Purvis invited to U19 tryouts

Rodney Purvis, the guard who recently transferred from N.C. State to UConn, has been invited to try out for USA Basketball’s U19 World Championship team.

Purvis and 23 others, including former New London High standout and Providence College sophomore Kris Dunn, will attend training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., beginning on June 14.

The final U19 team, when selected following the training camp, will train in Washington through June 22 then leave for the Czech Republic to compete in the FIBA U19 World Championship. The event runs from June 27 to July 7.

Purvis averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 rebounds during his freshman season at N.C. State. He will have to sit out the 2013-14 season per NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible to play for the Huskies the following season.

Purvis was on a USA Basketball team last summer, as well. He helped the U.S. squad win a gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, a finish that qualified it for this summer’s U19 event.

In addition to Purivs and Dunn, among the other players invited to the trials are Villanova’s Ryan Arcidiacono, Syracuse’s Jerami Grant and Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell.

The U19 team will be coached Florida’s Billy Donovan while Virginia’s Tony Bennett and VCU’s Shaka Smart will serve as assistants.

- Neill

Omar Calhoun undergoes 2 surgeries

UConn sophomore-to-be Omar Calhoun recently underwent a pair of surgeries, the school revealed, though he apparently will be ready to play his first second season with the Huskies.

Calhoun had two surgeries for femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), which is a condition relatively common to athletes. The procedures _ Calhoun had one on his left hip and one on his right _ shaves bone to alleviate discomfort and hopefully avoid future problems.

Calhoun had one procedure done at the end of March and one at the end of April. The school said recovery time is between 3-4 months, meaning he should be ready to play in August.

- Neill

Napier sticking around

UConn junior guard Shabazz Napier is returning to UConn for his senior season and won’t enter the NBA Draft early.

Here’s the statement he released through the school Friday afternoon:

“After many days of figuring out what decision was best for my family and me, I finally came to a conclusion. Before I announce my decision, I would like to thank many generous people.

“I would like to thank Coach (Kevin) Ollie and the UConn coaching staff for their understanding and cooperation as my family and I needed space and time during this process of deciding what move was best for us. Also, I would like to thank my teammates for allowing me to lean on their shoulders when I needed some support. I thank them for helping me get to this position in my life. Without them, along with the coaching staff, I would not be where I am now. Brendan Allen and Enosch Wolf, especially, were two people who made things a lot easier for me. I’d also like to thank the UConn fans for understanding as well. Their support for me and the team and their passion for the game have helped me tremendously.

“I’d like to give a special thanks to Coach (Jim) Calhoun, who has pushed me to become a better man, along with becoming a better player every day. We have spent many hours leading up to my decision, figuring out the pros and cons of staying and leaving.

“Of course, I would like to thank my family members, who have helped me through these difficult days and who have wanted nothing but the best for me. Most importantly, I’d like to thank my mother, who has inspired me to be the best that I can be and to try and be a great a role model for those who look up to me.

“That being said, I have decided to remain at UConn for my senior year. I am very much looking forward to getting closer to receiving my college degree, as well as becoming a stronger leader for my teammates on and off the court. We think we have a great team for next season and we’re excited about playing for a conference championship and in the NCAA Tournament.”

Olander arrested

Another arrest for a UConn big man. This time it’s Tyler Olander.

The junior out of E.O. Smith was arrested early Thursday morning (2 a.m.) by Bay County Sheriff’s officers for trespassing. Olander is apparently on spring break in Panama City, Fla.

Police say alcohol was involved but the initial report gives only scant details.

Olander was scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

Olander’s arrest comes a little over a month after teammate Enosch Wolf was arrested following a domestic incident on the UConn campus. Wolf’s case is currently working its way through Rockville Superior Court and he’s due back there April 24.

- Neill

UConn forever

We spent a few minutes on the phone with UConn coach Kevin Ollie this afternoon.

Plenty of snow so no trip to Storrs this afternoon. The Huskies take on Providence Saturday in Gampel.

Anyway, here are a few of the highlights.

– THEY MAY BE barely able to put a starting 5 on the floor right now because of injuries but Ollie talking glowingly of his team on the eve of their final game.

“I’m proud of this team. And these last few games are not putting a damper on our parade,” Ollie said, referring to the Huskies’ current three-game losing streak.

The players on this year’s team have won over Ollie and vice versa, it seems.

“I’m so proud of his group. It’ll be my favorite group forever,” Ollie said. “Nobody expected anything except the guys in this locker room and the coaching staff.

“I’m very, very proud of this group. If we get beat by 50 tomorrow that’s not going to change anything,” Ollie said.

– AS HE HAS throughout the process, Ollie took the high road when it comes to the Big East split and UConn’s place in it.

“(UConn President) Susan Herbst and our Athletic Director Warde Manuel is going to get us in the best position,” Ollie said.

“I have to coach the team, whether we’re playing in the backyard, the ACC, the Big East or whatever they’ll call this conference now. That’s my job,” Ollie said.

The ship hasn’t sailed yet on UConn’s final destination, it seems.

“I’m in their (Herbst’s and Manuels’s) boat. I’m ready to go wherever they take us,” Ollie said. “It’s going to be a great ride, a great journey. UConn basketball is going to be here forever.”

– THE HUSKIES’ INJURY situation isn’t any better, or more clear, right now.

Shabazz Napier’s right foot is still a major issue. He’s missed two straight games.

“It’s doing better. I don’t know if he’s going to be available,” Ollie said.

Omar Calhoun’s sprained wrist is still hurting as well.

“With Omar, his wrist is still hurting real bad,” Ollie said. “Hopefully he can play through it.”

Ollie was glad Calhoun had confidence in his shot against USF.

“He took 14 shots last game, good shots that he normally makes,” Ollie said. “He’s been showing his toughness by fighting through it.”

