PHILADELPHIA — Everyone's number one has some difficulty believing its own hype at times.

The UConn men are by most accounts the most talented team in America. But that talent, the accolades that follow it and the wins that have piled up because of it haven't created a group that assumes it is going to steamroll this year's NCAA field.

"For a 28-3, we're not a particularly overconfident team," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said as his team prepared for today's second-round matchup with Kentucky (2:30 p.m., Ch. 2, 3). "On the contrary, we're a team that has crises of confidence at times. And it shouldn't. There's no reason it should."

According to the coach, it wasn't overconfidence that caused the Huskies to fall behind by 12 points to No. 16 seed Albany on Friday. And it wasn't the reason UConn waited until the last moment before pulling away for a 72-59 win.

Because of that, the Huskies are trying to throw that slow start out the window and concentrate on their pressure-packed response as they move forward.

UConn, which is in search of its third national title in the last eight years, must get by seven-time champion Kentucky to advance to the Sweet 16 and earn a date with Washington Friday in Washington, D.C.

The Wildcats (22-12), who ousted No. 9 Alabama-Birmingham 69-64 in the first round Friday, certainly don't appear to lack confidence as they prepare to tangle with UConn for the first time in school history.

"We've had ups and downs but

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(today) is a chance, a great opportunity for us," said Kentucky forward Bobby Perry, who scored a career-high 25 points Friday against UAB. "At Kentucky, it's about championships. It'd be a great win and great to get to the Sweet 16, but we've got a lot more games to play. It's about winning championships."

Denham Brown is one of the few Huskies that doesn't have a problem with bravado. It certainly appeared that way when he exhibited nerves of steel while hitting a game-winner against Gonzaga or confidence from beyond the arc as the Huskies tried to claw back against Syracuse in the Big East tournament. Brown says the Albany victory should help the team in the confidence department.

"It just makes us realize we're stronger," Brown said, "that we can win games regardless of the deficit and regardless of the situation we're in. Although we don't say it a lot, guys do realize we've won 28 games.

"Some of us are still learning how to win. But we've gotten so good at it that in any situation, we'll prevail more likely than not."

Though it has occasionally leapt to leads like 21-3 only to slow down, the start of the game appears to be critical for UConn. If Kentucky is able to strike first and strike hard, the Huskies could be in more trouble.

"I think we have to go out there and take the first hit," point guard Marcus Williams said. "We let Albany jump out on us, so they got confidence and that carried them through the whole game."

Brown, who combined with Williams to score more than half of UConn's points Friday, agreed with his backcourt partner.

"Yes. It's how we come out," Brown said. "If we come out playing the same way we did the last 10 minutes of the Albany game, we'll be in good shape. And Kentucky's such a good team that if we come out slow and the way we did against Albany, we'll find ourselves in a bigger deficit. It's real hard to get yourself out of ruts like that."

The scant one day of preparation the Huskies had for Kentucky may actually help their situation. Instead of pouring over every aspect of the Wildcats' attack, the Huskies' focus may today be simpler.

"If you just play basketball, maybe like we did the last 12 minutes (Friday) as opposed to preparing like crazy for the first 28, maybe you're better off," Calhoun said with a laugh.