UConn freshman Ryan Boatright remains in a holding pattern.

Boatright's status was a popular topic of conversation during post-practice media availability late Friday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion.

Frustration has set in as UConn continues to wait to hear from the NCAA regarding the freshman's eligibility status.

"Everybody is working like crazy to try to get some resolution," coach Jim Calhoun said. "There's no indication of anything. We're trying like crazy to get him back."

It's been two weeks since Boatright went to the sidelines. UConn is 1-2 without its top reserve.

UConn could receive word before Sunday's game against Notre Dame in Hartford. But don't count on it.

Boatright already missed the first six games after the NCAA ruled that he received an improper benefit.

The issue is weighing on everyone's minds.

"One of the worst parts about it, it hangs there," Calhoun said. "So Ryan has a great day of practice, and it hangs there. … To not play, to play, to not play, it can wear on you. I know it wears on me. No one cares about that, nor should they. I'll coach my team the best that I possibly can and get them ready.

"It's not an excuse why we win or loss."

The Huskies just want their teammate back.

"He helps a lot," freshman Andre Drummond said. "I hope they get it cleared up soon. I feel bad for him."

Drummond said Boatright remains upbeat.

"He's still playing twice as hard in practice," Drummond said. "He wants to come back really bad."

In other news from practice:

-- UConn hasn't played since losing at Tennessee last Saturday. During practice, Calhoun has focused on getting the ball inside.

"We really tried to get the ball inside and we did," Calhoun said. "We didn't score as well as I'd like to see us. But we did work hard."

Calhoun also would like to see improvement in the rebounding department, especially on the offensive end.

"We've got to get some easy hoops," Calhoun said.

-- Calhoun praised the Huskies for their work ethic this week. Several former players practiced, including assistant coach Kevin Ollie, Kevin Freeman, Donny Marshall and Tony Robertson.

"We’ve had people here to try to push them as hard as we can," Calhoun said. "I guess that’s all we can do is work as hard as we can and get more results out of that."

"We went at each other..," Drummond said. "We figured out if we all play together we can do this thing."

-- Since losing to UConn, 67-53, in South Bend, Notre Dame has lost at Rutgers (65-58), shocked No. 1 Syracuse (67-58) and won at Seton Hall (55-42) Wednesday. The Fighting Irish are 13-8 overall and a surprising 5-3 in the Big East.

"I think (Notre Dame coach) Mike (Brey) has done maybe his best job," Calhoun said.

-- The revolving door at the small forward spot continues. Freshman DeAndre Daniels will start Sunday against Notre Dame. Sophomore Niels Giffey started against Notre Dame.

"He's had a great week, probably the best week of his career, so he'll start," Calhoun said. "Niels is okay, but DeAndre has been really good."

Daniels has started 11 games and Giffey three.

-- Calhoun on the state of the Huskies: "We're not quite the same team that started the season, but neither is anybody else. I think everybody has changed."

-- UConn has 11 regular season games remaining – six at home and five on the road. The Huskies need to win the majority of their home games to build a strong resume.

"We've definitely got to get some momentum and some wins," sophomore Jeremy Lamb said.

-- Sophomore Tyler Olander has struggled since bruising his heel in the West Virginia game on Jan. 9. He's scored just eight points and had eight rebounds in the last three games.

"He looks logy," Calhoun said. "He looks logy in games, and I don't know why."

Olander could be a factor against Notre Dame. His passing skills have come in handy against zone defenses this season.

"They play a lot more zone recently since they played us and we've got to be prepared for that," Calhoun said. "Normally, he's a really good trigger man in the middle of that zone. We've got to get him back."