Ollie plans to experiment during UConn’s exhibition season

College basketball exhibition season is a time to experiment.

With a deep and talented roster, expect coach Kevin Ollie to try different combinations in UConn's two trial runs before its season opener on Nov. 13 against Maine.

Ollie will have more options at his disposal than last season in Sunday's exhibition opener against the University of Tampa, a Division II men's basketball program.

Game time is 2 p.m. at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.

"We experiment (in exhibitions)," Ollie said. "It doesn't count but it counts. We experiment with some different lineups and hopefully I have an opportunity to play everybody."

The Huskies return eight players, including four starters, from last year's 20-15 team that failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament and didn't advance past the first round of the NIT.

Four newcomers — graduate transfers Sterling Gibbs (Seton Hall) and Shonn Miller (Cornell), freshmen Jalen Adams and Steven Enoch — will try to make their case for a regular spot in the rotation.

Gibbs, a preseason American Athletic Conference second-team pick, and Miller are strong candidates to crack the starting lineup at point guard and forward, respectively.

An attacking combination guard, Adams, who played for national prep school champion Brewster Academy, is the AAC's preseason rookie of the year.

Ollie has called the 6-foot-11 Enoch, who starred at St. Thomas More last season, the biggest surprise since practice began in early October.

"We always expect them to be great players but Steve Enoch, he's real, real talented," Ollie said.

What Ollie really likes about this team is the competitive nature of this group. These Huskies aren't afraid to challenge each other.

"I definitely like the competition," Ollie said. "I think the No. 1 common dominator is effort. ... That breeds success when you have a lot of competitors that like it. And I think we do. Everybody wants to play and everybody's bought in for UConn.

"... I've got an open door policy. I give everybody the opportunity in two hours to show me they can play at this level and be an integral part of our team. And I always tell them, 'Just give me a reason to play you.' "

Nothing will be set in cement at this stage.

The Huskies will play their exhibition finale on Saturday afternoon against New Haven at the XL Center in Hartford.

It's highly unlikely UConn will have any stiff competition. The Huskies have won 42 straight exhibition games and last lost on Nov. 21, 1993, to Marathon Oil, a team with a collection of former college players.

It will be the first opportunity for the Huskies to get a taste of several new rules, including a reduced shot clock, going from 35 to 30 seconds. g.keefe@theday.com Twitter:@GavinKeefe