Last week, UConn revealed its new Husky Dog logo, which was received positively by both men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie and women’s coach Geno Auriemma. The new jerseys include more red, mainly in the trim. The new football helmets feature the Husky logo above the facemask, showing the dog’s aggressive eyes. Nothing is on either side of the helmet.

Check out more of UConn’s new look in the photos below.

Photos via Instagram/uconnhuskies and Twitter/@JohnFSilver

So, with Dowling’s health still uncertain going forward, the Patriots may be tempted to take a chance on a local kid with the same skills and frame.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson (pronounced “Bleed-ee Ray-Wilson”) spent five years at the University of Connecticut and over that time developed into one of the most talented and technically sound cornerbacks in college football. His athleticism is his most desirable trait, but he also possesses the smarts and instincts that tend to make good corners great at the pro level.

Bill Belichick was in attendance at the UConn pro day recently, and you can bet he was keeping a keen eye on Wreh-Wilson during his visit.

The Patriots typically place a high value on intelligence, character and versatility when it comes to draft picks. Not coincidentally, those are all things Wreh-Wilson displayed during his four seasons with the Huskies and a reason why the Patriots appear interested.

Wreh-Wilson is a fringe first-rounder, but everything he offers is exactly what the Patriots want in a player. The marriage seems to be a likely fit, and he would add some necessary talent and depth to the Patriots’ secondary.

Then again, the last time the Patriots drafted a cornerback out of UConn — Darius Butler in the 2nd Round in 2009 — it didn’t exactly work out. So, Belichick may use a little more caution this time around.

Editor’s Note: NESN.com will evaluate and analyze one potential Patriots draft prospect every day from March 27 up until the start of the NFL Draft on April 25. Wreh-Wilson is the 10th player in that series.

Combine Measures:

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds

40 Time: 4.53 seconds

Vertical Jump: 36 inches

Key Stats:

Wreh-Wilson became a starter in his redshirt freshman season in 2009. He did miss a few games due to injury in 2011 and 2012, but was durable and dependable for the most part. His most productive season came in 2010, when he recorded a career-high 57 tackles, intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns. As he matured at UConn, Wreh-Wilson became a much more technical corner and took less risk, leading to fewer interceptions but also fewer mistakes.

Potential Impact:

The Patriots do have a long, athletic corner already on their roster in the aforementioned Dowling, but after two injury-plagued seasons there’s no guarantee he’ll stay healthy next season. Wreh-Wilson would provide the Patriots with the size and athleticism of Dowling while offering a developing secondary some young legs and much-needed depth alongside Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington. Wreh-Wilson also played at safety, in the “money” linebacker position and on special teams last year at UConn, and the Patriots do value versatility in developing young players.

Likelihood He’s Around at No. 29:

Very good. Wreh-Wilson is one of the best cornerback prospects in this year’s class, but he likely falls behind four or five guys on most team’s draft boards. The Broncos (28th overall) do need secondary help, too, and they could snatch him up just one slot in front of the Patriots. Then again, Wreh-Wilson could always fall into the second round, and the Patriots may have the chance to snag him at No. 59 overall.

Game Tape breakdown:

Strengths: Wreh-Wilson gives receivers a big cushion but possesses the closing speed to lock down on them quickly. He uses his height and length to bother receivers and finds a way to knock them off routes when playing press coverage. He attacks the ball carrier on run plays and can be a sound tackler. He’s relentless and never gives up on a play.

Weaknesses: He sometimes gets beat on jump balls, which shouldn’t happen given his frame. He struggles with play action at times, jumping the run and letting receivers get free behind him. Because of his size, Wreh-Wilson can also get off balance when changing direction quickly.

Scout Wilson for yourself below.

Saturday: Margus Hunt, DT, SMU

Other potential prospects: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State | Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee | Justin Pugh, OG, Syracuse  | Alex Okafor, DE, Texas | Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor | Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina | Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia | David Amerson, CB, North Carolina State | Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Have a question for Luke Hughes? Send it to him via Twitter at @LukeFHughes or send it here.

