Uconn gets Holy Cross scratched from Coaches vs. Cancer Classic

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 2, 2007 5:22 PM EDT in Basketball Comment 9 comments

Dick "Hoops" Weiss has a story that is very troubling. It has been reported elsewhere, but kept fairly low key.

Basically, the story is this: Ralph Willard, former UK assistant under Rick Pitino, former head coach of Western Kentucky and current head coach of Holy Cross is alleging that Jim Calhoun of the University of Connecticut pressured the Gazelle Group, the marketing organization that organizes the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, to scratch Holy Cross from the Storrs sub-regional. The Gazelle Group apparently marched to Calhoun's tune, even though they knew Holy Cross only accepted the invitation to play in the tournament if it could play in the Storrs sub-regional due to academic and travel considerations.

Apparently, Calhoun wanted to play Morgan State, Buffalo, or Ohio Valley Christian -- you know, the immortals of the hardwood. Read the rest of the story at either of the two links above.

If true as alleged, there should be serious consequences for both Calhoun and the Gazelle Group. In fact, I think it may be time for the University of Kentucky to protest this situation, and demand that Calhoun come clean. If there is truth to Willard's allegation, UK should consider withdrawing from this tournament as well in protest of this unfair and outrageous action. We don't need those games bad enough to play a tournament dictated by Jim Calhoun.

Calhoun winds up looking like a coward and a thug in this story. As Weiss says, everyone involved in this mess should be ashamed.

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hypocrisy

I don't understand how this story has been kept so underwrap. When UK canselled the UMass game by implementing a legal buyout in its contract, it was actually a link on ESPNs main page. I can't find anything mentioning this on the college basketbell main page.

And it's not even Duke or UNC. That wouldn't surprise me, but UConn? And why cancel Holy Cross? It's a neighboring school...it's why we play the smaller teams in Kentucky.

I just hope all those "experts," columnists, and everyone else that piled onto UK goes after UConn even stronger. What they and the Gazelle Group are trying to pull is unimaginable. This is so much worse than whatever it was that UK did to get people so pissed.

And not that it should matter what early season tournament it is, but this was for Coaches vs. Cancer...I don't think UK should threaten to pull out only because of what tournament it is.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 2, 2007 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

typo

it was bugging me. i know it's spelled "cancelled."

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 2, 2007 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i also meant

that if it was Duke or UNC, it wouldn't surprise me that ESPN has let it slip past them, not that I wouldn't be surprised if either team did something like this.

i should have waited 5 minutes and not written while i was so pissed. it would have made more sense and made it easier for everyone to follow.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 2, 2007 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It ...

angered me as well. The whole story really pisses me off, and not just a little bit. My esteem for Calhoun has fallen considerably.

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 2, 2007 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

next day

and yet i can't find anything about this on any major sports news sites. so i googled "UConn Gazelle Group." And I got a handful of articles on this, including the two linked at the top and this very post (Tru, you were #5, in between your two links.

here's another link i liked that gives a little background on holy cross and why they're really upset.
http://www.epiccarnival.com/2007/09/jim-calhoun-hates-kids-with-cancer.html

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Oct 3, 2007 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree

nothing to add but I agree.
Solidarity brother.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Oct 2, 2007 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Said the pot to the kettle...

This is no more of a dirty move by Calhoun than Gillispie pulled on UMass. I am still bothered and ashamed at UK for cancelling that game. It makes us look like cowards. And the fact is, they hosed UMass big time.

by Appalachian Wonder on Oct 3, 2007 9:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree ...

that UK canceling the UMass game was wrong, and I made that point, I believe.

I think this is worse, though, because Calhoun wasn't exercising a valid contractual option like UK was. He just basically pressured the promoters into doing something unethical by using his position and UConn's status as a bludgeon at the expense of a smaller school.

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 3, 2007 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs