Spring Break
Winning Without The Top Dog
UConn Victorious Despite Calhoun Ejection
Patrick Parker
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
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Thursday night at Gampel Pavilion against Northeastern, he hit his limit. After receiving one technical foul in the second half for "laughing," Calhoun received his second technical foul 10 minutes later and got ejected from a game for the first time in five years.
"Tonight I laughed," Calhoun said about the first foul. "It was interpreted as mocking the official."
Calhoun is known for his emotions on the sidelines. He has always used himself as a way to get his team fired up and as a way to send a message to them. Thursday night was no different.
When Matt Janning knocked down two free throws for the technical foul and then two more for the personal foul that he received prior to the Calhoun ejection, the Huskies looked stunned by their coach's absence.
On the next Northeastern possession, Janning knocked down a 3-pointer to bring them within three, at 55-52. But after that, UConn knew it was on them to take control of the game in Calhoun's absence. And they did just that.
"We just talked to each other and huddled up and said 'stay focused,'" said Hasheem Thabeet. "We can't let that take us out of the game. Play the same defense. Let's do the things Coach tells us everyday."
"It got us fired up and we knew it was on us to coach ourselves a little bit now," said Gavin Edwards.
UConn went on an 8-0 run and blew the game wide open.
"It changed for good because they loosened up and played much better," Calhoun said after watching the game from his office.
Calhoun's message was heard by each player on the court and on the bench after he got his second technical foul for "leaving the coaching box."
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