But on the other hand….

“We still need him on the defensive end to stop his man and play good defense,” Ollie said. “That broke down in the second half. That doesn’t have anything to do with shooting or his wrist.”

– AGAINST PROVIDENCE Phil Nolan will be the Huskies’ center. No, he’ll be the ONLY center.

No more Tyler Olander (foot), no more Enosch Wolf (suspension).

It’s Nolan or bust. Well, Nolan or someone much smaller anyway.

“He’ll have big responsibility. He’s pretty much our only big,” Ollie said.

– SPEAKING OF OLANDER, Ollie admitted he had hoped for more from the junior this season.

“We wanted more production and I know he wanted to have a better year, but he stayed in the fight,” Ollie said. “That’s the main thing we’re worrying about. We’re not worrying about individual stats.”

“I imagine he wanted to be a better rebounder,” Ollie continued. “We thought he would be. But hopefully he comes in next year and provides that spark, gives us the rebounds we know he can get. He’s going to have a great senior year.”

– THERE WILL BE some senior day festivities before Saturday’s game, starting at about 11:40.

In addition, the school has asked fans to stay in their seats after the game for a short ceremony honoring the team. Not many details on the latter affair, so we’ll have to wait and see.

- Neill

And then there were three (straight losses)

The Huskies are limping (literally, in some cases) to a plane right now.

UConn is trying to get out of Tampa following its 65-51 loss to USF Wednesday night. It was easily the Huskies’ worst loss of the year _ not quite in margin (Louisville) but in overall performance.

UConn scored a season-low in points and has lost three straight games for the first time this season.

No Shabazz Napier (foot), no Niels Giffey (finger). Omar Calhoun (wrist) was clearly out of sync and Tyler Olander (left foot) went down with an injury that may or may not keep him out of the finale.

I have to get out of here myself, but here are some reactions from the players and coach:

– THERE WAS AT least one bright spot for the Huskies as DeAndre Daniels continued his strong play with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

But Daniels admitted he would have taken a ‘W’ over any numbers.

“We just broke down mentally, stopped playing defense, stopped talking,” Daniels said. “We weren’t together. That’s when we need our captain Shabazz, and he brings us together. But we weren’t together. We just let it go, gave it up.”

– A 25-6 RUN by the home team put the game away in the second half.

UConn couldn’t play very good defense and couldn’t hit a shot, other than Daniels.

“I had a horrible shooting night. Omar had a terrible shooting night. Tyler didn’t score much. We just didn’t come to play,” Ryan Boatright said.

– CALHOUN WAS A John Starks-like 1-for-14 from the floor.

“I was trying to push myself and trying to get something out of myself but I couldn’t get anything going,” Calhoun said.

When asked if he would play on Saturday against Providence in the Huskies’ final game, Calhoun wasn’t sure.

“We’ll see what happens,” Calhoun said. “I’ll work on it and see if I can give it a go. Right now I don’t know.”

– IT WAS SORT of out of necessity but Brendan Allen played some key minutes. And newly minuted walk-on Javon Williams (a forward from East Hartford) got in the game in the final minute.

– OVER THEIR LAST two games, UConn is 5-for-38 from 3-point range.

- Neill

Giffey’s season over

University of Connecticut forward Niels Giffey will miss the team’s final two games this season because of the broken finger he suffered Saturday in a loss to Cincinnati.

Giffey suffered a fracture of his right index finger with just over nine minutes to play in the Huskies’ 61-56 loss. X-Rays taken after the game showed a break but the Huskies waited for Giffey to see an orthopedic specialist, which he did Monday, to officially rule him out of action.

Giffey will undergo surgery but he will have to rest the hand nonetheless. Recovery time is estimated at 6-10 weeks.

“It’s unfortunate. There’s no way I can get back in that time,” Giffey said Tuesday. “I’m trying to stay positive.”

Giffey said he’s watched the play where he was injured but is still confused.

“It was a play where we had a turnover,” Giffey said. “I looked at it two or three times and I don’t know what happened. I think I deflected the ball and I might have hit my own hand or the other guy’s hand.”

Did he know it was serious right away?

“It looked like that. The finger was dislocated. It was poking out to the side. It looked kind of scary,” Giffey said.

Giffey said that if it had been his non-shooting hand he might have been able to play in the last two games.

UConn plays Wednesday in Tampa against South Florida before finishing its season Saturday against Providence in Gampel Pavilion. The Huskies (19-9, 9-7) are banned from postseason play and won’t play after that.

The news from UConn on Shabazz Napier was slightly more encouraging. The junior point guard, who missed the first game of his collegiate career Saturday because of a right foot injury, is still in a boot and his playing status will be determined Wednesday.

The Huskies practiced early Tuesday in Storrs. Napier did not participate.

“We practiced today at 8 o’clock. It was a great practice,” coach Kevin Ollie said. “It felt good to get back on the basketball court.”

“We’re going to go with what we have and I’m excited for the challenge,” Ollie said.

A junior from Berlin, Giffey averaged 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds this season. He played in all 28 of the Huskies’ games, starting one. He had been scoring more lately, netting at least nine points in three of his last six games.

Giffey’s absence probably means freshman Leon Tolksdorf will see more playing time over the Huskies’ final two games. Windsor’s Brendan Allen could also see a few minutes if the Huskies opt for a smaller lineup.

“Everybody’s alive,” Ollie said. “Whoever is on that bench is alive.”

Ollie added that he thinks Napier’s injury is better but…

“Yeah, I think it’s responded (to treatment). It’s still tender,” Ollie said. “We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing.”

“It’s ultimately up to him and (trainer) James Doran. I’m going to go with them,” Ollie said. “And whoever I got, I’m going to battle with those guys.”

- Neill