The Hoyas (21-4, 11-3), who moved to No. 7 from No. 11 in Monday’s AP Poll, now have a one-game lead over Syracuse and Marquette for the Big East regular-season title. Georgetown hasn’t won that since the 2007-08 season.

Georgetown was picked to finish fifth in the Big East preseason poll, but the young Hoyas have grown up faster than anticipated. They start two juniors and three sophomores, and their sixth man, freshman D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera.

The star is sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr., who has played his way into a top-five NBA draft pick should he declare after this season. Porter was dominant against Syracuse. He set career highs in points (33), field-goal attempts (19), field goals made (12), 3-pointers attempted (10) and made (5), and steals (5). Porter’s point total was the most ever by a Hoya against Syracuse. While he shot better than 63 percent from the field, the rest of his teammates were a combined 7-for-35 overall and 2-for-15 from long range.

Porter leads the Hoyas in scoring (15.9 ppg), rebounding (7.7), steals (2.0) and 3-point shooting (45.3%). He’s the Big East Player of the Year at this point and is in the conversation for national player of the year with the likes of Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, Michigan’s Trey Burke and Duke’s Mason Plumlee.

The real star for the Hoyas is their defense. Syracuse’s 46 points were its fewest ever at the Carrier Dome. The Orange scored just 78.0 points per 100 possessions, the team’s worst offensive efficiency in the past four seasons (by contrast, SU averages 109.6 points per 100 possessions this season overall). Georgetown allows 88.6 points per 100 possessions, among the best in the nation, and holds opponents to 35 percent shooting from the floor in half-court defense, also among the best. Saturday’s game was the 10th time this year the Hoyas held an opponent under 80.0 points per 100 possessions. Teams are shooting only 37.4 percent from the field overall against Georgetown. In Big East play, Pittsburgh is the only team to score more than 70 points against the Hoyas.

Perhaps more impressive is that Georgetown is 11-1 since arguably its second-best player, Greg Whittington, was declared ineligible for the rest of the season. He led the team in minutes per game and was second in scoring and rebounding when suspended. Georgetown has beaten ranked teams Notre Dame, Louisville, Marquette and Syracuse in that run. The loss was a head-scratching 61-58 defeat at South Florida, the Big East’s worst team. Porter was averaging 12.8 points with Whittington active and is scoring 18.9 per game since the suspension, with his overall and 3-point shooting percentages significantly higher. The team as a whole is shooting better and scoring around 3.0 more points per game.

Oddsmakers still aren’t high on the Hoyas’ national title hopes. They are 22-1 at Bovada to win it all. Ten schools have shorter odds, including Syracuse (20-1). Georgetown has a tough test Wednesday at Connecticut, which will have live play-by-play betting at the book. UConn is 13-2 at home and this will be the team’s biggest remaining home game of the season. Georgetown then closes the week with what should be an easy test at home against Rutgers on Saturday.

Best in Class: Bovada’s got the largest daily offering of college basketball team Props around. Raise your game.

UConn women’s hoop star Caroline Doty was rumored to be benched for a run in with campus police on Halloween night and head coach Geno Auriemma was not happy about it, according to Philly.com.

“Halloween is for an 8-year-old,” he said. “The decision that a 23-year-old makes to go trick-or-treating is dumb. And invariably, the stuff they are going to do is dumber. So that’s what I think about Caroline.”

Dressed as Lady Gaga, Doty was reportedly banging on doors as she made her way around her dorm’s halls, and after a few calls were placed to campus PD, she was issued a citation at 2:15 a.m ET. She wasn’t arrested and no alcohol was involved, according in the police report.

Doty sat out the team’s exhibition game on Friday night, but Auriemma told the Hartford Courant this week that he sat Doty because he wanted to rest her injured left knee.

“I went out dressed as Lady Gaga,” Doty told the Courant.”But I’d rather just talk about basketball if that’s ok. Not going to talk about that kind of stuff.”

