PHILADELPHIA – UConn men’s coach Jim Calhoun did not coach the Huskies in their 103-47 NCAA Tournament victory over Chattanooga today at the Wachovia Center.
He was admitted Thursday to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and will remain there overnight.
“I have been feeling lousy for the past several days and this morning talked to Dr. [Jeff] Anderson about it,” Calhoun said in a statement. “He recommended that I not coach in the game today and stay back at the hotel. As the day went on, he suggested that we go over to the hospital to have some testing done. Fortunately, those tests have all gone well and I am feeling much better. I will stay the night as a precaution and anticipate being checked again in the morning and being able to leave the hospital at that time.”
Associate Head Coach George Blaney directed the UConn team in Coach Calhounās absence.
Calhoun, 66, has overcome three bouts with cancer. Last May 6 he had surgery to remove a cancerous mass in his neck. A portion of his salivary gland and 37 lymph nodes that were found to be cancer-free also were removed.
He also overcame prostate cancer in 2003 and skin cancer in 2007.
Calhoun has missed 21 games in his career.
The last two times he has missed an NCAA Tournament game, the Huskies went on to win the tournament, in 1999 and 2004.