It's a matter of trust for Calhoun

Hartford — Earning coach Jim Calhoun's trust is difficult even for a veteran.

Senior Gavin Edwards says it takes time, sometimes years.

"It's been a gradual thing over the past three years," Edwards said. "Now he's really starting to trust me. The only way you can build trust is by showing him what you can do in practice."

UConn's freshmen have a long way to go to earn membership in Calhoun's Trust Club.

Calhoun is looking for more production out of his young reserves in tonight's nonconference game against Boston University (2-5) at 7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford.

Lately, Calhoun has really been pushing freshman Darius Smith, a backup to point guard Kemba Walker, to play harder and faster.

Walker is one of four starters to average at least 32 minutes per game this season. Calhoun noticed that both Walker and senior Jerome Dyson wore down at the end of Friday's NIT Season Tip-Off Championship loss to Duke in New York.

"We've got to get better production out of people," Calhoun said. "We need that blow for Kemba just as we'd like to get that blow for Jerome. Jerome played himself to exhaustion (Friday). … We seem to be tired.

"Our bench, some of the guys except for Gavin, I don't have the confidence in yet to go with. They've got to show me more. … These young guys have to develop."

By virtue of his strong play, freshman Alex Oriakhi quickly found his way onto his coach's trust list, averaging a team-best 10.8 rebounds. Others, including junior Donnell Beverly, freshmen Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Jamaal Trice and Smith, are still fighting for regular playing time.

First, they have to start dominating in practice, according to Calhoun. Then Calhoun might be inclined to extend their minutes in a game. Coombs-McDaniel and Smith are making some progress in practice but they only played a combined five minutes against Duke.

"They've got to get themselves into the game," Calhoun said. "It's a hard thing with me because I've got to trust you."

Smith thinks he knows what his demanding coach wants. He has had his share of freshmen moments in limited action.

"We've got to contribute," Smith said. "When we get in the game, we've got to make things happen and keep the intensity up."

During Monday's practice Smith found out what happens when effort is lacking. Calhoun dipped into his vault of sarcastic comments and delivered a beauty.

"Yesterday I asked him during practice, `Darius, are you dead?' He kind of looked at me," Calhoun said. "He had no idea because no one probably asked him that question before. I said, 'because, quite frankly, you're moving like a dead man walking.' "

Smith started playing harder and faster.

"A play later, he said, `he's got a pulse,' " Smith said.

Smith and his fellow reserves will get a chance to score some trust points against Boston University, which appears better than its record. The balanced Terriers beat Indiana and Northeastern. They're coming off a 78-70 loss to Harvard Sunday.