UConn's Calhoun takes medical leave of absence

Storrs — Another wave of adversity slammed into the UConn basketball program Friday with the news that coach Jim Calhoun is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence due to a painful lower back condition.

Calhoun will miss at least two games - today against Seton Hall at the XL Center in Hartford and Monday at Louisville. Associate head coach George Blaney will fill in.

According to a school press release, Calhoun has spinal stenosis, a condition that results in severe pain and hampers mobility. He'll be evaluated on a daily basis.

"There is some degenerative problem in the lumbar vertebrae and it's impinging on the nerves," said Dr. Peter Schulman of the UConn Health Center in a release. "It has led to significant back pain and some symptoms in the lower extremities. … He is not able to deal with this on a day to day basis, so other options need to be considered.

"Right now, he is physically unable to coach."

Calhoun, 69, started experiencing significant back pain last summer and attempted to treat it with physical therapy, stretching and exercise. He's seen two specialists.

But his condition worsened the last several days and his pain escalated during UConn's recent trip to Georgetown.

"When we went to Washington the other day he really was having trouble," Blaney said. "Then when he got off the plane (Wednesday), he really had trouble getting in the car and going home.

"He stayed home (Thursday) and today he decided he was not going to coach and take it day by day."

Calhoun, who spoke to the Associated Press on Friday, indicated surgery is a possibility.

"The bottom line is I'm going to need some work done," Calhoun said. "In January the shooting pains were getting worse and after one plane ride I couldn't even get up. I tried to hide it. I'm taking medicine right now for the pain and they are waiting for things to quiet down and I'll meet with the doctor next week.

"I told (president) Susan (Herbst) about it and said I could make it through the season that there were only 3 1/2 weeks left. But it's just so bad ... Now I'm going to see what the next step is. The bottom line is I'm hurting."

The Huskies (14-7, 4-5) have dealt with their share of adversity this season. Calhoun sat out the first three Big East game while serving an NCAA suspension and freshman guard Ryan Boatright missed nine games due to eligibility issues. Plus, they've mired in a major funk, losing six of their last eight including a season-high four in a row.

Blaney informed the team of the news prior to practice Friday at Gampel Pavilion, first meeting with co-captains Shabazz Napier and Alex Oriakhi as well as Jeremy Lamb.

"It was a shock," Napier said. "We all felt like that he was in the best shape of his life... It's tough. We wish we were there with him and he wishes he was here with us to keep on pushing us forward."

Calhoun's back condition is the latest in a long line of health issues for the Hall of Fame coach. A three-time cancer survivor, he's missed 21 games - 17 for medical issues - since 1994. The Huskies are 11-10 in those games. They're 9-9 with Blaney in charge, including 2-1 this season.

"I don't know anybody tougher," Blaney said. "He doesn't use Novocain when he goes to the dentist. … I just hope he recovers."

Calhoun's absence could be a rallying point for the Huskies, whose NCAA tournament hopes are fading. Seton Hall (15-7, 4-6) also is in a rut, losing five straight. The Pirates won the first meeting, 75-63, Jan. 3 in Newark, N.J.

Any UConn turnaround has to start with hard work, Blaney said. The Huskies have struggled offensively, scoring season lows in three straight games.

"We haven't been working hard enough," Blaney said. "We've been playing sometimes with dead faces. I want that guy up in section 209 in the top seat to see that our guys are having fun and that they're really playing hard."

Despite the adversity, the Huskies are staying positive. Oriakhi and Napier held a players meeting on Thursday.

"I think we'll overcome it and do something special again," Boatright said. "We've got a team of fighters. We've been through a lot. I feel like we're going to turn it around and make a run in the tournament."

g.keefe@theday.com