1.   Connecticut has nonconference losses to Iowa and Michigan State.

2.   There is a reason why nonconference losses in this place occur about as often as total eclipses of the sun.

3.   Unlike a year ago, when the conference was embarrassed by high-profile nonconference losses, there are plenty of West Coast smiles today.

4.   What does matter are the nonconference losses -- the ones to Indiana, USC, UNLV, Georgia and Utah -- and those two big losses to Gonzaga.