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UConn coach Jim Calhoun takes leave of absence

  • Chesapeake
    UConn's current record is 11-6, 2-3 Big East.

    http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/12808977
  • reclegend22
    He took an extended leave a year ago, right? I wonder if his time is about up (coaching, not life).

    Unfortunate that he's sick, surely. But I never cared for the man himself, his character. But that's not important when it comes to health. I wish him well.
  • karen lotz
    Prayers from NW Ohio
  • devil1197
    He needs to retire imo.
  • Laley23
    I think he needs to retire. He has bad health and is pushing 70. Not a time to be taking risks.
  • Azubuike24
    11-6, 12th place in the Big East and remaining games at Texas, at Louisville, at Syracuse, at Villanova, at Providence, at Notre Dame, vs Cincinnati, vs Louisville and vs West Virginia will do that to you.

    Similar to when Coach K took his leave of absence. I had to compare the two before Prescott gets on here and wishes well for Calhoun and tears down Coach K in the same topic.

    Hopefully nothing is wrong with him, but is it not shocking this is his worst team in at least 5 years and quite possibly in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament?
  • Laley23
    Azubuike24 wrote: 11-6, 12th place in the Big East and remaining games at Texas, at Louisville, at Syracuse, at Villanova, at Providence, at Notre Dame, vs Cincinnati, vs Louisville and vs West Virginia will do that to you.

    Similar to when Coach K took his leave of absence. I had to compare the two before Prescott gets on here and wishes well for Calhoun and tears down Coach K in the same topic.

    Hopefully nothing is wrong with him, but is it not shocking this is his worst team in at least 5 years and quite possibly in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament?
    I dont know. That team that started 11-0 vs cupcakes was worse than this team I think. I believe that was 2007???
  • Azubuike24
    It's probably close. I definitely think they have a very good chance to miss the NCAA Tournament. They have good wins over William & Mary and Iona, but both of those teams are likely going to have to have phenomenal years in tough leagues to make the NCAA Tournament. They should be able to beat St. John's, DePaul and Rutgers, but the way they are playing, nothing else will be easy.
  • reclegend22
    Azubuike24 wrote:Hopefully nothing is wrong with him, but is it not shocking this is his worst team in at least 5 years and quite possibly in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament?
    This isn't unusual for a Calhoun coached team. UConn has missed the NCAA two times in the 2000s. He even missed it all in 2001, two years after winning the national championship. This is similar to Billy Donovan's coaching style of loading all the eggs into one basket for the big hit (Donovan was more lucky, though, with his lotto win with the 'oh fours') and not paying concern to the future after that. Jim needs to retire. And even with his two titles, he's still a second tier coach. He's nowhere near other guys with two rings, guys such as K, Dean, Roy, etc.

    Also, Az, I appreciate your trying to stave off ahdonis' ambush of K, but, at the same time, K was deathly ill. He really was. To the point that his wife threatened to leave him if he didn't give up the game and check himself into the hospital. K was 9-3 before he took his medical leave of absence in '94, and there is no reason to believe that he wouldn't have finished that year with 20 wins and an NCAA birth. That's the difference he makes when on the bench. There was a ton of talent on that team. Pete just couldn't mesh it together.

    But I've beaten this horse too much here. In the end, it's up to the reader to decide. However, Coach K's situation is well documented.
  • wildcats20
    Hope all ends up ok with Calhoun. I agree with you Rec, but I love the way he coaches.
  • Prescott
    The guy has dealt with cancer two different times and some people are questioning his motive. That's pathetic.
    and there is no reason to believe that he wouldn't have finished that year with 20 wins and an NCAA birth.
    Sure there was. That team sucked and coach k saw the writng on the wall. He is alot of things, but he isn't stupid. He knew that Cherokee Parks wasn't going to lead his team to many ACC victories.

    He probably bolted as soon as he saw the real ROAD GAMES on the schedule.
  • reclegend22
    That '95 Duke team that "sucked" took No. 2 Carolina, which featured Jerry Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, to double overtime, lost at No. 8 Maryland by two and later in Cameron to the No. 6 Terps by two, beat Georgia Tech twice while the Jackets were ranked in the top 25, and lost at No. 16 Virginia by six in always tough University Hall.

