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STORRS, Conn. -- UConn coach Bob Diaco says his Huskies are built to play close games.Since the start of last season, 10 of UConns 16 contests have been decided by a single score (eight points or fewer), including all three this season. The latest was a 13-10 win over Virginia (0-3) last Saturday that wasnt secured until Virginias walk-on kicker, Alex Furbank, missed a 20-yard field goal as time expired.But the quality of the opponent doesnt seem to be much of a factor for UConn (2-1).The Huskies are 6-4 in those one-score contests, with wins over Villanova (20-15), Army (22-17), Tulane (7-3), then-No. 13 Houston (20-17), Maine (24-21) and Virginia. The losses came to then No. 22 Missiouri (9-6), South Florida (28-20), Marshall (16-10 in the St. Petersburg Bowl and Navy (28-24).Diaco said the tight margins are more a function of UConns style -- a stingy defense combined with a ball-control style of offense.The analogy I would draw is like a hockey game or a soccer game, he said. Theyre all decided by one goal or two goals when the points are down. Were kind of built that way.Under Diaco, UConn doesnt give up a lot of big plays, using a bend-dont-break style defense that eschews a lot of blitzing and forces opponents to move methodically down the field.The Huskies are holding the competition to 19.7 points and an average of 352 yards a game this year after giving up just 19.5 points and 355 yards per game a year ago.We take pride in always being in the game and always having a chance to win the game, said defensive tackle Mikal Myers.But Diaco acknowledges UConn would win more and win by more points if it had a more efficient offense.The Huskies are averaging just 20.3 points and 331 yards per game this season, which ranks 111th out of 128 FBS teams. Last season they averaged just 17.2 points, and just over 310 yards a game, 123rd in the nation.I cant hide from it, Diaco said. Everyone watching the games knows it.Ball control will be a key for UConn this week against Syracuse (1-2). The Orange run an fast-paced offense that snapped the ball a school-record 105 times in a 45-20 loss to South Florida. They average one play about every 20 seconds while on offense.Field position is a huge piece for this model, Diaco said. Time of possession is a huge piece to this model. That, when you play in a game like this, becomes even more critical.---AP college football website: www.collegefootball.org Geronimo Allison Super Bowl Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. Preston Smith Super Bowl Jersey . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. http://www.packersonlineteamstore.com/jamaal-williams-youth-jersey.html . 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SAO PAULO, Brazil -- Toto Wolff said his controversial phone call to Jos Verstappen was supposed to be a private chat between racing enthusiasts and was not intended as advice or a warning to pass on to Max Verstappen.The Mercedes boss called the Red Bull drivers father ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix and discussed the possible ramifications of Verstappen damaging the chances of title protagonists Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg at one of the remaining rounds. But Wolff said the phone call was never meant to be made public and that the content of the call has been taken out of context in the media.This thing is really blown out of proportion, he said. I dont think even Lewis and Nico care, and they dont expect him [Verstappen] to race in any way differently to before, and thats why they will not change their approach [either]. In the same way, this wasnt meant as advice for Max, its just that two racing enthusiasts had a private discussion that has been dragged out in the public.It is a complete non-story for me. I had a really nice conversation with Jos like I have had many nice conversations in the past about many things like driving, young drivers and on everything including his daughter and karting, Ive had him for dinner at my house! So whats all that nonsense?Asked whether he felt Verstappen should back off around the Mercedes drivers, Wolff added: Ill tell you what I said: I think he is a great driver who has incredible skill and is refreshing as a character. He is spontaneous and intelligent. OOutside of the Red Bull team I am a really big fan and he is just what the doctor ordered in Formula One.dddddddddddd I think that a lot of positive stuff in Formula One is created around headlines and the last thing I want is to change his approach because it is important for Formula One.I didnt say that he should move out of the way or to race in a different way, the things I discussed with Jos were two things: First of all I felt, unfortunately for Max, there was a negative spin in some of the media around his driving, which I said was unjustified in my eyes and that I felt it needed to be counter-steered somehow.I did it only out of sympathy for Max and Jos and nothing else, and I think that him [Jos] being at the race was an important factor and it was the set-up of the Verstappen family for 20 years. Thats why Jos being present was, I think, important for Max. It was a personal opinion, not as someone from Mercedes, and just a personal conversation I would have with him regularly. And he acknowledged it. Number two was that there are two races to the end and if an accident would happen it would add to the negative spin from the media, which could be avoided. It was just to consider that this is not as important for Max as it is for the other two and we are in a very fortunate position that whoever wins is going to be a Mercedes driver so it was out of sympathy for Max. ' ' '