His postgame speech to Connecticut was over a speaker phone instead of in a locker room, though the message was still clear.
UConn crushes
 Video: Hear from Connecticut after rolling to a 103-47 win over Chattanooga without head coach Jim Calhoun. |
Coach Jim Calhoun, hospitalized earlier in the day, wanted the Huskies to know he was proud of how they went out and dominated in the third-largest victory in the NCAA tournament.
A.J. Price and Hasheem Thabeet won this for their ailing coach, scoring 20 points apiece to lead top-seeded Connecticut to a 103-47 rout over Chattanooga on Thursday for its first postseason win in three years.
Calhoun missed the game because he wasn't feeling well and was hospitalized for tests. He will be kept overnight for observation.
"He was upbeat about everything," Price said. "He told us he couldn't wait to join us again. We can't wait to have him back."
UConn will meet Texas A&M in Saturday's second-round game of the West Regional.
Associate head coach George Blaney coached the Huskies (28-4) in Calhoun's absence. When Calhoun asked for stats, Blaney joked he knew Calhoun, "must be doing well."
Stanley Robinson topped the stat sheet and the Huskies with 24 points.
The 56-point difference was the third-largest margin of victory in the NCAA tournament. The scary part? The Huskies believe it could have been worse.
"We would've been more fired up if Coach was here," Price said. "Chattanooga got off easy without Coach here."
