Hey, everyone. Here in Hartford waiting for the UConn-Hartford game to start. I missed UConn’s preseason game here, so this is my first trip to the XL Center this season. Beef stew-like kind of thing for dinner. Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault in the house.

Some interesting chatter at yesterday’s UConn practice, as usual when the Huskies meet Hartford, about Hawks’ coach Jen Rizzotti, the former UConn All-American.

Someone asked UConn coach Geno Auriemma how he thought Hartford was this year. The Hawks are receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

“I said, ‘The same as they always are,’” Geno said. “They’re gonna be the same every year Jennifer’s there. They play hard, they’re competitive, they’re tough kids. They do some things that make you think of what you have to do.”

Geno agreed with a recent statement by Jen, in her 11th season, that she probably won’t ever be able to do what Geno’s done at UConn and win six national championships and 700-plus games. Hartford, which plays in the America East Conference, simply doesn’t have enough of a high profile to get the best recruits in the nation. Geno believes that if Jen coached at a school such as Maryland, however, which has the commitment to winning, she’s be at the Final Four by now.

Geno isn’t surprised, though, that Jen, a Connecticut native, chose to stay at Hartford all this time.

“I know how she is,” Geno said. “I know what a homebody she is. I know how she values her family. (Hartford) gave her her first job. She’s very loyal.”

Said Geno regarding Jen’s coaching style: “She’s not just going to bully you. She’s going to outthink you because she’s smarter than most people.”

And moreI had a nice talk with former Wheeler all-stater Keyokah Mars-Garrick this week. Keyokah plays for Hartford. She had an interesting take on tonight’s game against UConn, saying it was overwhelming last year to face the No. 1 team in the nation … until she looked up and saw a friend on the opposing bench.

I had a nice talk with former Wheeler all-stater Keyokah Mars-Garrick this week. Keyokah plays for Hartford. She had an interesting take on tonight’s game against UConn, saying it was overwhelming last year to face the No. 1 team in the nation … until she looked up and saw a friend on the opposing bench.

“Being friends with Heather (Buck, a red-shirt freshman for the Huskies from Stonington), you look up and you see your friend. It’s just more girls playing the same sport. Earlier in the year we beat Louisville and she texted me to say congratulations. And the teams have something in common: our coaches.”