UConn is approaching last stand time.

Only eight regular season games remain including at No. 2 Syracuse Wednesday night.

The Huskies are practicing here at Gampel Pavilion today before flying to snow country.

Associate head coach George Blaney will be in charge for the seventh straight game, as coach Jim Calhoun remains on a medical leave of absence.

Blaney is optimistic things will turn around.

He continues to rave about his team's practice play. He saw positive signs out of his reserves in Monday's workout.

"A couple of guys had really good days (Monday)," Blaney said. "We need to get some production from the bench. We're trying to make that happen. We're going to continue to try to make that happen because there's some good players there."

Syracuse has a far superior bench with Kris Joseph (11.2 pts) and Scoop Jardine (8.1 pts).

Blaney believes that freshman Ater Majok is making progress.

"The guy that's really coming along is Ater Majok," Blaney said. "Ater is gaining confidence every single day."

Sophomore Kemba Walker addressed facing Syracuse's tough 2-3 zone.

"It's a weird zone," Walker said. "They play it kind of high. Our big (men) are going to have to score a lot of points for us. We're going to have to make some perimeter shots this game. We're going to have to be aggressive." 

Walker is one of four Huskies who played in last year's epic six overtime Big East Tournament game March 12 against Syracuse, which won 127-117.

"I hope that doesn't happen again," Walker said.

Despite losing three starters from last season, the Orange are off to their best start in school history at 23-1.

Blaney is not surprised the Syracuse is tied for first place in the Big East Conference after being picked ninth in the conference preseason poll.

"I said it last summer that they were going to be a great team...," Blaney said. "I thought they were going to be really good and they had good combinations. And (coach Jim Boeheim) wins all the time. He's just like our Jim. They know how to win."