UConn loses final postseason appeal, but Jim Calhoun to coach through ban

Published Saturday, Jul 14, 2012 at 12:09 pm EDT Last updated 6 hours and 52 minutes ago

The somewhat murky future of Connecticut basketball has been cleared up. The Huskies will not play in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but at least coach Jim Calhoun pledges to be around to see the Huskies through the lean years.

UConn?s final appeal to the NCAA -- to allow the Huskies to play in postseason despite its poor academic track record -- was rejected Friday. On the same day, Calhoun, who has long been evasive about when he?d retire, promised to coach at least two more seasons.

NCAA Committee on Academic Performance chairman Walt Harrison said in a statement that the group has decided not to adjust its formula for 2013 postseason eligibility. That was UConn?s final hope.

"It'll certainly be different this year," Calhoun told CBS Sports. "But there are a whole bunch of schools that aren't going to make the NCAA Tournament and will still play hard."

And Calhoun, who turned 70 in May, will be there to coach them. That?s assuming good health, of course. He missed 26 games in his career, including eight games last season, to deal with a variety of health issues, from prostate surgery to pneumonia, dehydration, stress and back surgery.

"I feel good. ... My contract is for two more years," Calhoun said. "I still think we have chance to be pretty good this season."

The Huskies, coming off a NCAA championship in 2011, struggled mightily last season. The team finished 20-14, losing to Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. And since the announcement of the 2013 postseason ban, guard Jeremy Lamb and center Andre Drummond left early for the NBA and center Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) and forwards Roscoe Smith (UNLV) and Michael Bradley (junior college) all transferred.

It?ll be a different UConn club next season but not one devoid of talent.

Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright will give Calhoun a pair of lightning fast guards to push the tempo. Holy Cross transfer R.J. Evans and incoming freshman Omar Calhoun should provide scoring off the wing. Forwards DeAndre Daniels and Tyler Olander are expected to improve and give the club scoring inside. The development of 7-foot German Enosch Wolf, who has lost weight this summer, could be the key, Calhoun said.

Source: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-07-14/uconn-loses-final-postseason-appeal-but-jim-calhoun-to-coach-through-ban

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