Storrs — They insist they're better than their 2-2 record indicates.

It may scream average, but that doesn't represent the way UConn feels about its football season and progress.

"We all believe we should be 4-0," fifth-year senior Bobby Puyol said Monday. "We know we're a 4-0 team. We're not a 2-2 team. We all want to be the best, we all want to win a championship."

With a short week to prepare for a nationally-ranked opponent, there's little time for the Huskies to linger on last week's latest difficult defeat, 31-24 to Syracuse on Saturday.

Next up: a road trip to sixth-ranked Houston (4-0), which is eager to avenge last season's 20-17 loss to UConn in a nationally-televised American Athletic Conference game on Thursday (8 p.m., ESPN).

What's maddening to the Huskies is both of their single digit losses were avoidable.

"The game on Saturday was tough," coach Bob Diaco said, "because we can see how close these games are, we can see how good we've become. There's still been a few moments that have created losing and prevented winning.

"A few plays, here or there. It's literally down to that. ... There's a lot of encouraging things. The team has gotten better every week in all three phases."

A few areas have hurt the Huskies.

They've given up too many explosive, momentum-changing passing plays. Syracuse's lethal duo of quarterback Eric Dungey and wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo combined on touchdown passes of 57 and 30 yards to put UConn into a 14-0 hole. Etta-Tawo also caught a 59-yard pass to keep a fourth quarter drive alive.

"In all four games, we have a few explosive plays in the passing game, "Diaco said. "That's not characteristic of how we play. Those plays have made the games harder than they need to be."

The normally reliable defense has allowed four drives of 90 yards and longer this season, including Syracuse marching 99 yards in 12 plays for a game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Opponents are too often turning turnovers into touchdowns.

Syracuse scored on a 22-yard interception return in the third quarter when UConn was mounting a comeback. In a 28-24 loss to Navy, the Midshipmen returned a fumble two yards for a score. Maine also had a 74-yard fumble return for a touchdown that UConn overcame and still won.

"That can't happen," Diaco said. "You're going to turn the football over. ... But they don't need to turn into score. We've had three uncontested turnovers for scores. If it is an anomaly, it needs to end. If it's not anomaly and can be coached, it needs to be coached and end.

"When those things happen in a game, you're not going to win."

The always upbeat Diaco mentioned some positives, too, during his weekly press conference.

For the most part, the Huskies executed their offensive game plan on Saturday. They dominated time of possession (38 minutes, 29 seconds, to 21:31), ran more plays (91-66) and had a season-high tying 23 first downs.

"We had control of the game," Diaco said. "We were playing the game that we wanted to play."

Diaco added there were very few errors in communication and assignments. Kick coverage also improved.

The day after the Syracuse loss, the Huskies gathered for practice in pads because of the short preparation week instead of taking their normal day off.

They were still ticked off about Saturday's loss and their mistakes but ready to move forward. 

"We're getting better," Diaco said. "We're excited to get back at it this week with a great, great challenge and a very exciting challenge. ... Everybody is angry, resolute, determined.

"We're seeing what we can be, not trying to think back to what we should be, or chances that got away. You can wallow in that. We're really moving forward with a great energy of correcting our mistakes and resolute and determined to not having them repeat."

g.keefe@theday.com