From 2006-2007 to 2008-2009, UConn's 3rd final four came on the back of Thabeet's defense. Guards would funnel everything inside to be swatted or altered by Thabeet. Than next season with Thabeet gone, they still played that style only to get AO into foul trouble. That got them all the way to the NIT with the team seemingly unable to get stops late in the game.
Finally last year with a whole new roster they were playing real team defense with no one taking plays off. The bigs were still there as a safety valve, but not as a focal point of the defense. This culminated in a national championship.
All I hope for is that with inclusion of AD they don't come back to the form of defense employed by the 2008-2009 squad. I don't think they will, but you never know. If they do it, hopefully Calhoun will see it happening and nip it in the bud. Don't mess with what worked on defense last year.