STORRS – Up at the press conference where new AD Warde Manuel was introduced, and picked up some men’s basketball updates:
Jim Calhoun his seeing another out-of-town specialist on Monday and is nearing a decision on how to proceed in dealing with his spinal stenosis.
Although it’s not official, there is virtually no chance he will coach the Huskies on Wednesday when they play DePaul. It’s still not certain he will return this season.
Several UConn officials and coaches checked in on Calhoun over the weekend and report he is still in a lot of pain, his lower back and legs affected by the constricted nerves. The decision to be made is whether to opt for surgery now, or try some short-term treatment to return and get through the season. Depending on how extensive the surgery needs to be, the recovery could be a few weeks, perhaps allowing him to return late this season, or several months.
A resolution could come in the next few days.
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Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb both missed practice on Monday. Drummond had X Rays on his right ankle, the one he rolled in the game at Syracuse on Saturday. The X-Rays were negative – no fractures – but he is still hobbled. He is considered “day to day,” so he could be considered questionable for Wednesday.
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Lamb is dealing with a sprained big toe on his right foot. It may limit but doesn’t sound like something that will keep him out.
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The new AD says he has never met with Jim Calhoun. He may have shaken his hand once or twice through the years, but they did not meet as part of this hiring process.
Manuel, when asked about how he might go about replacing Jim Calhoun one day, said Calhoun has “earned” the right to have “significant input” in that process. “I would be a fool not to listen to … the coach who built this program.” Manuel played for the legendary Bo Schembechler at Michigan, and noted that he always had a plan for Gary Moeller to replace him there.
None of this means Calhoun will get to flat-out choose his successor, but figures to mean he will be a major player in making that decision.
Manuel called UConn’s APR issues “an obstacle, not a mountain.” He said, “a bad APR score from two years ago doesn’t define a program or a university.”
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5 Responses to Updated: UConn News and Notes: Calhoun Weighing Options; Drummond, Lamb Dealing With Injuries
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Despite one other rather stupid comment that I read about the new AD, I am impressed with his credentials and the few statements that he’s made. He’s proven himself so far and I sense that he will be a dynamic addition to the UCONN Faculty. As far as JC, go for the surgery Jim because it’s the only real source of relief…I speak from experience. You may miss the remainder of the season, but it’s worth it to eliminate the debilitating pain and possible nerve damage. And I hope you return with a vengeance to keep the program together and viable in 2013.
@ Mike, Spinal Stenosis surgery mike is different on evry patient who has it done. What may be a complete success for one is not for another, so what ever jimmy has done will not mean in anyway that he will be free from pain nor will it not mean that the numbness that he has going down his legs will subside completely. My Wife has the illness, and she has had 4 surgerys, fusions done, and the whole gammit, and she still has pain everyday, and the numbness in the legs , and she will have this the rest of her life, some days will be better then others, but this will always be a a continuing issue for Jimmy , and if he truely loves this program and this university, he should step down at seasons end, and take priority first of his health , as this condition will alway’s be hindering his performence as a couch, he’s done very wonderful things here at UConn in the time that he has been here, He owes this university nothing more ever, he’s done all that can be accomplished in name reconition, Talent, championships, and he’s a Hall of Fame Coach. He owes the fans nothing as well, what he should be doing right now is planning for a way to make a very gracious and repectible way to say good-bye to the Game & the University at seasons end, and get on with the business of taking care of his health, so he can continue to maintain somewhat of a normal retirement and continue with his great charity work at UConn Med. Center. He needs to be Bigger then the game itself, and realize that we all have to say good-bye to something we love so dearly , and let go of it . He owes this to himself, to go out in Honor, Not Shame!
[...] – UConn has six games left on the regular season schedule. Can the Huskies solve their chemistry issues before the Big East Tournament? Speaking of UConn, both Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond sat out of practice on Monday due to injuries [...]
First off, the “rock star” remark from Herbst regarding Manuel, well intended as it may be, was cliched and rather foolish. Secondly, and I may be in the minority, but I wouldn’t be trying to push Calhoun out to pasture. If after receiving medical treatment and given ample recovery time he is willing and able to perform his duties as head coach, he should be given the opportunity. I feel he has earned that.
Reggie,
Amen regarding your comments about Coach Calhoun. Nitwits and the otherwise uninformed “fanatics” of the team who are yelling that Coach be put out to pasture have no clue what it was like being a fan of the program circa 1985. Then, fans of the Huskies were happy if the team was not thoroughly embarrassed when facing, then, stellar opponents like Georgetown, Syracuse, St. Johns, or Villanova. BTW, the ’85 Final Four that year was composed of three Big East teams – Georgetown, St. Johns, and Villanova, (with Nova defeating Georgetown in a monumental upset in the final). It was considered a pipe-dream back then for the UConn men’s team to one day even reach a Final Four, let alone be crowned “NCAA champions”. So, with all that Coach Calhoun has accomplished over the years to build a program that has won 3 titles he deserves to call the shots as to when he will finally hang it up. Besides we all should be aware that Coach still has a lot of fight in him. He wants to set the program up both regarding in regards to the academics as well as having the best athletes on the roster so that his eventual successor can build on that.