5 p.m.: FanFest begins on Fairfield Way (across from the North Entrance at Gampel Pavilion
5:45 p.m.: 75 VIP students are let into Gampel
6 p.m.: Doors open at Gampel/Autograph session begins
6:30-6:37: Band, UConn twirlers, UConn dance team perform
6:45: Autograph session ends
6:50: Student On Court Contest
7: Master of Ceremonies takes the court
7:06: Player introductions begin
7:35: UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma and men's assistant coach Kevin Ollie address the crowd
7:40: Team warmups
7:45: Skills competition (and the only basketball portion of the event)
7:52: Minute to Win It event

RECRUITS IN THE HOUSE
It should be quite a collection of talent in the stands. While I have not confirmed every recruit expected to be at the First Night event, UConn commits Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Brianna Banks, top uncommitted senior post Kiah Stokes, Hillhouse junior forward/guard Bria Holmes and highly-touted sophomore Diamond DeShields are planning to be there. If I am able to confirm others before the start of the event on Friday, I will certainly post it here.

GENO REACTS TO TAURASI'S PHOTO SHOOT
The photos of former UConn star Diana Taurasi wearing nothing and I do mean nothing on the cover of ESPN the Magazine met with the approval of her college coach.

"I think it was tremendous, one of the best pictures I’ve ever seen of a female athlete," Auriemma said. "Anybody that saw Diana as a freshman in college and even as a senior in college would be unbelievably impressed and proud, especially those of us around here at how hard she’s worked to get herself in that kind of physical condition.

"I was with her a whole month (at the FIBA World Championships when Auriemma coached the U.S. team and Taurasi was the leading scorer for the gold-medal winning U.S. squad). She was the quickest I’ve ever seen her. She’s more explosive than I’ve ever seen her. She’s a pro now. She’s not a college kid eating seven meals a day because you’re bored and you don’t know what to do. She treats herself like a pro, acts like a pro, works out like a pro. When I saw that picture I was like, `Hell, yeah, man.’ I’m really happy for her."