Click here to see photos of UConn’s hoops star, Caroline Doty>>

Photo via Facebook/Caroline Doty

Calhoun started his head coaching career in Boston, leading Northeastern to four America East titles in five years from 1982-1986. From there Calhoun moved onto the court in Storrs, Conn. where he led UConn to 18 NCAA tournament appearances, 13 Sweet 16s, four Final Four appearances and three national titles — most recently in 2011. A successful career no doubt, but was he the greatest coach to sit on the bench for a local college team?

Tom Coughlin had a few successful seasons on the Heights at Boston College. Coughlin led the Eagles back to nation prominence after taking over in 1990, going 41-39 over his four year career on the sidelines. He also led the Eagles to a 9-3 record in his final season, highlighted by a win over No. 1 ranked Notre Dame which ruined their undefeated season.

The other recognizable coach from BC, and much more notably in the Boston area, would be that of hockey coach Jerry York. Since taking over the Eagles program in 1993, BC has steadily risen past the rest of the college hockey world with a string of 13 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 Frozen Fours and four national titles. York is seen as the preeminent coach in all of college hockey, given his track record. But if there were a rival for that honor, only one man could arguable unseat him.

Jack Parker has coached at Boston University since 1973, leading BU's hockey program into a place of national dominance for much of that stretch. He's had a very successful run over the years, winning 21 Beanpot titles and three national championships while fighting off York and the Eagles at every turn. One of the classiest coaches in all of sports, Parker has left a significant dent on the college coaching scene in New England.

With Calhoun's days finally numbered and some great company to keep, who do you think is New England's best college coach?

Who is best college coach in New England sports history?

Jim Calhoun

Clifford Robinson, the incumbent star-in-waiting when Calhoun arrive at UConn in 1986, was only the tip of the iceberg for the talent Calhoun would help produce during his 26 years in Storrs, Conn. In the decades to come, the Huskies would produce numerous Big East players of the year, all-Americans and NCAA Tournament most outstanding players en route to three national titles. Even before Calhoun took over the Huskies, he had overseen the beginning of Reggie Lewis' development into an NBA All-Star.

As Calhoun steps away from the game at 70 years old, here is a look at the elite talent that was produced on his watch. A few names, not to mention the order, might surprise you.

Check out the top 10 college players to play under Calhoun>>

LJ Mazzilli

Mazzilli’s father, Lee, played 14 seasons in the majors, and has enjoyed a coaching career in recent years. Mazzilli said he learned a lot from his father and from being around the game on a daily basis, but the UConn standout is now focused on carving out his own big league legacy.

Mazzilli’s approach has been a patient one. The infielder, who also played in the Cape Cod League, has been tremendous during his three seasons at UConn, leading the Huskies to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. The hard work and success hasn’t gone unnoticed, but despite getting drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the ninth round (280th overall) of this year’s MLB draft, Mazzilli will be returning to UConn for his senior season.

NESN.com’s Ricky Doyle recently caught up with LJ Mazzilli to discuss the infielder’s future, what went into his decision-making process and what it was like growing up around baseball as the son of a major league All-Star.

Listen in the player below, or subscribe on iTunes to download it there.

The Huskies were looking to defend their 2011 NCAA title post-Kemba Walker era but couldn't get past Iowa State in the first round of this year's tournament, ending their postseason on a sour note in the first round. What they didn't know at the time, however, was that it would be their last March Madness game for a while, seeing as they won't be on the big stage until 2014 again at the earliest.

Poor academic performance among the team has prompted the NCAA to suspend Jim Calhoun's squad from the 2013 men's tournament. The suspension is a result of UConn's low scores on the Academic Progress Rate.

UConn is a prestigious university and has a reputation to uphold when it comes to academics. Maybe last season's squad didn't make schoolwork such a priority or maybe they were so focused on defending their title. Whatever their reason is, it's a bad one because they fully deserve this suspension.

The University of Connecticut is an academic institution before anything else. The athletes don't just represent the athletic department, but they are a reflection on the university in all areas, and that includes academics. However, those involved in the program appear to be operating with the belief that basketball is all that matters.

