New York - Coach Jim Calhoun is confident that his UConn basketball team will eventually develop into a force on the college basketball scene.

He's just not sure what to expect out of the Huskies right now.

When asked Tuesday if UConn is ready to play the level of competition at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament First Four, Calhoun responded:

"We'll find out. I really honestly don't know."

One thing for sure: Calhoun will know more about the 13th-ranked Huskies (3-0) by the end of the week after playing a young, athletic LSU (3-0) tonight at 7 in the semifinals at Madison Square Garden and then either No. 7 Duke (4-0) or Arizona State (4-0) Friday.

A shaky start to the regular season has done little to solve the mystery that is this UConn basketball team. At the same time, the Huskies have shown encouraging signs.

"I feel we're going to be good," Calhoun said.

The UConn coaching staff made some adjustments during the eight day lay-off since a great escape win against Hofstra Nov. 17. Calhoun has especially stressed rebounding as a team, pounding home his point to his players who've responded with intensity in practice.

The Huskies failed to out-rebound two of their first three opponents.

"There's been a lot of fighting in practice in the box-out drills…," senior Jerome Dyson said. "People are really scrapping and fighting. Hopefully, it pays off on the court."

LSU has its own issues to work out, according to coach Trent Johnson whose team is in the early stages of its development. But rebounding isn't one of the Tigers' problems.

Led by the powerful inside duo of 6-7, 238-pound senior Tasmin Mitchell and 6-7, 230-pound sophomore Storm Warren, the Tigers are out-rebounding opponents by 13.8 per game. Warren, a hard-working forward, is averaging a team-best 11.7 rebounds.

"It will be a physical test for us," Calhoun said. "That hasn't been our strength so far."

Johnson knows Calhoun all too well to think UConn will be a pushover under the basket tonight. In fact, he's preparing for just the opposite.

"Knowing coach like I know him and the respect that I have for him, it's probably a bad time to be playing them," Johnson said. "He wasn't very happy so you know he's got it worked out and corrected."

Both coaches are interested in their respective team's reaction to playing in the spotlight for the first time this season. UConn's Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards are all veterans of the Madison Square Garden stage. But their four freshmen teammates are newcomers to the pressure-packed scene.

That's one reason why playing in the NIT Season Tip-Off is so valuable for these Huskies. Calhoun compared the two games in three days format to an NCAA Tournament situation.

Of course, UConn's experience this week will increase in value if it comes home with a championship.

"I never believe in losing as a learning experience. If that's what happens - I don't expect it to happen - it happens," Calhoun said. ""I think you learn from winning and playing good people. And you learn from playing well.

"… The biggest thing I want to leave the court with (Wednesday) is a win, obviously. And as much as that, I want to leave a better basketball team then that played the first three games."

Walker, a New York City kid, says a win tonight to earn a trip to Friday's championship game would provide a confidence boost for the Huskies.

"We all believe we're good," Walker said. "As far as getting some wins, we need them so we can get some confidence so guys know what we can do on the court. … It's going to show where we're at. LSU is probably going to be as good as a team in our conference."

g.keefe@theday.com