MVN - Most Valuable Network

Calhoun’s Cancer Returns

Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun was diagnosed with skin cancer for the 2nd time in a year. This time it was in a lump found on his neck. Calhoun, already having fought through prostate cancer and this same skin cancer, is expected to miss no time, although he will still be undergoing radiation throughout the beginning of the season to prevent the cancer’s return. It was reported that the cancer is related to his previous skin cancer but not related to his prostate cancer. His doctor said that it appears all of the cancer has now been removed from Calhoun’s body.

It’s sad to see this happen to anyone, especially Jim Calhoun, but it’s great to know that he is going to be okay and will be ready to start the 2008-09 season with the Huskies. It would not bother me at all even if Coach Calhoun missed some time early to guarantee a good recovery. The players need their coach, but it’s most important to make sure their coach is 100% healthy. Championships are not won in November.

Calhoun is showing a lot of strength in recovering from this and returning to basketball so quickly. I’ve never had cancer myself, but from what I’ve heard it takes a lot out of people. The radiation is also very difficult to go through, causing sickness and loss of strength. It takes a strong will to fight through that and still coach division one basketball. I have no doubt that Calhoun will be able to keep the Huskies successful while going through this and he will in no way use it as an excuse. Calhoun coaches his basketball teams to be strong, outwork their opponents on the court and make no excuses, and their is no doubt he will do the same in his fight with cancer.

Tha-beet Goes On, Kelly and Wiggins transfer

 Hasheem Thabeet will be returning for the 2008/2009 season and the state of Connecticut rejoices.

“I am excited about the opportunity to stay at UConn and continue the mission that we started this season,” said Thabeet. “I also want to thank my family and close friends for all of their help and support. As a team, we took a step in the right direction this year, but I look forward to us working together to win a BIG EAST Championship and making a run at a national championship. I really enjoy being here, getting a great education and spending time with my friends and teammates.”

With all the key parts of this years’ team eligible to return next season, the question that hung out there was, “who would?”.

Well, the 2008/2009 roster is starting to take more and more shape.  While Doug Wiggins and Curtis Kelly have decided to part ways with the Huskies, Calhoun and team heard the words they wanted to hear from the monster in the middle.  The National Defensive Player of the Year will be back to defend that title next season.

With A.J. Price (if his injury allows), Jeff Adrien, Jerome Dyson, Thabeet, and Stanley Robinson all back next year, id this team a challenger for the Big East title and beyond?

UConn women head to Final Four

The University of Connecticut women’s basketball team defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights for the second time this season by a score of 66-56 to advance to the Final Four for the 7th time in school history.  The Huskies improve their record on the season 36-1, with that lone loss coming earlier this year to that same Rutgers team.  The Knights knocked off top ranked Connecticut by two points at the RAC, only to get slammed in the return game at Connecticut.  The second meeting was the last regular season game and was for the Big East regular season championship, and the Huskies rolled to a 20 point rout of Rutgers.

This time, it was the Jersey Girls looking for revenge, and it looked early like they may return the favor of the rout, building their lead up to as many as 14 points.  However, the resilient Connecticut team was to battle back and cut the large deficit down to 5 points heading into the break.  UConn then opened the second half with a 7-2 run to draw even at 34.   The 27 first half points was the lowest first half total of the season for the Huskies.

The Rutgers defense did a great job denying freshman phenom Maya Moore the ball, holding her to just 7 points in the game, but they lost her in one crucial situation.  With less than three minutes remaining, Moore got enough space to drain a tie-breaking three pointer that put the Huskies ahead for good.  They hit all of their free throws down the stretch to increase the lead to the 10 point margin of victory.  Moore was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Greensboro Regional.

The Huskies’ Final Four opponent will be the Stanford Cardinal, who upset Maryland in their elite 8 game.  UConn defeated Stanford 66-54 earlier this year.  The Tennessee Vols are the only Final Four team the Huskies did not play this season, as UConn also beat their Final Four opponent, LSU, 74-69 in Louisiana.  The Tigers and Cardinals will be looking to break up the match up that many people hope to see and nearly everybody expected to see since day 1:  Another UConn- Tennessee Classic for the National Championship.

Huskies take 2 of 3 from ‘Nova

The UConn Huskies improved their record to 13-11, by taking 2 of 3 games from the Villanova Wildcats at J.O Christian Field.  They stand tied with Seton Hall for 5th in the Big East with a 5-4 record.

None of the three games in the season were close.  The Huskies opened the series with a dominating 12-1 shellacking of the Wildcats.  The Cats answered by handing UConn a 7-2 loss in the second game, but Connecticut bounced back with an 8-3 victory in the rubber game.

The Huskies return to action on April 1st when they visit Hartford for the first of three non-conference games in as many days.  They return to Storrs to host Boston College on the 2nd and Fairfield on the 3rd.