Big East News and Notes

Jim Calhoun Out

The Connecticut Huskies will be without Hall of Fame head coach Jim Calhoun for at least two more games.  Calhoun has missed the last six-games with spinal stenosis.  During that stretch UConn has gone 3-3 under associate head coach George Blaney.

Calhoun will undergo surgery on his lower back on Monday.  After spending a couple days in the hospital following the surgery Calhoun will be evaluated daily and he could return for the regular season finale on March 3 when Connecticut hosts Pittsburgh.

Early in the week there were some reports that Calhoun would be able to coach Saturday when UConn hosts Syracuse but today’s news put an end to any speculation.  This is Calhoun’s third leave of absence since he took over as the head coach of Connecticut in 1986.  The previous two came in 2003 and 2010.

Is Temple In? 

Just when we thought that the dust had settled talks of expansion have started again.  This time the talks are about the Temple University Owls.  It has been reported that the Big East Conference and Temple are in talks about joining forces as early as 2012 for all sports.  If the Big East were able to add Temple they would be able to lessen the blow of the loss of Big East pillars Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.