The fog has lifted.

UConn returned to playing inspired basketball Saturday, beating Seton Hall, 69-46, at the XL Center and snapping a four-game losing streak.

"We came out with fire today," freshman Andre Drummond said.

Let's push aside the fact that Seton Hall was missing its leading scorer and rebounder Herb Pope who stayed home to nurse bruised ribs.

The Huskies desperately needed the win with two difficult road games ahead – Monday at Louisville and Saturday at No. 2 Syracuse.

They're 15-7 overall, 5-5 in the Big East.

Some news, notes and quotes from post-game:

-- Associate head coach George Blaney was beaming after the game. He was filling in for coach Jim Calhoun who'll miss at least the next two games while on an indefinite medical leave of absence due to a lower back condition.

"We told the players when coach let us know that he wasn't going to be able to coach for however long it is going to be that… we were on a four-game losing streak and we needed to come back and be a Jim Calhoun team – which always means that you compete, and that you have great energy.

"The word was "all in." And the word was "energy."

-- UConn started a three-guard lineup for the first time this season. Freshman Ryan Boatright, sophomore Shabazz Napier and sophomore Jeremy Lamb joined sophomore Tyler Olander and Drummond in the starting lineup.

The change helped generate better ball movement.

-- Boatright was a sparkplug on both ends of the floor. He was disruptive on defense, finishing with four steals. He attacked on offense, scoring a game-high 19 points and dishing out five assists. It is his highest point total since scoring 23 against Arkansas on Dec. 3.

"I think this is the start of something great," Boatright said of the win.

-- Blaney made a point to praise junior Alex Oriakhi (10 points, eight rebounds) and Napier (six points, eight rebounds, two assists), the two co-captains.

"I was particularly pleased with Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier," Blaney said. "There was a light in their eyes. They played with energy."

-- Several players said a players-only meeting on Friday was the turning point. Oriakhi, the team veteran, called the gathering and gave an emotional speech. (More on this in my game story).

"I really think that meeting made all the difference in the world," Oriakhi said. "It's just crazy what a few words would do."

"It really meant a lot," Lamb said. "I appreciate him for doing that because it took a lot."

"It touched every one of us," Drummond said.

Blaney voiced his approval, too.

"That's what leaders do," Blaney said.

Oriakhi needed some convincing before deciding to hold the meeting.

"My mother kept calling me and said, `you've got to hold a meeting. You're guys are not playing together.' I'm like whatever. Then I'm hearing it from coach (Kevin) Freeman and my father. If I'm hearing it from all different directions, I'm wrong if I don't."

-- Things turned a bit ugly with 3:41 remaining in the game. First, Napier and Seton Hall's Jordan Theodore had a confrontation after fighting for a loose ball. They were both given a technical foul.

Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard got involved and earned two technicals and an ejection.

He might be hearing from the Big East office after his critical post-game comments about an unnamed official (hint, Gene Steratore).

"I thought the refs called a good game," Willard said. "To be honest with you, there is one of tem I don't get along with. I wanted to wish him a very happy Valentines Day. He didn't like that, and that was the end of that."

-- UConn still has some issues on the offensive end. The Huskies shot just 43.4 percent.

Lamb and Napier, the team's leading scorers, are in a shooting slump.

After going 3-for-10 Saturday, Lamb has gone 7-for-28 in the last two games. Napier (1-for-6) is 1-for-22 in the last three games.

Blaney isn't overly concerned, especially with Lamb.

"We missed some really good shots," Blaney said. "I was really happy with the shots that Jeremy got."

-- Maybe the Huskies should cut down on their 3-point attempts. They're ice cold from beyond the arc, going 7-for-46 in the last three games.

-- The XL Center crowd (16,294) energized the Huskies at times. Blaney was impressed with the vocal support.

"I told them three different times during the game that the crowd deserved their effort, and they continued to get it," Blaney said. "That's why they were so much in the game. Quite honestly, I was almost in tears at one point, with how loud it was and how much it stirred us on."

-- It was UConn's largest margin of victory since beating Holy Cross, 77-40, in Dec. 18.

-- Drummond finished with a career-high tying seven blocks. He also had a couple of impressive dunks, including finishing off an alley-oop pass from Boatright.

-- The Huskies will practice Sunday morning in Gampel Pavilion before leaving for Louisville.

-- Check back later for post-game video.