    With Coach K on the bench, Duke not only wins a few of those games against ranked opponents, but also picks up a few more gimmes that the Devils had the talent to beat. That team had All-American Cherokee Parks, Trajan Langdon, Chris Collins, Jeff Capel, Wojo and Ricky Price. Duke gets in the NCAAs with K that year. He didn't leave because of that reason. He left because he could have died. To question that is just as pathetic.
  • Azubuike24
    Haha, I mean it was inevitable this argument would ONCE AGAIN occur :)
  • Prescott
    That '95 Duke team that "sucked"
    You can't defend a team that went 2-14 in the league. SORRY!!!

    With Coach K on the bench, Duke not only wins a few of those games against ranked opponents,
    Believe whatever nonsense you want to believe. I don't care.
    He left because he could have died.
    I thought he had a back problem and not a cardiac problem. Whatever. The team SUCKED.

    Apparently the pain and exhaustion were bearable as the team started out with a 9 - 2 record and a top ten national ranking. The early record was accomplished in usual Krzyzewski fashion, by trouncing various cupcakes, (e.g., mighty Brown University by 42, North Carolina A & T by 43, South Carolina State by 46, Northeastern by 23, George Washington by 30, and BU by 17). It was only when he tested the waters of the forthcoming conference schedule, with a home loss to Clemson, that our hero could no longer continue. Strange how the specter of a difficult conference schedule exacerbated that exhaustion and back pain.

    Coach K somehow mustered enough strength to entertain high school recruits - in his home no less - for future seasons. For example, he had Vince Carter over for a January visit, nine days after he advised his players of his need to sign off for health reasons. The punch line later came from Carter himself. Shortly after that visit, Carter was quoted in an SI article on Duke, (published well before Carter chose UNC over Duke by the way). 'He was up and about,' said Carter, 'He didn’t seem like a guy who has had all these back problems.'

    A miraculous recovery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  • Prescott
    Azubuike24 wrote: Haha, I mean it was inevitable this argument would ONCE AGAIN occur :)
    Ridiculous shots taken at Calhoun warrant full retaliatory measures. If no shots are taken at Calhoun there would have been no discussion of coach k's disappearance during what was sure to become a disappointinng season.
  • ironman02
    Everyone have their popcorn ready?
  • bababooey
    When Calhoun takes a "medical leave", for others to suggest that he might have ulterior motives is "pathetic" and "ridiculous".

    When K takes a "medical leave" it's not only fine to suggest he had ulterior motives but he left because "the team sucked" and "he saw the writing on the wall".

    *shakes head*...okay I got it....
  • Prescott
    *shakes head*...okay I got it...
    I hope so. The point made is very clear.
  • georgemc80
    Sometimes I wonder if you really believe what you type....


    The only thing nefarious I would ever concede on the K situation is that it was wrong to try to have those losses pinned on Pete. What you are claiming makes no sense. It is never good for a program to lose their coach.

    Back on topic....Its sad when anyone has to leave what they love for health issues. I hope he finds resolution to all of his conditions and returns for at the minimum a swan song year.
  • sportswizuhrd
    Azubuike24 wrote: 11-6, 12th place in the Big East and remaining games at Texas, at Louisville, at Syracuse, at Villanova, at Providence, at Notre Dame, vs Cincinnati, vs Louisville and vs West Virginia will do that to you.

    Similar to when Coach K took his leave of absence. I had to compare the two before Prescott gets on here and wishes well for Calhoun and tears down Coach K in the same topic.

    Hopefully nothing is wrong with him, but is it not shocking this is his worst team in at least 5 years and quite possibly in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament?
    As a UConn fan, I will say that they will not make the tournament this year. They dont have the depth to do it or the inside game. Okwandu and Oriakhi are about it as far as the post game goes. Majok has struggled since starting to play(it doesnt help that he had 2-3 games under his belt before BE conference play began). Stix Robinson disappears during some games. Jerome Dyson should be considered as an AA. 5 guys averaging more than 13 minutes, is not a good thing for the team.
  • Prescott
    The only thing nefarious I would ever concede on the K situation is that it was wrong to try to have those losses pinned on Pete. What you are claiming makes no sense. It is never good for a program to lose their coach.
    I agree and what others are claiming about Calhoun is just as ridiculous. Agreed???

    I can't believe someone questions the character of a respected coach who they don't know and whose philanthropic endeavors have been well documented.