Storrs – As a key reserve, Joey Calcaterra injects energy and offense into the UConn basketball team.

He’s also brought joy and love of the game to the Huskies.

“He’s got a lot of swag,” junior Andre Jackson said. “He’s also just a really good connector for the group. He’s always around everybody. He’s one of the most lively players in the locker room and on the court.

“Great energy guy. There’s never a day where he doesn’t bring energy. That helps me a lot, too, in practice and games where maybe I’m feeling down, he’s there to build me up. He’s also just a jokester.”

Jackson wasn’t done raving about Calcaterra. He talked about the transfer’s work ethic and toughness.

Calcaterra is just one of many reasons why UConn is ranked fifth and undefeated at 10-0 heading into Saturday’s non-conference game against Long Island University (1-7) at 12:30 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion.

The Huskies are loaded, going as much as nine deep. They’ve dismantled the opposition, winning all their games by double digits for the first time in program history. They trailed only 24 minutes, nine seconds, out of 400 minutes played this season and never in the second half.

But they’re not resting on their success.

“We feel good, but we’re definitely not satisfied though,” Calcaterra said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do and a lot of things to improve on.”

Calcaterra has been UConn’s most consistent perimeter player off the bench, averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20.5 minutes per game. He’s shooting a sizzling 57.7 percent from the field, 58.1 (18 for 31) from 3-point range. In his best season (2020-21) at San Diego, he averaged 13.3 points and shot 41.9 percent overall.

He’s also a vocal leader, not afraid to speak up despite his status as a newcomer to the program. Hurley called Calcaterra a “competitive guy with a high level of self-belief.”

“I’m just trying to do what I’ve got to do to help the team be successful, whether that’s taking shots or passing the ball,” Calcaterra said. “I came here knowing that I would have a similar role to what I have right now, so I’m just trying to make all the right plays for the team.”

“... I’m just excited to be here and display my skills.”

This is just the type of experience that Calcaterra wanted when he considering his next basketball home after graduating from University of San Diego. He became convinced that UConn was the perfect fit for him after watching a workout during which the Huskies were “all business.”

Calcaterra was thrilled when coach Dan Hurley offered him a scholarship.

“It was UConn basketball,” Calcaterra said. “I’ve got an opportunity to play here at UConn, which is huge for me. I’ve always been someone who’s been underappreciated. Just having the opportunity to even come here and be on the roster, that’s big-time for me.

“... It’s lived up to expectations. I’m having the time of my life. Definitely happy to be here.”

Calcaterra is just the kind of veteran, unselfish player that Hurley wanted to add to the roster.

Hurley got a good read on the transfer guard after visiting with Calcaterra and his family during the recruiting process earlier this year.

Calcaterra has delivered in the first 10 games. He’s also embraced his nickname, “Joey California.”

“He has the stomach to play here at a big place like this,” Hurley said. “Not everyone can play here. It’s a different level of expectations than most other high majors. This is a unique type of place in terms of the amount of eyes that care about what you’re doing.

“You’ve got to have a short memory and you’ve got to believe in yourself and you’ve got to be able to turn off the outside noise and he can do all those things because he comes from great stock.”

The Huskies are far from perfect.

For example, Hurley would like the Huskies to cut down on turnovers. They’re averaging 13.7 per game.

And Hurley doesn't want them to just rely on their talent advantage against Long Island, which isn’t expected to pose much of a challenge. The Sharks have struggled badly, play with an undersized lineup and have already been blown out by two Big East teams in Marquette and St. John’s.

Hurley sent a message by holding an intense practice on Friday.

“You look at me, I’m on edge,” Hurley said. “In terms of the intensity coming from the coaches, that was probably as intense a practice that we’ve had in at least the last couple of years here.

“… We know how quickly things can unravel if we change anything about how we go about things, preparation-wise and mentality. There’s areas that we’ve got to get better at. We’ve got to be more efficient.”

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 5 UCONN vs. LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY

Location: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs

Tip: 12:30 p.m. (FS1)

Records: UConn 10-0, Long Island University 1-7

Last game: UConn won at Florida, 75-54, Wednesday; Long Island lost to UMass Lowell, 84-64, Monday

Probable starters: UConn, 6-5 sr. guard Tristen Newton (10.8 pts, 4.6 rebs, 4.1 assists), 6-6 jr. guard Andre Jackson (5.4 pts, 6.1 rebs, 4.3 assists), 6-5 so. guard Jordan Hawkins (13.5 pts), 6-8 r-fr. forward Alex Karaban (9 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-9 jr. forward Adama Sanogo (18.5 pts, 6.9 rebs)Long Island, 6-1 r-sr. guard Tre Wood (9 pts), 6-5 r-so. guard Jacob Johnson (10.9 pts, 6 rebs), 6-6 fr. guard R.J. Greene (10.8 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-6 so. guard Quion Burns (9.4 pts, 5.9 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Cheikh Ndiaye (6.8 pts, 4.9 rebs)

Noteworthy: UConn attempting to go undefeated in non-conference games for the sixth time in program history since joining the Big East in 1979, first since 2010-11. … LIU dropped six straight, including losses to Big East foes Marquette (95-58) and St. John’s (95-68). … Series: UConn leads, 3-2, winning last meeting 93-40 in Nov. 2021 in Storrs. … Top reserve: 6-6 so. Marko Maletic (14.9 pts, 2.3 rebs). … LIU coached by former NBA player Rod Strickland. … Picked to finish eighth in Northeast Conference. … Sharks averaging 66.5 points per game, allowing 80.1. … Mistake prone: LIU committing 16.4 turnovers per game. … Hot: Jackson averaging 9.3 rebs in last three games. Cold: Reserve Hassan Diarra 2 for 14 from field in last five games and shooting 29.4 percent overall. … Huskies rank in top 10 in the country in both offensive (8th) and defensive efficiency (4th). … UConn won 14 straight at Gampel Pavilion. … As of Thursday, Huskies are one of 10 unbeaten teams in the nation. … Next up: UConn enters final exam break, returning to action at Butler Dec. 17 in its Big East opener.

– Gavin Keefe