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STORRS, Conn. -- UConn, one of several programs being mentioned as a potential candidate for expansion by the Big 12 Conference, is dealing with something new in Bob Diacos third season as its head coach: higher expectations.The Huskies, who went 2-10 in 2014, improved to 6-7 last season. They also handed Houston its only regular-season loss before falling to Marshall 16-10 in the St. Petersburg Bowl -- UConns first bowl game in five years.The team returns 15 starters this season and fans are hoping the Huskies can make a statement loud enough to be heard by those making the expansion decisions in Texas. Diaco said hes not paying attention to what is being said outside the program but embraces the enthusiasm.If you cant get excited about people really wanting you to achieve, then youre in the wrong business, youre in the wrong game, Diaco said. Its the best. I love that.The Huskies ranked just 117th in the nation in total offense last season, but return four starters from its offensive line, and will get back center Ryan Crozier, who missed last season with a knee injury.Junior quarterback Bryant Shirreffs threw for 2,078 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran for 503 yards, a year ago. He is back and so is his top target, Noel Thomas, who caught 54 passes for 719 yards and three TDs.Diaco said Shirreffs isnt a lock to be the teams starting quarterback and is being pushed by senior Garrett Anderson, a junior-college transfer who played some receiver last year.The defense, which gave up just 19.5 points per game, is expected to be the teams strength, led by safety Obi Melifonwu.We have a base, a foundation and a building, said linebacker Matt Walsh. Now were just putting a whole other floor on it.Here are some of the other things to watch for in advance of UConns season opener on Sept. 1 against Maine:KEY GAMESUConns position in the American Athletic Conference could be decided during a key stretch that begins with a Sept. 29 visit to Houston, which lost to the Huskies 20-17 in East Hartford last year. UConn then returns home to face Cincinnati on Oct. 8. Both programs have been mentioned in Big 12 expansion talks. The Huskies also renew their rivalry with Boston College at Chestnut Hill on Nov. 19.RUNNING BACKSThe tailback tandem of Arkeel Newsome and Ron Johnson are back after combining for 1,016 rushing yards last season. Backup Josh Marriner transferred to Old Dominion during the offseason. Two freshmen on the roster, Nate Hopkins and JaKevious Vickers, could also get some carries.DAVIS SWITCHTyler Davis has switched positions. Recruited as a quarterback, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound redshirt freshman will instead be catching passes and running out of the F or slot-back position this year. Diaco said it didnt make much sense to have someone as athletically talented as Davis sitting on the bench as a backup quarterback.Theres so many jobs he can do for the team more than just stand on the sidelines and wait to go in at quarterback after two or three guys have a problem, he said. Get him in a spot where he can be an impact player.GAMEDAY EXPERIENCEAthletic director David Benedict says he wants to improve the game-day experience to get more fans to Rentschler Field. He has cut the prices of some concessions and eased parking restrictions in an effort to encourage tailgating. He also announced that plans for a ticket surcharge that would help pay for new soccer, baseball and softball fields at the school wont be implemented this season.PREDICTIONA 7-5 season and a second consecutive bowl game would be another step forward for UConn, though it may not be enough to convince the Big 12 that UConn football is worth adding.---This story has been corrected to show 2014 record was 2-10. Andre Dillard Jersey Large .Y. -- Jayna Hefford scored the winning goal Friday as Canada survived a scare with a 4-3 win over Sweden at the Four Nations womens hockey tournament. Custom Eagles Jersey China . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. http://www.customeaglesjersey.com/ . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Cheap Eagles Jerseys . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Cheap Custom Eagles Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. NEW YORK -- Mets first baseman Lucas Duda likely will not play again this season because of a recurrence of back pain.Duda has been sidelined since May 20 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, an injury originally projected to keep him out of the lineup for four-to-six weeks.Duda had been taking ground balls and hitting off a tee at the teams spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida, when he felt the renewed pain late last week. He traveled to Marina del Rey, California, where he was examined Tuesday by Dr. Robert Watkins.He just had a flare-up of a little bit of back pain, and the doctor said just back him off, general manager Sandy Alderson said Wednesday. Im sure it was caused by the workouts. There wasnt any indication specifically what it was.Asked whether Duda could possibly return in October if the Mets reach the postseason, Alderson said: It doesnt look good. Alderson said Duda should heal with rest and be ready for spring training.Duda hit .231 with seven homers and 19 RBI in 39 games before going on the disabled list. The 30-year-old has a $6,725,000 salary this year and is eligible for free agency after the 2017 season.He had a career-high 30 homers in 2014, then had 27 homers, 73 RBI and a .244 battting average last year as the Mets won their first NL pennant since 2000.ddddddddddddJames Loney, acquired from San Diego on May 28, has taken over as the Mets first baseman. He entered Wednesday nights game against the Yankees with a .284 average, six homers and 21 RBI.New York also said right-hander Zack Wheeler will pitch Saturday for Class A St. Lucie of the Florida State League in his first game since Tommy John surgery on March 25 last year.Yoenis Cespedes was in the Mets lineup as the designated hitter, his first start since aggravating a right quadriceps injury on Saturday, Mets manager Terry Collins expects Cespedes will be ready to return to the outfield next Tuesday, when the Mets open a series at home against Arizona.Cespedes had a run-scoring infield single when he pinch hit Tuesday in a 7-1 win over the Yankees at Citi Field. Retired major leaguer Kevin Millar tweeted a photo of himself with Cespedes after a round of golf Wednesday, which did not bother Collins.Was he running on the course or was he walking? Did he ride a cart or was he jogging? Collins said. No, I dont have any problem. ' ' '