Jim Calhoun has assembled a collection of talent in Storrs that rivals any team in the nation. There is size, speed, shooting, depth and experience.

And as a result, there are tremendous expectations. Anything short of a trip to the Final Four will be a disappointment.

"We hopefully have had enough experience with that where it doesn't affect us too much," Calhoun said. "I don't mind having people think that we're pretty good. It's only a burden if it's unfair. I think we can be pretty good, and that's OK for people to say."

Junior center Emeka Okafor, who could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next year, is expecting this to be a special season at UConn.

"We know what we have to do," he said. "We know where we want to be at the end of [the] year, and that's at the Final Four."

FRONTCOURT

Okafor, who arrived at UConn as a defensive specialist, has developed into a force on both ends of the court. He led the nation in blocked shots last season with 4.7 per game. He also developed some strong post moves and a deft touch around the basket. Okafor shot 58.0 percent from the field and averaged 15.9 points per game a year ago, and he could easily be a 20-point scorer if the Huskies did not have so many other offensive options.

The loss of burly power forward Mike Hayes will be offset by the development of Marcus White, a tenacious, tireless worker around the basket. White averaged 6.4 rebounds in Big East action despite playing fewer than 20 minutes per game.

String bean Hilton Armstrong also will have a more prominent role, provided he gets a little stronger and more assertive. Armstrong started the final 22 games alongside Okafor, but his minutes diminished over the final month of the season. He played just 10 total minutes in the Huskies' three NCAA Tournament games and did not attempt a field goal.

Rashad Anderson and Denham Brown, who was tentative at times and scintillating at others, give the Huskies depth at small forward. They are both talented and versatile offensive players.

What could alter the dynamic up front, though, are the additions of Charlie Villanueva, Josh Boone and Ryan Thompson. Villanueva, who originally committed to play for Bill Self at Illinois, almost skipped college for the NBA. He is considered one of the top five freshman recruits in the nation. He could play power forward or small forward if the Huskies choose to go big.

BACKCOURT

The loss of slashing guard Tony Robertson hurts. But the arrival of freshman Marcus Williams, who will be groomed as the point guard of the future, will allow sharpshooter Ben Gordon to return to the two-guard spot on a full-time basis.

Gordon was forced to play the point when Taliek Brown was sidelined with a broken finger midway through the 2002-03 season. Gordon still managed to lead the team with 19.5 points per game, and he was deadly (41.9 percent) from 3-point range. After a midseason slump (1-of-17 from behind the 3-point line over a four-game stretch), Gordon responded by hitting at least one 3-pointer in 14 of the Huskies' final 15 games.

The much-maligned Brown isn't much of a shooter, but he defends well and takes the ball to the rim as well as any point guard in the country. He is an ideal lead guard on a team with so many offensive weapons.

Anderson, an explosive 3-point gunner (55-of-140, 39.3 percent), likely will see some time at the two spot, in addition to small forward. He is a good ball-handler who will allow Calhoun to employ a bigger lineup.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The Huskies have been to the Sweet Sixteen nine times in the Calhoun era and have reached the Elite Eight on five occasions. Along the way, Calhoun has picked up an NIT championship and, of course, an NCAA title. The success has been a combination of fine players and outstanding coaching.

With a strong corps of returning talent, a fine crop of newcomers and a reinvigorated Calhoun -- he has made a complete recovery from the prostate cancer that sidelined him for a portion of the 2002-03 season -- this UConn club has the potential bring another national title to Storrs.

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