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Message: [QUOTE="UConnKev, post: 5105774, member: 852"] Then, when I left B’more and went up to UConn, I learned a lesson from Jim Calhoun … I don’t even know exactly what about. I guess you could maybe say about being responsible for your actions. But, more than anything, I learned that it’s a cold world. Freezing cold. That was my first time away from home, so it was a crazy learning experience. And Coach Calhoun, God love him, he’s the best, but that guy … he could absolutely be a nut sometimes. Just in terms of the level of precision he demanded. I’m thankful for that overall. It prepared me well for the NBA. But there [I]was[/I] this one time…. Dead of winter. Freshman year. Gotta be like 10 below zero. I have this 8 a.m. class. And it’s a MONDAY, by the way. So, what do I do? I sleep in. I miss the class. Instead of going to class, I head straight to the team breakfast. I’m like: [I]The sun’s barely up! No one will even know if I don’t go to that lecture. [/I] I walk to the cafeteria wearing this gigantic, oversized winter jacket, some sweatpants, and those big-ass Timberlands everyone used to wear back then. As soon as I grab my eggs and some juice and take a seat … there’s Coach, snagging the chair right next to me. “Hey, Rudy! How’s your morning going?” [I]Play it cool, Rude. [/I] “Oh, good! Cold one out. But good, good.” Silence. “Wonderful. Wonderful!” More silence. I’m looking straight down at my eggs, not lifting my head up, not saying anything. Just hoping that maybe he’ll leave and go talk to someone else. But…. He doesn’t leave. “So, how was class this morning, Rudy?” [I]Wait, does he know? Are you kidding me? Did he talk to the roosters or something? Or does he really just want to know how class was? Maybe he’s just curious.[/I] So, then it’s like … to lie, or not to lie? Right? That was my choice. And I was 18, sooooooooo…. “Oh good, Coach. It was good! You know, class is so important. Always want to be learning.” I’m shaking my head right now remembering this. Coach Calhoun, he’s not someone you can just trick and keep it movin’. He says, “Oh yeah?” He points to my boy. “Because this guy right here, you know what he told me?” (You know who you are, you rat!) “He was in class, and he told me you weren’t there.” Then, I kid you not, Coach Calhoun, I still can’t believe this … he looks at me and is like, “OK, here’s what’s going to happen now….” When he laid it out, for a second, I thought maybe he was joking. But…. Coach Calhoun doesn’t joke like that. He made me get up from the table, leave the cafeteria, walk outside and … run a damn mile. Right through the middle of campus. Picture it. Six-foot-nine dude, big-ass jacket on, sprinting down the quad. Timberlands sliding all over the place. Sleet all up in my eyes. People looking at me like I’m nuts. “Chop, chop,” Coach Calhoun yelled, sending me off. “Get yer’ ass out there and run, Rudy. Since you’re so well-rested, it shouldn’t be a problem for you.” [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach