When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.

So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.

"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."

That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.

"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."

When Michigan was looking to add a high-profile nonconference opponent before last season, coach John Beilein figured he should go with what he knows.
He knew Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun well since both were from the Northeast and coached against each other in the Big East for five years.

So scheduling a home-and-home series worked well, even in the middle of the conference season as it will be for Sunday's game at Crisler Arena.

"He mentored me when I first got in the (Big East) league a little bit, telling me how to approach coaching at this level, and it was good," Beilein said Friday. "The basic message was coach one team at a time. He told me an old story about (former St. John's coach) Lou Carnesecca. Coach one team at a time, don't worry about what other people are doing, worry what you're doing. It stuck with me a long time."

That's easier said when Connecticut is the opponent. While there might be potential for Beilein's knowledge of Calhoun to help the Wolverines -- it appeared to make a difference when U-M played the Huskies close in Storrs, Conn., last year -- it might not be significant.

"I don't think it's an advantage either way," said Beilein, 1-3 against Connecticut during his time at West Virginia. "We're not going to surprise each other, let's say that."

Duke coach David Cutcliffe will be named Tennessee's next head football coach barring any last minute surprises, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on its website.

Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton declined to confirm an agreement with Cutcliffe, and one issue remaining to be settled between the two parties is Cutcliffe's staff, according to the newspaper. Cutcliffe wants to bring much of his staff from Duke with him to Tennessee, but there are six Vols assistants still left after Lane Kiffin's departure to USC.
Tennessee has reportedly been rebuffed in its search to replace Kiiffin by several coaches, including Jon Gruden, Will Muschamp and Troy Calhoun.
Cutcliffe is a longtime Vols assistant who was the offensive coordinator for the 1998 national championship team.
Cutcliffe has coached the Blue Devils for the past two seasons, going 9-15. He also coached Ole Miss from 1998-2004, going 44-29 and leading the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory. He is known for grooming quarterbacks, including Peyton and Eli Manning.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe will be named Tennessee's next head football coach barring any last minute surprises, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports on its website.

Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton declined to confirm an agreement with Cutcliffe, and one issue remaining to be settled between the two parties is Cutcliffe's staff, according to the newspaper. Cutcliffe wants to bring much of his staff from Duke with him to Tennessee, but there are six Vols assistants still left after Lane Kiffin's departure to USC.
Tennessee has reportedly been rebuffed in its search to replace Kiiffin by several coaches, including Jon Gruden, Will Muschamp and Troy Calhoun.
Cutcliffe is a longtime Vols assistant who was the offensive coordinator for the 1998 national championship team.
Cutcliffe has coached the Blue Devils for the past two seasons, going 9-15. He also coached Ole Miss from 1998-2004, going 44-29 and leading the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory. He is known for grooming quarterbacks, including Peyton and Eli Manning.