Hartford - Jim Calhoun's synopsis of Pittsburgh 67, UConn 57 on Wednesday night at the XL Center incorporated two numbers: 40 and 35. Calhoun said his players haven't yet mastered the concepts of 40-minute games and the 35-second shot clock.Yet it's getting to where "40" and "35" represent the numbers of minutes played for a limited group of UConn players. Such numbers, and the possible mental and physical fatigue they bring with them, might be the most significant issue facing the Huskies as the games get bigger and time grows a little more desperate.

Yet it's getting to where "40" and "35" represent the numbers of minutes played for a limited group of UConn players. Such numbers, and the possible mental and physical fatigue they bring with them, might be the most significant issue facing the Huskies as the games get bigger and time grows a little more desperate.In the second half Wednesday night, Calhoun used one bench player, Ater Majok, for six minutes. All other minutes went to Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, Kemba Walker, Alex Oriakhi and Gavin Edwards, as has been the case most of the season. Before Wednesday's game, they had played 81.3 percent of all the team's minutes. They played between 32 and 39 minutes Wednesday, numbers that will keep Robinson, Dyson and Walker among the Big East's top 10 players in minutes played.

In the second half Wednesday night, Calhoun used one bench player, Ater Majok, for six minutes. All other minutes went to Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, Kemba Walker, Alex Oriakhi and Gavin Edwards, as has been the case most of the season. Before Wednesday's game, they had played 81.3 percent of all the team's minutes. They played between 32 and 39 minutes Wednesday, numbers that will keep Robinson, Dyson and Walker among the Big East's top 10 players in minutes played.We can debate the significance of this. Plenty of folks out there subscribe to the old Bill Cosby Theory. You may remember Cosby's classic line about his childhood, listening to his father tell him that he walked to school in 10 miles of snow, uphill, killing grizzly bears with his looseleaf notebook. The same idea might apply to basketball. Twentysomething, elite college athletes should be able to run all day. And we've yet to meet the player on any level who is irritated because he or she is playing too much.

We can debate the significance of this. Plenty of folks out there subscribe to the old Bill Cosby Theory. You may remember Cosby's classic line about his childhood, listening to his father tell him that he walked to school in 10 miles of snow, uphill, killing grizzly bears with his looseleaf notebook. The same idea might apply to basketball. Twentysomething, elite college athletes should be able to run all day. And we've yet to meet the player on any level who is irritated because he or she is playing too much.Plus, it's impossible for most games nowadays to reach any kind of flow with media timeouts every four minutes. Maybe there's enough built-in rest within each game.

Plus, it's impossible for most games nowadays to reach any kind of flow with media timeouts every four minutes. Maybe there's enough built-in rest within each game. Still, though, it's hard to know whether fatigue - mental as much as physical - could become a factor. UConn is 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big East. That means its final 15 games plus the Big East tournament will bear great significance toward an NCAA tournament berth. The games will get bigger. The pressure will be greater. How their minds and legs respond to a season's worth of great responsibility is a legitimate question.

Still, though, it's hard to know whether fatigue - mental as much as physical - could become a factor. UConn is 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big East. That means its final 15 games plus the Big East tournament will bear great significance toward an NCAA tournament berth. The games will get bigger. The pressure will be greater. How their minds and legs respond to a season's worth of great responsibility is a legitimate question.It should be noted here that Calhoun's rotation, or lack thereof, hasn't necessarily been the wrong strategy. If you look down the bench, you see an alarming number of players who aren't ready. Or can't play. Observers who watch the Huskies every day, though, think Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is going to be a solid player here. And it's as foolish to give up on Majok now as it was to turn him into Kevin Garnett before he ever played a game here.

It should be noted here that Calhoun's rotation, or lack thereof, hasn't necessarily been the wrong strategy. If you look down the bench, you see an alarming number of players who aren't ready. Or can't play. Observers who watch the Huskies every day, though, think Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is going to be a solid player here. And it's as foolish to give up on Majok now as it was to turn him into Kevin Garnett before he ever played a game here.And so Calhoun has a dilemma. Does he roll the dice and start using his bench more, knowing that its production could cause some heartburn?

And so Calhoun has a dilemma. Does he roll the dice and start using his bench more, knowing that its production could cause some heartburn? Or maybe if he uses the bench more now, some of the players might start contributing? Would it at least keep Walker, Dyson, Robinson, Oriakhi and Edwards a bit more spry in March?

Or maybe if he uses the bench more now, some of the players might start contributing? Would it at least keep Walker, Dyson, Robinson, Oriakhi and Edwards a bit more spry in March?Nobody really knows the answer.

Nobody really knows the answer.But it's got to be worth a try.

But it's got to be worth a try.Because at the moment, the Huskies are stuck with whatever five players give them. Nobody is allowed a bad night. If UConn's core guys don't score, the Huskies have no shot in most Big East games.

Because at the moment, the Huskies are stuck with whatever five players give them. Nobody is allowed a bad night. If UConn's core guys don't score, the Huskies have no shot in most Big East games.Then there's UConn's slayer on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon noted that the Panthers have developed an eight-man rotation, admitting that some nights not all his guys are going to score. And it's not like Dixon is coaching the '86 Celtics here.

Then there's UConn's slayer on Wednesday night. Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon noted that the Panthers have developed an eight-man rotation, admitting that some nights not all his guys are going to score. And it's not like Dixon is coaching the '86 Celtics here."I asked the guys where was (DeJuan) Blair and where all those guys were," Calhoun said, alluding to the notable players Pittsburgh lost after last season. "I didn't see them."

"I asked the guys where was (DeJuan) Blair and where all those guys were," Calhoun said, alluding to the notable players Pittsburgh lost after last season. "I didn't see them."Pitt has a bunch of pluggers who played a little tougher and smarter on Wednesday night. UConn can play just as hard on Sunday at Michigan and through the rest of the regular season. The question: How many of them will be given the chance?

Pitt has a bunch of pluggers who played a little tougher and smarter on Wednesday night. UConn can play just as hard on Sunday at Michigan and through the rest of the regular season. The question: How many of them will be given the chance?This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.