The truth remains that this belief is wrong. Student-athletes have a job other than to play basketball, even though it may appear otherwise at times. The master narrative might be that student athletes only care about their sports and don't put an hour of effort into their studies, which may be the case at some schools and with some student athletes, but it's not always the case. UConn is a university built on high standards for their students and preparation to achieve success.

In order to achieve success, though, one must have the mental and physical strength to balance priorities. Some student athletes might have a hard time balancing their schoolwork with practices, travel and games. In that situation, it is the university's responsibility to help make sure such athletic suspensions do not happen.

We don't know the whole story in this case. If UConn did what they could to prevent this problem by providing better assistance to at-risk players, this punishment is on the players. If UConn did not provide any extra help for their struggling students, the suspension is on the university. Regardless, someone screwed up in a big way. 

The men's basketball program at UConn is one of the best in the nation, led by the legendary Calhoun. While it's a shame that this had to happen, and even though the school is expected to ask for a review of the case, the decision is not likely to change.

Dan Gavitt, an associate commissioner in the Big East conference, expressed his disappointment in this because of what it means for the rest of the conference.

"Any team that's ineligible would be a huge loss to the tournament, particularly a program like Connecticut," Gavitt said.

This punishment changes the whole nature of the tournament. It's unlikely that will change the nature of regular season play because it would be ridiculous if UConn didn't have the same work ethic despite knowing no matter how well they perform, they won't be in the tournament. 

It's unfortunate that UConn's national championship team is now tarnished somewhat. But it's important to note that key members of that 2010-11 team like Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier did not play a role in this. Want to point fingers? Look at the likes of Walker, Alex Oriakhi and other members of the 2008-09 team to find the real culprits.

Last season during a game in Connecticut against Syracuse, a fan held up a sign that read, 'Fab Melo failed Spanish.' It's pretty apparent, though, that it was UConn's players who were failing more than just Spanish to find themselves in this situation.

Kelley Hardwick filed her suit Monday in state Supreme Court in Manhattan, naming Auriemma, the NBA and USA Basketball as defendants. Auriemma called her account "beyond false" and said he would defend himself "to the fullest."

Hardwick is a former detective with the New York police department who started working for the NBA in security in 2002. Her suit says that as part of her job duties, she managed security for the U.S. women at international basketball events, including the Olympics in 2004 and 2008.

It was at one of these tournaments, a 2009 trip to Russia, that she says she met Auriemma. According to the lawsuit, one night after Auriemma wedged his way into a conversation with Hardwick and a co-worker in a hotel lounge, he followed her to the door of her room and tried to kiss her.

"Plaintiff was startled but, utilizing her training as a police officer and security professional, reacted quickly by shoving him away and stating, 'What are you doing? You better check yourself before you get hurt!' " the suit says.

Hardwick says in the suit she told supervisors about the incident but that nothing was done. In subsequent international trips, according to the suit, Auriemma avoided her but was uncomfortable with her being there.

In March, Hardwick says she learned of a conference call involving NBA officials in which Auriemma demanded that she be taken off the security assignment for the London Games.

In his statement, Auriemma said, "This claim is beyond false. I will defend myself to the fullest, and I'm confident that the truth will ultimately prevail. In the meantime, I remain focused on representing the United States this summer and getting our team ready to compete for the gold medal."

Auriemma is one of the elite coaches in women's basketball and has guided the Huskies to seven national titles — including four perfect seasons.

His election as the Olympic coach was announced in April 2009, and he led the national team to a world championship in 2010 that earned the U.S. an automatic bid to the London Games. Auriemma, who has won 804 games at Connecticut — including an NCAA-record 90 straight from 2008-2010 — was an assistant on the 2000 Olympic team that won a gold medal in Sydney.

As part of the lawsuit, Hardwick also says that the NBA discriminated against her due to her gender, and that she was denied promotions, raises and employment opportunities because she was a woman.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league doesn't comment on pending litigation. USA Basketball also declined comment.

