Shortly before UConn arrived here Tuesday night an aggressive possum tried to come through the front door of the team's hotel. And he didn't have a reservation.

By the time the Huskies entered the building -- through another door -- the possum had moved on. The Possum Alert Warning Siren had stopped.

UConn had dodged the first bullet on its regular seaon-ending two game road trip that starts with Wednesday's game at Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish pose a bigger threat than the crazed possum. They've won two straight games against nationally-ranked opponents without injured star Luke Harangody who's expected to miss Wednesday's game.

A win would improve UConn's slim NCAA Tournament chances. The Huskies finish the regular season at South Florida Saturday and play in the Big East Tournament next week in New York.

"We're just trying to win games right now and not worrying about everything else," senior Jerome Dyson said.

'It's a heck a lot easier if we're able to do well and move on to USF," coach Jim Calhoun said. "It would certainly take some of the pressure off of having to do some special things in New York City. And I'd feel much, much better and much more comfortable."

Calhoun talked about UConn playing better basketball in the last four games. The Huskies have won three of their last four, losing to Louisville, 78-76, Sunday.

"Bottom line, we've got to focus in and get the job done," Calhoun said.

Here's what else Calhoun had to say Tuesday night about the Huskies and their game against Notre Dame:

"Kemba (Walker) has been clearly has best player recently."

"We need a little better play from our bench."

"Bottom line, we've got to play well. They're playing very, very well. They're feeling good about themselves."

"We're capable of beating almost anybody in the country."

"Looseness with the ball is something that this team can't afford."