Storrs — There's a chance that UConn could be shorthanded heading into the Big East tournament.

Two key reserves — freshman Jordan Hawkins and fifth-year forward Tyler Polley — both missed practice on Tuesday, two days before the team's tournament opener at Madison Square Garden.

Hawkins, an All-Big East freshman team selection, is still in concussion protocol, and Polley is dealing with a virus. They are UConn's two top scorers off the bench.

It's too early to tell whether either player will be available to play Thursday night (approximately 9:30) against Wednesday's Seton Hall-Georgetown winner.

Hawkins suffered the injury at Creighton on March 2 and sat out Saturday's win over DePaul.

"You have to go through different steps," said Hurley, explaining the concussion protocol procedure. "Once you're symptom-free, you can move to doing some physical work, non-contact. He's feeling better."

Polley still has time to bounce back but may not be at 100 percent.

"I'm just not sure what his status is going to be right now," Hurley said. "Not sure when we'll see him. He's struggling with his stomach. Obviously, you don't want that running through the team."

Cole, Sanogo grateful

R.J. Cole and Adama Sanogo talked to the media for the first time about their selections to the All-Big East first team.

Both players thanked their teammates.

"It's a nice honor," Cole said. "But honestly, I wouldn't have been able to do this without this team. We've been unbelievable all year. I give it up to those guys, because they were the ones that helped me get this honor."

Sanogo added: "To be first team Big East, I'm thankful. I couldn't have achieved that goal without my teammates."

Senior Tyrese Martin was left off the All-Big East selections, something that didn't go unnoticed by his teammates and coaching staff.

"We'll see what he does in the tournament," Cole said. "I don't want to speak too much on that. I'm sure he's upset by it. I'm upset by it, I'm sure our team is, too, because he definitely deserves some recognition."

Young a candidate

Hurley firmly believes associate head coach Kimani Young will be running his own program someday. Maybe sooner than later.

Young is already drawing interest from at least one program.

According to several reports, UMass is considering Young as a candidate to fill its head coaching vacancy.

g.keefe@theday.com