Hardwick is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as back pay.

That's the message of two videos recently released by the team as part of the You Can Play program, according to ESPN.com. You Can Play is an international effort to eradicate homophobia in hockey, and the Huskies have thrown themselves fully behind it.

"We thought it was a great idea to show the community how we feel about homosexuality in sports, and let people know that anyone can play on our team," said Sean Ambrosie, the captain of the team.

Although about 100 athletes — including 50 from the NHL — have signed a pledge stating that they would play with gay or transgender teammates, UConn is only the eighth team to join as a squad. Coach Bruce Marshall said that the players came up with the idea themselves.

Watch one of the videos for yourself below.

As the Hockey East looks to grow, commissioner Joe Bertagna now says expansion plans include the University of Connecticut, according to The Associated Press.

The Hockey East has 10 members right now but will add Notre Dame in 2013. UConn — a member of the Atlantic Hockey conference — would give the powerhouse conference a dozen teams.

Connecticut athletic director Warde Manuel and Bertagna said they "hope to know in June whether UConn will be upgrading its men's hockey program and becoming a member of Hockey East," according to the AP. Other discussions surrounding the school’s hockey program have included using Hartford's XL Center for games.

Jerry York has worked wonders with the BC hockey program, since taking over in 1994. The Eagles have appeared in 13 NCAA tournaments, 10 Frozen Four's and even won three national titles during York's 18 year stretch on the Heights.

This season, BC looked to be just another middle of the pack hockey team until a third-straight Beanpot title seemed to finally kick them into high gear. The Eagles have been dominant ever since, winning 18-straight and outscoring opponents 73-20 (12-1 in NCAA's) over that stretch.

BC's utter dominance this season, and over the past decade, seems to resemble that of a few other New England college sports programs. The program that could be most closely related to the Eagles is in fact their arch-rivals at Boston University.

Jack Parker is often compared to York, as both are legends in the college hockey ranks and each resides within but a few miles of one another on Commonwealth Avenue. Parker has been at the helm of BU since 1973 and has led the Terriers to three national championships of their, most recently in 2009.

As hockey reigns supreme in the Boston area, basketball seems to dominate the territory in southern New England. Both of the University of Connecticut's basketball programs compete on the national stage annually, and  have even won national recently.

Jim Calhoun took over the UConn men's team in 1986, and the exuberant sideline general has guided the Huskies to national prominence in his 25 year stint. Calhoun has brought the school to 17 NCAA tournaments, four Final Fours and won the program's only three national championships during his tenure.

On the very same basketball court, Geno Auriemma has led the UConn women's program to seven national titles of their own. Auriemma began at Connecticut a year before Calhoun and has seen his program rise to an elite level. Aside from the national titles, the Lady Huskies have made 24-straight NCAA tournament appearances, 13 Final Fours and five-straight Final Fours over the past 26 seasons.

Each school has put together an impressive resume for their program. But which one is the best in New England?

Which is the best New England college sports program?

The Huskies are again among the favorites to cut down the nets as the national champions, but before starting that quest, they decided to cut a rug.

Junior guard Caroline Doty posted a video to her YouTube page last week that showed the lighter side of UConn basketball, as Doty and her teammates put together a lip sync music video for Carley Rae Jepsen's video "Call Me Maybe."

Check it out below.

NESN.com's college basketball coverage is presented by Bodava.net

Even though the championship game is played in early April, make no mistake that this is March Madness.

In just four days, the whole field will be cut down to just 16 teams, dashing the dreams of countless players, coaches and fans.

But even those who are eliminated have support they can lean on. The respective cheer squads of each school is always there to provide a burst of spirit, whether it's needed to get amped for the next game or recover from that season-ending loss.

The cheerleaders that work so hard to keep fans going deserve some recognition, so take some time away from the television with the squads from the South region, in order of how they are presented on the bracket from top to bottom.

Click here to see the cheerleaders of the South region>>

NESN.com's college basketball coverage is presented by Bovada.net.

