UConn has majored in March magic in recent years.

Somehow, someway, the Huskies have managed to pull a few championships seemingly out of nowhere.

Senior Ryan Boatright knows a thing or two about that.

He played a significant role in UConn's stunning run to the national championship last season. He also remembers another magical moment.

From his hometown in Aurora, Ill., Boatright watched the 2010-11 Huskies become the first team to complete the grueling task of winning five games in five days to capture the Big East Conference tournament title at Madison Square Garden. They went on to claim the national championship.

"I got in trouble a few times," recalled Boatright, a high school senior at the time. "I went to school late a few times. I watched Kemba (Walker)."

Boatright and the Huskies will have to almost duplicate that feat at the American Athletic Conference Championship tournament, which starts today in Hartford. Only they'll need to win four games in four days to secure a title and will be playing before a pro-UConn crowd at the XL Center.

Considering their longest winning streak this season is three, the Huskies seem likely unlikely candidates to join the March magic club.

But Boatright doesn't see it that way.

"We should be confident going into those games knowing that we beat the teams that we're facing already, and we beat them where we're playing at," Boatright said. "And you just should have confidence in yourself, period. We're good players and a good team, we've just got to go out there and show that."

The first step is for sixth-seeded UConn (17-13) to beat No. 11 South Florida (9-22) tonight in a first-round game. Game time is approximately 8 p.m.

The Huskies stagger into the tournament coming off two losses.

"Hopefully, we can get this ship turned around," coach Kevin Ollie said. "I feel confident with my group."

Often, the first game in any conference tournament can be dangerous, especially if you're heavy favorite like the Huskies.

The Bulls don't appear to be equipped to pull off the upset, losing 14 of their last 16 games including two to the Huskies. One of their wins came on March 4 against Central Florida, a convincing 74-45 decision.

They're adjusting to playing without two significant contributors in Corey Allen Jr. (suspended) and Chris Perry (health issue).

"Guys are playing real aggressive on that team," Ollie said. "They don't really have anything to lose."

Ollie added that UConn also has to play loose and confident, something they've done just for short stretches this season.

In order to find their own dose of March magic, the Huskies have to get back to focusing on playing each possession.

That simple formula worked during previous tournament runs.

"It was just getting back to basics, playing UConn basketball," Ollie said. "I've seen coach (Jim) Calhoun do it. We did it last year. We were just playing possession by possession. There wasn't any rally cry and got your hat backwards and all that stuff. We were in here just grinding it out.

"You want to win and advance. That's what it is all about. I'm not looking ahead to Sunday, I'm looking to Thursday. I'm not going farther than that. It's about now and we've got to start taking care of business."

Tonight's winner plays No. 3 Cincinnati on Friday night.

News and notes

Sophomore Amida Brimah was named the AAC's defensive player of the year on Wednesday. He's first in blocks in conference action at 4.0 per game and ranked third in the nation overall.

"It doesn't mean anything now until we win the conference tournament," Brimah said.

Brimah's the sixth Husky player to earn that honor, dating back to UConn's Big East Conference days. Other winners were: Emeka Okafor (2002-03, 2003-04), Hasheem Thabeet (2007-08, 2008-09), Donyell Marshall (1993-94), Josh Boone (2004-05) and Hilton Armstrong (2005-06).

…. The AAC will announce the conference's player, rookie, coach and scholar-athlete of the year today at a pre-tournament luncheon. Daniel Hamilton is expected to be named top rookie.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter@GavinKeefe

UCONN vs. SOUTH FLORIDA

Location: XL Center, Hartford

Tip-off: approximately 8 p.m. (ESPNEWS)

Records: UConn 17-13, South Florida 9-22

Last game: UConn lost at Temple, 70-56, Saturday; South Florida lost to Tulane, 67-63, Saturday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-0 sr. guard Ryan Boatright (17.8 pts, 4.2 rebs, 4.0 assists), 6-4 so. guard Rodney Purvis (10.5 pts), 6-7 fr. forward Daniel Hamilton (10.8 pts, 7.6 rebs), 6-10 jr. forward Phil Nolan (1.2 pts, 1.6 rebs), 7-0 so. center Amida Brimah (10 pts, 4.8 rebs, 3.4 blks)

South Florida, 6-1 jr. guard Anthony Collins (7.3 pts, 5.2 assists), 6-5 jr. guard Nehemias Morillo (10 pts. 4.3 rebs), 6-4 fr. guard Troy Holston Jr. (7.8 pts, 2.6 rebs), 6-6 fr. forward Bo Zeigler (6.6 pts, 4.5 rebs), 6-11 fr. center Ruben Guerrero (5.4 pts, 4.5 rebs)

Noteworthy: American Athletic Conference first round game… UConn sixth seed, USF 11th. … Series: UConn leads 14-2, sweeping season series 66-53 in Hartford and 58-44 in Tampa. Boatright averaged 19 pts in two wins. ... Young Bulls without starters Corey Allen Jr. (suspension) and Chris Perry (heart condition). … Holston filling in nicely, averaging 20 pts and seven rebs last two games. … Top reserve: fr. guard Dinero Mercurius (3.3 pts, 2.0 rebs). … Bulls last in AAC games in scoring (56.7) and free throw percentage (58.5). … Hot: Brimah shooting 69.8 percent from the field this season. Cold: Hamilton 6-for-28 in last two games. … Huskies 6-1 at XL Center. Bulls winless (0-9) in AAC road games. … Up next: Tonight's winner plays No. 3 Cincinnati Friday night.

- Gavin Keefe