Tampa, Fla. — A questioner asked San Diego coach Bill Grier Friday about preparing to face a 7-footer.

“I believe he's 7-3,” Grier said of UConn's shot-blocking sophomore Hasheem Thabeet.

The intimidating Thabeet is a tall order for the Toreros, who have only one player over 6-8 on their roster.

Grier kidded that he tried to simulate playing Thabeet in practice this week by having one player sit on the shoulders of another and hold up a broom.

“I don't want our guys to play in fear of him, but we also have to be intelligent,” Grier said. “He's a great shot blocker. You see some teams on film keep trying to challenge him, and he keeps blocking shots.”

The defensive task in today's NCAA Tournament West Region first round game falls to 6-8 junior Gyno Pomare, who has the bulk at 240 pounds and quickness to present the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year problems.

While Pomare has never faced anyone that size before, he plans to remain aggressive. He hopes to get Thabeet in foul trouble.

“I know he's going to block some shots,” Pomare said. “I'm going to just keep going at him.”

In his own not-so-subtle way, UConn coach Jim Calhoun challenged Thabeet earlier this week. After the Huskies returned to practice Sunday following two days off after a Big East Tournament quarterfinal loss, Calhoun told Thabeet that he hadn't seen him since Wednesday. The Huskies played Thursday. Thabeet had just six points, six rebounds and two blocks – all under his season averages.

Thabeet, a native of Tanzania, is eager to play in his first NCAA Tournament game.

“I'm so exited,” Thabeet said. “I can't wait to tip-off tomorrow at three o'clock. I'm so glad to be here.”

Calhoun believes the first five or six minutes of today's game will tell if Thabeet will be a factor.

“If he blocks two or three shots or you dribble in there and decide this is a bad idea and dribble out, he starts to be effective then,” Calhoun said.

Dyson factor

With each passing game, UConn sophomore Jerome Dyson is gradually returning to pre-suspension form. He's hoping to make an impact today.

In the five games since returning from a 30-day suspension, Dyson is averaging 5.4 points, lowering his season average to 12.4 per game.

“I just feel more and more comfortable each game and I think I'm just starting to pull together gradually,” Dyson said. “I'm not going to go out and be a superstar or anything and try to take over the game. I just want to let it come to me.”

His status today is a bit unclear after Dyson left midway through UConn's 40-minute workout Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum. He was feeling under the weather.

Calhoun has made a few adjustments in practice recently in an attempt to expand Dyson's role, turning him into a back-up small forward behind starter Stanley Robinson.

“We're trying to create a little different role for him,” Calhoun said.

Like father, like son

UConn junior A.J. Price has seen the old game films of his father Tony playing in the NCAA Tournament. Now A.J. wants to make his mark in his first NCAA Tournament.

“Through all my trials and tribulations I've been through, it's really gratifying for me to finally be here,” Price said. “Now with a good team, it's time for us to do something special.”

It will be difficult to duplicate his father's accomplishments. In 1979, Tony led Penn to the Final Four, losing to Michigan State, 101-67, in the national semifinals. He made the All-Regional team in the East and averaged 23.7 points in six games.

“I've watched my father's tapes when I was younger, so I have seen the type of fire and passion that you have to bring to this tournament and he instilled that in me as a player as well.”

g.keefe@theday.com or 701-4393

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