i used to sneak into gampel to watch practices back in 2008-2009. scrimmages back then used to be great battles. i could usually last 20-30 min before being spotted and then i would see calhoun motion to an assistent who would walk up and tell me i had to leave.This goes back to his second season at UConn. I was a freshman and a hoops junkie. My dad coached high school hoops for 35 years and I had grown up watching Big East basketball from the start of the league not knowing at the time I’d end up a Husky. When I got to campus I found out the practice schedule and used to sneak up to the second level of the field house Bleachers (gampel was just about started construction). I would watch practice a few times a week between classes. JC eventually saw me up there and one day talked to me. Said he didn’t mind me up there but just keep quiet and I’d be all set. He was still trying to build the program and could not have been nicer. Watched him build the foundation leading up to the Dream Season which led to all the rest we’ve experienced. He is truly the GOAT!
What’s your favorite memory of him?
An underrated part of JC's legacy was working the refs.. After a few body punches to them on calls he disagreed with.. He would take a page from the Bobby Knight School of Charm..He would simply fold his arms..Say nothing.. And give them the WTF stare.. Classic..I really like the fact I share his birthday, 26 years apart. On one hand kind of lame, but on the other... he did the greatest building job a college basketball coach has ever done. And he did it at my alma mater. Birthday also shared with Fred Astaire, Bono and Waye Dyer. An eclectic mix, for sure.
His 1st season was my freshman year. And I will forever remember him for having an iron will to make things happen; pushing, proding and conjoling effort out of everyone around him including himself that I have seen precious few other people possess in my lifetime. That, more than anything else is what always separated him from all of his peers.
Thats the image I get when I hear the name "Jim Calhoun". Standing with his arms crossed giving the death stare. Greatest build of all time and the 2011 run to a title with Kemba is the best run of all time. Dont give me no poop about Danny Manning. Kemba 2011 end of story!An underrated part of JC's legacy was working the refs.. After a few body punches to them on calls he disagreed with.. He would take a page from the Bobby Knight School of Charm..He would simply fold his arms..Say nothing.. And give them the stare.. Classic..
It was in the 2nd half that Antric played I believeLoved the 1999 NCAA Final in Tampa. About midway through the first half, Jimmy sent in Antric Klaiber for about 2-3 minutes. Just his own way of saying to K, "We're not only going to beat you, we're going to do it with the end of our bench." He was always so subtle.
Are you one?