Idle Thoughts, while waiting for 2021, the Giants to stop faking field goals and for better snow removal in New London:

• Dr. Idle, Dr. I to his close friends, can't wait for the next UConn women's game.

Not for the game. But for the halftime interview. Geno Auriemma's streams of consciousness have been hilarious this season, even by his estimable standards.

In the Creighton game: "Thirty-seven years, I just can't believe some of the stuff I see. Honest to Christ," Auriemma said. Then after SNY analyst Meg Culmo asked another question, he said, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I don't know. This is　worst shooting team in America. I've got to tell you that."

In the Villanova game, he appealed to "Jesus Christ Almighty" before offering various sentiments on his team's defense.

Can't get enough.

• Dr. I is beginning to see basketball announcers morphing into their football brethren.

"In order to win this basketball game, this basketball team has to shoot the basketball well on the offensive end of the floor."

• Dr. I would like to meet UConn guard R.J. Cole one of these days. After the Creighton loss last week, he tweeted, "UConn Nation, earlier today was a tough loss. I missed two HUGE free throws, but as the point guard and one of the leaders of the team I'd put myself in that position every time because that's who I am and I have the up most confidence in myself and my abilities. I owe y'all one."

Stand up guy right there.

• Congrats to state education commissioner Miguel Cardona, who is President-elect Biden's nominee as United States Secretary of Education.

Idea for Dr. Cardona's replacement here in Connecticut: Chris Clouet, the former Superintendent in New London.

Clouet is smart, fair, poised and knows what it's like to run a school system. So let's make this happen.

• Per football writer Albert Breer, Notre Dame in the BCS/New Year's Six/College Football Playoff in the last 25 years:

'01 Fiesta: lost 41-9 to Oregon State; '06 Fiesta: lost 34-20 to Ohio State; '07 Sugar: lost 41-14 to LSU; '13 BCS title game: lost 42-14 to Alabama; '16 Fiesta: lost 44-28 to Ohio State; '18 semifinals: lost 30-3 to Clemson' '20 ACC championship: lost to Clemson, 34-10.

• Dr. I was stunned — stunned! — to learn Purdue doesn't want defensive coordinator Bob Diaco back next season.

Wonder where Capt. Queeg goes next?

• Dr. I's newest pickup line: "Pfizer or Moderna?"

• RIP to two of Dr. I's childhood idols: Ray Perkins and K.C. Jones.

Dr. I got a chance to interview Perkins once after T.J. Weist took over as UConn's interim football coach. (Weist played for Perkins at Alabama). We talked about Weist for about five minutes and the 1981 Giants (first playoff team in 18 years) for about 30 more. Couldn't have been a nicer guy.

And K.C.? Smart enough to give it to Larry Legend and get out of the way.

• Not to draw too many early conclusions, but it appears the Celtics need a defensive coordinator.

• Is it safe to ask the weather people yet if the drought is over?

• Best joke in a while: A guy goes to the doctor to talk about his crippling fear of palindromes — and the doctor actually had the nerve to put him on Xanax.

• Dr. I's good friend Tom Doyle on the Giants' quarterback situation: "You don't draft football players from Duke. You draft basketball players."

• Nice of the president to spend Christmas on the golf course.

Let them eat cake, right?

• Finally, congrats to Tom Cantone, president of sports and entertainment at Mohegan Sun, named 2020's Innovator of the Year by CelebrityAccess, a media communications company that covers the entertainment industry.

Cantone, who has been extraordinarily good to high school athletes across the state, turned Mohegan Sun Arena into a broadcast center for Showtime Boxing, Bellator Mixed Martial Arts and helped Mohegan make "Bubbleville" basketball a success.

Well deserved.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.