Huskies prepare for prime time matchup

UConn's game this Saturday at Cincinnati will be the first prime time national game for the Big East since 2005.

The Huskies matchup with the Bearcats will be seen at 8 p.m. on ABC. The game will be broadcast by ABC's lead announcing team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit.

"For us, being a young program to have that happen, maybe it's because we beat them a year ago," said UConn head coach Randy Edsall. "People see that exposure is tremendous. Again, this is another one of those situations where people thought with this program we'd never be on TV, but here we are going against Oklahoma-Nebraska and Arizona State-USC, and the lead team is broadcasting our game. I think it's good for the conference."

The Huskies will have back-to-back national exposure with the Cincinnati game on Saturday and a matchup with Notre Dame on Nov. 21 broadcast at 2:30 p.m. on NBC.

"You can't buy this type of advertising from a school standpoint or a state standpoint," Edsall said. "It gets you in front of more recruits nationwide."

Injuries abound

While the Huskies' 28-24 loss to Rutgers hurt in the Big East standings, UConn suffered a pair of season-ending injuries that will hurt their depth as the season progresses. Starting quarterback Cody Endres, who inherited the job after Zac Frazer went down with an injury, suffered an injury of his own; a season ending shoulder injury. Also on Saturday, kick returner Robbie Frey suffered a season-ending injury and had surgery Tuesday morning.

Edsall said Tuesday that Frey was disappointed he couldn't help out the team but didn't feel bad because he gave it all he had. He wants to help out any way he can, including helping to coach and encourage the team from the sideline. Mike Lang will join Jordan Todman as UConn's primarykick returners.

As for Endres, Frazer, who was deemed healthy enough to be the backup quarterback the last two weeks, will take back the starting job he had to begin the season.

"I would think he would improve in a lot of areas in terms of being out there and getting reps," Frazer said. "I think he'll go out and play well this week."

Box on shelf till next year

With the injury to Endres, many wondered if highly touted freshman Michael Box from Suwanee, Ga. would be slated as Frazer's backup. Edsall answered these questions when he released the Cincinnati depth chart Tuesday, which had Frazer slated as the No. 1 backed up by Johnny McEntee and Casey Turner. Box will retain his redshirt for this season before potentially seeing action next year.

"It wasn't a long discussion," Edsall said. "You're going into your ninth game, we have a freshman we think is talented. At this point in the season you're not going to go and put him in. And we know if something did happen to Zach, Johnny could go in and get the job done."

Don't expect a repeat of last year

Last year the Huskies, lead by Endres, routed eventual Big East champions Cincinnati 40-16 at Rentschler Field. Endres didn't throw for a touchdown but didn't turn the ball over and the Huskies relied on six turnovers and Donald Brown in the rushing game to secure the win. Don't look for the same result this year.

In 2009 the Bearcats are undefeated, No. 4 in the AP poll, and have committed just four turnovers all season long.

"We have to go out and prepare and execute and take advantage of the opportunities we have," Edsall said. "We don't have that margin of error there … Cincinnati's offense this year has turned the ball over just four times, that's an impressive stat."

Quick hits

Cincinnati starting quarterback Tony Pike is expected to sit out Saturday's game with ain injury … Edsall lauded the development of young players on the defense including Trevardo Williams and Jesse Joseph on the defensive line … The Huskies are 1-4 all time against Cincinnati with the lone win coming last year at The Rent ... UConn's four losses this season have been by a combined 13 points.