UConn worked out at the University of Tampa’s beautiful Bob Martinez Athletics Center on Monday.

The Huskies had a spirited practice, preparing to face South Florida tomorrow night at the Sun Dome.

 “We started off practice a little slow, but it didn’t take us long to get into it,” senior Ryan Boatright said. “Once we got into it, we had a good practice. Everybody was going hard. … The communication was great.”

Boatright, red-shirt sophomore Rodney Purvis and coach Kevin Ollie talked to the Connecticut media.

Some news, notes and quotes from practice:

-- Ollie wants to avoid a second straight 0-2 start in American Athletic Conference play.

“We’d love to be 1-1 going back up to Connecticut. I heard it’s going to be like four degrees when we get off the plane, but it will be a little warmer being 1-1.”

 -- The Huskies talked about continuing the momentum from Saturday’s win at Florida.

“This is a time for us to turn our season around,” Purvis said.

 -- Good news about Boatright.

Boatright feels healthier today than he did in Saturday’s game. He’s moving around much better.

“I was hurting but the win made me feel a lot better,” he said.

 -- Purvis and junior Omar Calhoun are both coming off good shooting performances, going 4-for-9 and 5-for-8 from the field, respectively. They’re hoping to continue their hot streak.

“The main thing is just staying with it,” Purvis said. “You’re not going to make every single shot. It’s just work, being in the gym.”

Ollie attributes the improved shooting to better ball movement and sharper execution.

“Rodney and Omar coming off screens, it gives us two good shooters, Ollie said. “Ryan is stepping up and hitting a couple of his shots. We’ve just got to keep doing the same thing.”

 -- Former UConn sharp-shooter Rashad Anderson, a member of the 2004 national championship team, watched practice. He’s from nearby Lakeland.

 -- South Florida coach Orlando Antigua, a former Kentucky assistant and ex-Pittsburgh player, is in his first year as head coach.

During his UConn playing days, Ollie played against Antigua, who was at Pittsburgh from 1991-95.

“Orlando is going to be a great coach,” Ollie said. “He comes from great pedigree.”

Antigua was on the Kentucky sidelines for the national championship game.

“It’s another good team and well-coached,” Antigua said of the Huskies. “Obviously, some of those guys were part of that team last year. They’re a year older now, more mature. Besides from that, it’s the next challenge in front of us.

“… We’re going to have our hands full from the top to the bottom.”

-- Check back tomorrow for a pre-game preview. Follow me on Twitter: @GavinKeefe