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| Monday, February 10 Updated: February 11, 11:42 AM ET Calhoun fighting fatique after four-hour surgery By Andy Katz ESPN.com |
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HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun walked a mile on his treadmill at home Monday, the first steps in getting back to the bench less than four days after having his prostate removed.
Calhoun told ESPN.com by telephone prior to the Huskies' game against Syracuse in the Hartford Civic Center that he was hoping to make a cameo in his office at the end of the week.
But returning to the bench will be a slow process and he isn't going to push his return until his body is ready for the rigors and stress of coaching major Division I basketball.
"Everything was successful,'' Calhoun said of the four-hour surgery. "They removed my prostate and there was no cancer in my lymph nodes.''
Calhoun said he did some walking in the hospital over the weekend but he has to watch his fatigue level.
"Right after I walked on the treadmill, I went downstairs, sat down and two hours went by because I had fallen asleep,'' Calhoun said. "The doctors told me not to even think about anything (coaching-wise) until March. I want to lead a quality life and continue to coach. We've got a great young team. I want to watch my family grow.''
Calhoun spoke with the Huskies' Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor following shootaround Monday. He said he talks to longtime friend and interim head coach George Blaney "about seven times a day.''
"I'm staying in touch with them,'' Calhoun said. "If I could remove the staples and be there right now I would. I'm going to watch the game, but I'm not going to coach every pass. But I will listen and watch the broadcast.''
Calhoun said he found out about the cancer during a visit to the doctors Friday. He said it was "like a punch in the stomach.'' But he didn't hesitate and said he immediately called his brother, a cardiologist in Boston, to get in touch with the best urologists he knew for a course of action. He knew then that he wouldn't put off surgery.
He then called Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, who had a similar operation a year ago. Boeheim said he was out for a week of practice, 14 days from games and wouldn't be surprised to see Calhoun do the same although everyone's recovery period is different.
"As soon as I heard (that he had a cancerous prostate) I had already made up my mind that it didn't belong in my body and I wanted to get rid of it,'' Calhoun said. "I would have had the surgery that afternoon.''
Calhoun said the toughest part of the past week was actually saying goodbye to the team last Tuesday before they boarded the bus for a road game at Virginia Tech.
"That was one of the saddest moments,'' Calhoun said. "Each kid hugged me and they were gone. I've had a team for 30-something years. And then I went back to my desk and at that moment I didn't have a team. I knew I was facing something bigger. But I was still sad sitting there.'' Calhoun said doctors and his family didn't want him to watch the game against the Hokies because he had to get up early in the morning for surgery. He said he still watched it and couldn't bear to watch the Huskies lose. He did watch the Providence victory Saturday and was pleased with the way the team responded.
Calhoun isn't even considering slowing down when he does return. The prospect of coaching a young team, of getting back out to the court and continuing his career is driving him even more. He's having trouble just lying around house during this mandatory rest period.
"It's hard not to do anything,'' Calhoun said. "I'm used to a 12- to 14-hour day. I'm used to the camaraderie of being around the coaches. Coaches understand that and that's why it has been so wonderful to hear from everyone from Roy Williams (at Kansas) to Lute Olson (at Arizona) and Mike Jarvis (at St. John's). Everyone. I just want to do this the right way, get back and have my life back.'' Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. |
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