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[QUOTE="UConnJim, post: 4693739, member: 1559"]
Unfortunately, I think many fans have this view of UConn basketball.  UConn was a very strong regional program well before Jim Calhoun showed up and then Calhoun created a national program.  There was lots of winning before Calhoun.  Here are some facts:

Yankee Conference Champions:  1941, 1944, 1948, 1949, 1953 through 1960, 1963 through 1967, 1970.

NCAA Tournament bids pre-Calhoun:  1951, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1976, 1979

Sweet 16s pre-Calhoun:  1951, 1956, 1964, 1976

ECAC Tournament Champs:  1976, 1979

NIT bids pre-Calhoun:  1955, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1982

Best coaches pre-Calhoun:
1946-1963:  Hugh Greer  287-113  0.718 winning %
1963-1967:  Fred Shabel  72-29  0.713 winning %

As for fans, UConn used to draw well at the Hartford Civic Center before Calhoun showed up.  What people forget is that the arenas where UConn plays have grown over the years showing the increase in the size of the fanbase.

Old Field House:  4,600,   Gampel:  10,167

Old HCC:  ~11,000,   XL Center:  15,600
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