Each passing game the whispers grew.
It started as “When is he coming back?”
Then it turned into "Is he coming back?”
Well, Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun returned to the UConn Huskies
on Thursday and, after a seven-game medical leave, will be on the
sidelines Saturday afternoon against Cincinnati.
It’ll be nice to see Calhoun, who has battled numerous
health issues, back on the court.
But the 67-year-old will return to a difficult situation.
The Huskies did manage a home win against Texas, but that
doesn’t look quite so impressive with the Longhorns'
recent slide of five losses in seven games.
UConn is 14-10 overall and 4-7 in Big East play – which
puts them tied for 11th in the league.
The Huskies have seven regular-season games remaining, but
just two against the elite Big East teams: at Villanova and home
against West Virginia.
Here’s a preview of this weekend’s action:
CAN’T MISS: Tennessee at Kentucky, Saturday
at 9 p.m. ET – This is a big-time game for a couple of
reasons. First of all, there is no love lost between the coaches
– Bruce Pearl and John Calipari – and that’s a
major understatement. It’s also a pair of Top 25 teams and
arguably the top two teams in the SEC going up against one another.
UNDERCARD: Maryland at Duke, Saturday at 1 p.m. ET
– It’s a battle of the two top teams in the ACC. The
Terps will be a legit Top 25 team if they can pull off the upset at
Cameron. Gary Williams has a backcourt that should be able to hang
with Duke, but the key will be whether Maryland’s wings, guys
like Sean Mosley and Adrian Bowie, come to play.
MUST SEE: Ohio State at Illinois, Sunday at 1 p.m.
ET – Who would have thought both of these teams would be
competing for the Big Ten title a month or so ago. However, the
Buckeyes naturally look like a different team with Evan Turner back
in the lineup while the Illini have had a resurgence due to the
play of junior guard Demetri McCamey.
REAL DEAL? Louisville at Syracuse, Sunday at noon
ET – Are the Cardinals a true NCAA tournament team? Not after
the loss to St. John’s. However, if they can go to the
Carrier Dome and pull out the victory, it’s harder to dispute
that fact. Rick Pitino & Co. desperately need a resume win.
FRIDAY RARITY: There’s a rare Big East tilt
on Friday night when West Virginia travels to Pittsburgh. The
Panthers have lost four of their past six Big East games while West
Virginia is coming off a home setback to Villanova.
UPSET SPECIAL: I’m going with Illinois to
knock off Ohio State. Both teams have been playing well, but the
Illini are at home and have more quality depth than the Buckeyes.
NON-BCS MATCHUP: Rhode Island at Temple, Saturday
at 4 p.m. ET – If Jim Baron’s Rams can go on the road
and knock off Temple, they are in good shape. URI lost at Richmond
earlier in the week, but this one would make the loss to the
Spiders a distant memory.
CELLAR DWELLING: This is how bad it has gotten for
North Carolina. When the Tar Heels host N.C. State on Saturday at 4
p.m. ET, it’ll be a matchup for last place in the ACC.
MUST-WIN ON BOTH SIDES: Georgia Tech at Wake
Forest, Saturday at 8 p.m. ET – Neither of these teams can
afford a loss here – and not just to stay in the race for the
ACC title. Things can change quickly and the loser could go into a
swoon down the stretch.
IMPORTANT: Xavier at Florida, Saturday at 6 p.m.
ET – This is a key non-conference matchup between two teams
that need this one for their resume next month. Both teams are
likely in the Big Dance if the season ended today, but a loss
won’t help their cause.
UNDER-THE-RADAR: Arkansas – The Razorbacks
have been on a roll ever since getting mauled in Lexington by
Kentucky. Can John Pelphrey make it six straight against his former
colleague, Anthony Grant, when Arkansas travels to Alabama on
Saturday afternoon?
STILL SEARCHING: It’s a two-team race
between Bryant and Alcorn State to see who can win first. Bryant
University fell to 0-25 overall and 0-13 in Northeast Conference
action after a loss to St. Francis (N.Y.). Tim O’Shea has
just five more regular-season games to earn a victory. Alcorn is
0-24 overall and 0-11 in SWAC play with a game Saturday against
Mississippi Valley State.
