Friday thoughts

Sorry for no posts this week. Been busy with high school's the last couple of weeks, not much going on at the Shenk anyhow. What left is there to write? Plenty of course, got some nice stuff in the pipeline, we'll see how it turns out. Got to get creative anyhow.

All you UConn fans better hope the team has adjusted to the bowl timing that is better than me. I am off my game and thrown for a loss. The season is nice and structured -- Tuesday lunch, Thursday teleconference, Saturday game, Sunday teleconference, Monday Big East and away you go.

Now, it's a free for all. I am out of my element and comfort zone.

Structure is perhaps the key for everything during bowl season. We have all seen team's fall apart during December. Every coach is different and UConn coach Randy Edsall has seen what works and what doesn't work in his career.

The bowl season is so different, and if you are going to look at it honestly, pretty silly. I still love it (how else does anyone get excited about something called a Car Care Bowl?) but why is there a game played 4 weeks after your last game?

It's so unique, and the only way this works is to trust players. The players are going home today, a lot of them, and they got to find their own way to Charlotte. I remember packing on 15 pounds between semesters (still haven't lost it). Two days of bad eating, nutrition and taking care of your body can kill months of work.

During the Motor City Bowl Edsall didn't let his players go home, the game was too early. But, you can't have the players away from their family this time of year. They have to have some semblance of outside life. We'll see how it works out.

Anyhow, not up on our website, but had a notebook today on Larry Taylor. Hard to believe that this guy is playing his last game. So many memories of his play though the most important was the Motor City Bowl touchdown return. It's a shame he will be forever known for the Unfair Catch. That will go down in UConn-Louisville lore.

I maintain to this day, I don't think the national narrative about the play fit. But, I am just a small blog. It's a classic case where first impressions are hard to break. People hated Larry's smile after that play. If you saw LT with any regularity he is always smiling. He was smiling when he was taken off the field for a concussion last year at Syracuse.

leaving for Charlotte early on Wednesday morning and will update constantly.

If you are in the Hartford area on Saturday, you should check out the Doc Hurley Classic at Weaver. It's one of the best lineups of games I have seen. This was the postponed Thursday Civic Center games.

East Catholic vs. New London 3 p.m.

Two time Class LL (or D-I) runner up East faces one of the states top teams. New London's Alan Cheney is headed to Florida while East has a 6-8 center in Nick Greenbacker headed to Sacred Heart (which is turning into the place for CT mid-major players to go).

New Britain vs. Bulkeley 4:45

Don't know much about either team this year, but New Britain is always pretty good and they beat a young East Hartford team that I know is going to be a major force in coming years.

Windsor vs. E.O. Smith 6:30

I love this game. Clash of styles with the frenetic pressing Windsor team and the deliberate style of a very very good E.O. Smith squad. Windsor is loaded led by Justin Wilson and a host of others. They have size and athleticism. Wilson is a very good player. Such a great athlete, not sure he knows what he is doing yet for college thought I haven't talked him since late spring.

Wilson's best path for a scholarship is probably football (UConn, BC among those watching) while his best sport is without a doubt track and field. He can be an elite jumper if he works at it. Not to be outdone, this kid is a hoops player at heart. He absolutely loves playing basketball. He is a D-I athlete in every sport. Depending on his choice, that will determine the level he ends up at.

E.O. Smith has 6-10 center Ryan Olander on the roster. Olander is a smooth low post scorer and headed to Fairfield. Get there early/

The crown jewel of the affair is Saturday night 8 p.m.:

CT's version of 1 vs. 2 -- Weaver vs. Hillhouse, 8 p.m.

Hillhouse has dominated the state the last two years breezing to state titles. Weaver is probably the second best team out there and are on their home turf now. Take a look at Weaver's Tyrone Gardner. Great scorer.

It's $10 and you get a day pass. It goes to the Doc Hurley Scholarship fund. If you like high school basketball, you will be there.