Storrs - Three games into the regular season, UConn is still searching for its identity.

And that frustrates coach Jim Calhoun.

Calhoun believed that he had a good feel for his team following two easy exhibition wins. But inconsistent play in wins over William & Mary, Colgate and Hofstra left Calhoun questioning his team.

"I never expected us to be where we are, and that's in search of who we are," he said. "I never expected that. When we left the floor after (UMass) Lowell (Nov. 8), I felt very comfortable that we knew who we are. … I thought our identity would come quicker."

Every game has been a struggle for No. 12 UConn, which rallied from a nine-point deficit with nine minutes left to beat Hofstra, 76-67, Tuesday in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament.

Now the competition is about to significantly stiffen. UConn faces LSU (3-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, in the tournament semifinals at Madison Square Garden. The Huskies will play either No. 9 Duke or Arizona State two days later.

"We've got to grow by the time we play next Wednesday," Calhoun said. "The kids that we have playing right now have to improve."

Calhoun questioned everything from his team's toughness to defense to rebounding to leadership over the last week. During Tuesday's comeback, the Huskies displayed toughness and enthusiasm during a game-ending 31-13 run. But UConn played well only in spurts.

Calhoun is warming up to junior Donnell Beverly as the first guard off the bench. He praised Beverly for his solid play and leadership in nine minutes Tuesday.

"He may be the closest thing we have to a leader and that may be the problem that we're kind of facing right now," Calhoun said. "We've got to know who we are. We're 3-0. We haven't played anywhere near the kind of basketball that I think we're capable of. I think we can be pretty good."

As far as freshmen, center Alex Oriakhi is off to a solid start, averaging 6.7 points and a team-best 10.7 rebounds. In comparison, former center Emeka Okafor averaged 7.3 rebounds in his first three games. Jamal Coombs-McDaniel shows no fear and, with time, his decision-making will improve.

Calhoun told Coombs-McDaniel that opting for a contested shot on a two-on-one break instead of passing to an open teammate is not a wise choice.

"We're asking an awful lot," Calhoun said. "I keep telling them when they come to the sidelines or any other time, that Hofstra doesn't say, 'Oh, let the freshman go because he's only a freshman.' No, they play him like he's a Connecticut player. So they have to respond that way."

Then there's the most glaring weakness: rebounding. In three games, opponents have outrebounded UConn 104-102, including Hofstra's 43-39 edge. The Pride had 19 offensive rebounds, a number reached by only one team last season - Providence - in a game the Huskies won by 33.

Six-foot-1 point guard Kemba Walker has just two fewer rebounds this season than 6-10 forward Gavin Edwards.

"We're definitely going to have to do a lot better job with that once we get to New York," Edwards said.

Calhoun sees all of UConn's warts. On the other hand, Hofstra coach Tom Pecora sees a "very, very good team."

Hofstra already has played two top 15 teams, losing at No. 1 Kansas last week in a rout.

"There's not a huge gap at all," said Pecora, comparing UConn and Kansas. "UConn is right there. I'll buy a ticket for that one."

g.keefe@theday.com