Big East Thermometer: Connecticut

The Big East Thermometer is a weekly postgame feature that attempts to analyze the "hotness" or "notness" of a team's performance. It is based on a points system that contains no substantive guidance and is sure to be rife with errors, omissions, and inconsistencies.

Connecticut against Duke. The three-word fragment invokes images of basketball royalty: Krzyzewski, Calhoun, rich kids jumping in an old gym, and a host of NBA-ready potential.

Unfortunately, the aforementioned fragment only references a gridiron tussle between one of college football's worst squads against one of the Big East's least favored members.

Connecticut pulled away late from the Blue Devils in Durham yesterday, securing a 45-14 beat down. Although the final scoreline indicates everything is sunshine and lollipops in Storrs, there are still issues seeking immediate resolution.

"Special" Teams: -11
Throughout Randy Edsall's tenure at Connecticut, the Huskies have never had a lights out placekicker. Players have come and gone that have had bursts of talent (such as Matt Nuzie), but none that have cemented their place as an unquestionably reliable striker. Tony Ciaravino appears to have joined this nameless and faceless parade of "almost (in)famous."

Ciaravino attempted four field goals against Duke, all within 35 yards. Ciaravino converted three of those attempts, but the strikes strayed from center and lacked solid loft. This lack of execution was none more typified than in the fourth quarter when Ciaravino had an extra point attempt blocked following a 25-yard Donald Brown touchdown.

Outside of the kicking game, Connecticut also struggled mightily on its kickoff coverage. Desi Cullen managed to strike for a 62.9 yard average (along with two touchbacks), but his teammates allowed Duke to return such blasts for 208 yards on the afternoon for a 29.7 yard average. Included in those returns was a 94-yard return touchdown converted by Jabari Marshall, who on the day generated 191 of the Blue Devils' total kickoff yards.

That is not going to get things done against the Big East.

Tyler Lorenzen: +8
22-30, 299 yards, one interception and two touchdowns. Not bad for a rookie quarterback, right?.

Lorenzen, a JUCO transfer who began his career at Iowa State as a wide receiver, put together a complete effort in Durham. Showing poise in the pocket and a proclivity to spread his 22 completions to six different receivers, Lorenzen quieted many critics that questioned whether he was prepared to run the show at Connecticut. He may not be Dan Orlovsky, but he is -- at least at this moment -- light years ahead of his forerunners (D.J. Hernandez and Dennis Brown).

Linebacking Corps: +6
It's not often that an entire unit deserves kudos, but Connecticut's linebacking trio of Lawrence Wilson, Danny Lansanah, and Scott Lutrus do after their collective performance against Duke. On the afternoon, the Huskies defense recorded 68 tackles. The aforementioned triumvirate accounted for 41% of those stops, with Wilson and Lansanah each chipping in 10 blows. Considering the fact that Connecticut did not dress out arguably its best linebacker -- Ryan Henegan -- these three individuals put together a heroic performance.

The most exciting aspect of the performance of these three is that Lutrus and Wilson are only redshirt freshman. With time to mature, each could become terrific options in the middle three. Both bring juice on every pop and have solid sideline-to-sideline instincts. With a strong emphasis on gap play, each could earn All-Big East honors down the road.

The Cold Shock of Reality: -3
Let's be honest: Duke stinks. If Duke were playing in the Playoff Subdivision, it would probably struggle to hit the .500 mark. The Blue Devils have not won a game against a Bowl Subdivison team since 2004 and haven't been relevant since Steve Spurrier skipped town for Gainesville more than a decade ago.

The fact of the matter is that Connecticut struggled with the Blue Devils for more than 30 minutes. The Huskies hit the intermission trailing Duke 14-11, and won, in large part, because Duke was playing well above its own head. The victory is nice (as are the above-illustrated performances), but it must be viewed in the overall context that Duke is not good at football.

TOTAL POINTS: +0
SEASON TOTAL: +0