UConn's competitive heart is beating strong every time the Huskies step on the field.

It hasn't always translated to wins.

Lost opportunities have haunted the Huskies, who'll take a 2-2 overall record into Friday night's nonconference game at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Speaking at his weekly press conference Tuesday, coach Bob Diaco believes his team's record could easily be better.

The Huskies have been competitive in every game this season while playing a challenging schedule. They've already faced two triple-option teams in Navy and Army and visited Missouri, a member of the mighty Southeastern Conference.

Their two losses — 28-18 to Navy and 9-6 to Missouri — are by a combined 13 points.

"Looking right now at the four-game picture, as a player and coach, you can't help but be encouraged," Diaco said. "... With a blink of an eye, we could be 3-1 very, very realistically. And with a little bit more of a stretch ... 4-0 if we just execute just a little bit better.

"It's been a tough stretch, a very highly competitive stretch, as we knew it would be. .. And no rest for the weary."

Before moving on to BYU (2-2), Diaco took a hard look in the rear view mirror, breaking down Saturday's loss to an experienced and talented Navy in East Hartford.

The Huskies are still searching for consistency.

"We just couldn't put a team effort, four quarters of execution in all three phases together," Diaco said. "When the offense was clicking, the defense had trouble getting off the field.

"... Then when the defense had an opportunity to put it together and had the game slow down for them and came up with stops, then the offense, for whatever reason, had a little bit of trouble down the stretch when we had opportunities."

Running into trouble

UConn has yet to have a 100-yard rusher this season. The Huskies are ranked 10th in rushing offense at 108.2 per game in the American Athletic Conference.

Former Ansonia standout Arkeel Newsome, a sophomore tailback, was the featured ball carrier on Saturday, rushing for 69 yards on 14 attempts. He leads the team with 153 yards in four games.

Sophomore tailback Ron Johnson, who saw the bulk of the action in the first three games, didn't have a carry.

"We're pleased with our backs," Diaco said. "We'll continue to give the ball to the appropriate player that we believe matches up best against the opponent and run style. And Arkeel is a heck of back.

"He also has some tools in the passing game. ... He's got good hands, runs good routes and he's a pretty good pass protector. He's starting to turn himself into a complete back."

Newsome caught a career-high five passes for 51 yards.

Scrambling quarterback Bryant Shirreffs had a team-high 16 carries for 22 yards. Diaco is comfortable with Shirreffs taking off.

"I'm not going to second-guess his natural tendency," Diaco said.

News and notes

Diaco has been impressed with his young receivers. Freshman wide receiver Tyraiq Beals had career highs for catches (six) and yards (63) against Navy while redshirt sophomore Tommy Myers had a 6-yard TD reception. Beals is the team's second-leading receiver overall with 13 catches. ... An improved kicking game was one of the positives. Bobby Puyol hit his only field goal attempt (38 yards) and made his only extra-point try. He had a PAT blocked in each of the first three games. "That was a bright spot," Diaco said. ... Diaco is hopeful that linebacker Marquise Vann (left leg), who's missed the last two games, will be ready to play on Friday.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe