UConn arrived in South Florida early Friday evening.

The Huskies finish the regular season at South Florida Saturday afternoon. They need a win to keep their slim NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Here's what coach Jim Calhoun had to say Friday:

On the importance of the game: "We're in a have-to-win situation." 

Looking back on his team's dismal effort in a loss at Notre Dame Wednesday: "(Associate head coach) George Blaney didn't watch the tape for the first time all year. He looked at the Cincinnati tape. I don't know how he was brave enough to do that."

On his plans to start freshman Alex Oriakhi at center instead of Charles Okwandu: "I'm starting Alex again to see if we can get something going. I don't think that's significant.

"It's significant that the three guys that have led us play well. Kemba (Walker) didn't have his best game at Notre Dame. ... Stanley (Robinson) and Jerome (Dyson) have to do more."

On the state of UConn and South Florida: "Somebody was talking about South Florida being very happy with 18 wins and we're very upset at 17. That's where we are. And that's how we feel. Nothing is going to change that except to get some more wins. That's what we have to do."

Calhoun plans to have senior Stanley Robinson guard Big East player-of-the-year candidate Dominique Jones.

Here's South Florida coach Stan Heath on UConn: "I've seen UConn be really, really good and I've seen them struggle. No different than us." 

In other news, Dyson is recovering from a sore throat. Calhoun gave the Huskies a day off Thursday to recover and rest.

"It was good for our bodies," Dyson said. "We've been going hard the past nine or 10 games. It was good to get away and come back focused."

Senior Gavin Edwards on UConn's position: I definitely think we're desperate. We've been desperate for awhile. We just have to play as hard as we can."