At Big East media day, Calhoun was working the room, telling anyone who would listen that his job in 1999-2000 will be harder and more pressure-packed than anything the team had done during its 34-2 national title season.

	Kevin Freeman gives UConn a powerful force inside.

"Personally, there's probably more pressure, not necessarily because of the Final Four, but trying to win a Big East championship and trying to be a team that maintains itself as one of the top 10 or top 20 in the country," said Calhoun. "So, I don't feel any great relief by the fact that we won, because the media, our fans, everybody expects to stay near the top of the heap.

"The trophies, the accolades, the White House visit and all the things that happened to us are terrific, but we are going to have to work hard in order to remain one of the best programs in the country. This is a new year and new team. We have six veteran players and six newcomers who haven't played one second together for us and we have to come a long way in a short time."

The Huskies do open up early (Nov. 11 vs. Iowa in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Madison Square Garden), but none of Calhoun's Big East counterparts doubt that UConn won't give up its national title without a fight. In the coaches' poll, UConn was the popular pick to repeat as Big East champs, receiving 10 of a possible 13 first place votes (Syracuse got two votes and Miami one). Storrs is also home to the Big East coaches' choices for preseason Player of the Year (Khalid El-Amin) and preseason rookie of the year (6-11 small forward Ajou Deng).

"You know every night they're going to give you a consistent effort and be well-prepared," said Miami (Fla.) coach Leonard Hamilton. "They represent the standard that we're all trying to get to."

"Rip Hamilton is gone, but they're still going to be great," said Villanova coach Steve Lappas. "Jim Calhoun has built something truly special in Storrs. They'll remain among the nation's best."

The preseason pollsters obviously agree. Most have the Huskies anywhere from second to sixth in the nation and most All-American teams have El-Amin's name somewhere on them. Tired of all the razzing from opposing fans and all the fat jokes in print, El-Amin dropped 10-15 pounds and seems to relish the opportunity to take over as the team's go-to guy. El-Amin is an ultra-confident floor general who is the fourth UConn player ever to be chosen the Big East preseason Player of the Year. The others were Hamilton (last year), Donyell Marshall (1993-94) and Cornelius Thompson (1981-82).

"The preseason (honor) is all good, but I want to be the best player at the end of the year, in the postseason," said El-Amin. "If I continue to work hard, I think that goal is definitely within my reach. And I'm still hungry. I'm not full yet and this year's team is my team."

Can this team defend its title?

"I feel that the six players returning all have something to prove," said El-Amin. "The new guys are definitely hungry and want to make an impact right away."

Still, Calhoun seems worried about where he's going to find the 21.5 points per game which disappeared when Hamilton left a year early for the NBA. He's pleased with the athleticism on the roster, but knows that doesn't always get the ball in the hoop.

El-Amin, returning forwards Kevin Freeman and Edmund Saunders and Albert Mouring (a 7.1 ppg scorer in 1998-99 who is drawing raves in the preseason both for his feathery jumper and ability to lock up opposing guards) can all score. Senior center Jake Voskuhl, who averaged 5.5 points last season, went to Pete Newell's Big Man Camp where he added a hook shot with both hands as well as some more polished low post moves. He'll score more than ever before.

"I don't think we'll have one big scorer this year like Rip," said Voskuhl, who has bulked up to 258 pounds. "It'll be more of a collective thing."

Which means that the six-pack of newcomers, led by the gifted Deng, will have to bring something to the party in order to keep UConn among the nation's elite. Calhoun compares the 6-11, 205-pound Deng to Marshall, the 1994 Big East Player of the Year. Deng is considered to be UConn's next wing megastar, following in the footsteps of Marshall, Ray Allen and Hamilton.

According to El-Amin, Deng isn't the only talented new face. "We've got some young guys who can play," said UConn's floor leader. "They just need some playing time to get acclimated to the college game."

Doug Wrenn, who sat out last year to work on academics, averaged 22.4 points and 8.4 boards per game at O'Dea High School in Seattle. He'll be Freeman's understudy, providing solid board work at both ends as well as some inside scoring. Guards Tony Robertson (a 6-foot-3 top 25 national recruit) and Marcus Cox should be impact players too, helping ease the loss of guards Ricky Moore and Rashamel Jones.

"Are we talented? Yes. Does that mean we'll able to repeat what we did last year? Who knows," said Calhoun. "I'm going to be more demanding with them this year because I just don't think we have time. Nobody's going to wait for us (to gel). But at the same time, a lot of people are going to be waiting for us. We'll have to see if we're up to the challenge this year."

Other Big East coaches feel that UConn is up to the challenge -- just as they were when Marshall left and when Allen departed.

"There aren't many teams in the country that are as deep as Connecticut," said St. John's coach Mike Jarvis. "They're obviously the hands-down favorite in the conference and will be one of the best teams in the nation. Just wait and see."

Bill Doherty, a freelance writer from Bethlehem, Pa., is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.