Feb. 4
I was saddened to hear the news about UConn coach Jim Calhoun, who has prostate cancer and will undergo surgery this week. But the good news is that doctors caught it early, and I have no doubt that Calhoun will recover completely and be back on the sidelines in a month or less.

	Calhoun

Calhoun is a fighter and a competitor. I wrote him a note today and told him that my prayers are with him, and I encouraged him to use the same unbelievable fighting spirit he has on the sidelines in this battle against cancer -- and he'll be fine. I really believe that.

With the support of his family and friends, I'm confident that he'll have a speedy and full recovery -- and that's exactly what I'm hoping and praying for.

Many people are rooting for Calhoun and praying for him, because a situation like this touches so many. It puts in perspective what's truly important in life. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim had prostate surgery last season, and he had a phenomenal recovery, returning to the sideline in three weeks.

The bottom line with prostate cancer is early detection. There have been great strides in treating prostate cancer in both research and recovery. I've been involved with the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research, and the research that's being done today is amazing.

In Good Hands With Blaney
To Calhoun's credit, he recognizes how important it is to have a good staff. And that will pay off for him big-time during his absence, because assistant coach George Blaney will run the Huskies until Calhoun returns. Blaney has 20-plus years of head-coaching experience, including stints at Holy Cross and Seton Hall.

The low-key Blaney has a different personality than the intense Calhoun, but there are many ways to succeed as a coach. You can succeed with fiery leadership, and you can succeed with calm direction. Blaney will bring a wealth of preparation and knowledge to the UConn sideline. He was a great hire.

With a transition related to this kind of difficult scenario, it might take the Huskies time to regroup. But kids are resilient. I believe that the respect and admiration and love Calhoun's players have for him will translate into their best effort on the court in his absence.

Certainly, the Huskies have the talent to win enough games to make a strong run to March Madness.