Bedlam, craziness or insanity would work, too, but those words simply don’t fit from an alliteration standpoint.

And throughout the upcoming March Madness, there’s plenty of storylines that should have fans on the edges of their seats. Even if you don’t have a rooting interest in the tourney, what’s not to love about a 68-team, single-elimination tournament?

With a potential for upsets, future NBA stars and coaching legends all in the fold this year, it should be a fun ride.

Click here to see the top 10 storylines of this year’s NCAA tournament >>

NESN.com’s college basketball coverage is presented by Bovada.net.

Click here to download a printable version of this year’s college basketball tournament bracket >>

According to a press release from the athletic department, Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun will undergo back surgery Monday and is expected to miss at least two more games.

"I'm glad we have finally determined the best course of treatment to deal with the problem," Calhoun said in the release. "I'm looking forward to having the procedure done, hopefully recovering as quickly as possible, and putting it all in the past."

Calhoun, 69, has been on medical leave from the team since Feb. 3 because of a worsening case of spinal stenosis. UConn has gone 3-3 during his absence and is 17-10 on the season overall.

The Huskies will take on No. 2 Syracuse this Saturday night in the feature game for ESPN's College GameDay.

Kemba Walker

Walker, who willed UConn's men's basketball team to the NCAA Championship last spring, has had an up-and-down first season in the NBA. He returns to New England as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday to take on the Celtics.

After reaching double digits in scoring in just six of his first 12 games, Walker became more aggressive beginning with a 23-point outburst Jan. 14 against the Warriors. Since then, he has scored in double figures in all but three games and reached the 20-point plateau three times.

As an undersized shooting guard who doesn't have natural point guard instincts, Walker was expected to take some time to adjust to the NBA game. The good news is that he has increased his scoring average to 12.3 points and is averaging 1.1 steals per game. The bad news is that he shoots just 36 percent from the field.

Time will tell if Walker becomes a perennial All-Star or joins Mateen Cleaves, Miles Simon and Juan Dixon as NCAA Tournament heroes who fizzled out in the pros.

What sort of NBA career will Kemba Walker have?

According to the press release, Calhoun will be out at least for Saturday’s game against Seton Hall and Monday’s matchup with Louisville, and from there he will be reevaluated day-to-day.

The release said that Calhoun, 69, has been dealing with spinal stenosis — a narrowing of the spine that causes pain and a lack of mobility — since last summer, but that recently his condition has grown worse.

“Jim has been able to manage it with the physical therapy and stretching, but over the last several days, things have become worse and he is not able to deal with this on a day to day basis, so other options need to be considered,” said his physician, Dr. Peter Schulman. “Right now, he is physically unable to coach.”

Associate head coach George Blaney, who assumed coaching duties earlier this year while Calhoun served a three-game suspension, will take over for the Hall of Famer. The Huskies are 2-1 so far under Blaney this season.

2011 was a banner year for the female athlete. Young stars such as Caroline Wozniacki (tennis) and Yani Tseng (golf) established themselves as forces in their respective sports.

Tameka Catchings still dominated the WNBA, while Danica Patrick continued to improve as a driver and break new ground in motorsports.

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup captivated imaginations around the world and produced a new generation of heroes in the beautiful game.

Judging by the talent of some of the names on our list, there's always the potential for some repeat performances in 2012. There are still those who you may have forgotten or who might surprise you, though.

Click here to see the Top 11 Sportswomen of 2011 >>

Jim Calhoun could have gone out on top after his UConn squad won the national championship last season. But it just wasn't time.

Calhoun says his passion for the game of basketball is what keeps him coaching after all these years. He's been the head coach at UConn since 1986, winning three national titles in his career, but he's still fueled by the idea of another challenge.

This season, Calhoun's group will have a target on its back, as the Huskies look to repeat without Kemba Walker, who was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats. Calhoun knows it's going to be difficult to follow up with such a young team, but he's confident in the group he has.

To hear more from Calhoun, check out his 1-on-1 interview with NESN's Jayme Parker in the video above.