The fun and games screeched to a halt early in the week when it was revealed that Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Attention around the conference shifted to the 17-year Huskies coach, who received an outpouring of support from fellow coaches, including Pitt's Ben Howland.
"I sent him a note to wish him well," Howland said. "I'm just glad to hear everything's OK."
Calhoun, 60, had his cancerous prostate removed Thursday and will resume coaching in 3-4 weeks, according to his doctor. There's a 98 percent chance that the cancer will not return.
Fellow Big East coach Jim Boeheim of Syracuse had the same procedure done last year and helped talk Calhoun through it.
"He's a stronger guy than me, so I'll know he'll beat this," Boeheim said.
Calhoun could make his return March 2, when the Huskies pay a visit to Petersen Events Center for a Sunday afternoon meeting with the Panthers. His team appears to need him, considering they lost by 21 points to league bottom-feeder Virginia Tech on Wednesday night under assistant George Blaney.
But wins and losses at Connecticut these days have taken a back seat to the health of Calhoun, who continues to receive calls and letters from coaches throughout the country.
"There's a strong bond in the coaching community, and situations like this, bring it out," Howland said. "It's really just great to see."
WHO'S HE?
If the name Craig Smith doesn't ring a bell, don't feel bad. He's the savvy freshman from Boston College who has been lingering in the background while fellow rookies Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse and Torin Francis of Notre Dame hog the ink.
Keep an eye on this guy. Coach Al Skinner brought the 6-foot-7, 265-pound forward in from Los Angeles — via Worcester (Mass.) Academy — and has been getting big-time results. Smith averages 21.7 points and 8.4 rebounds and leads the conference in field-goal percentage at 62.8 percent. Field-goal percentage leaders must average 5.0 conversions per game.
He's coming off a week that saw him put up 25 points and five rebounds at Virginia Tech and 20 and five at Connecticut. The Eagles won both games by a 95-71 score.
Don't be surprised if Boston College makes a push for an NCAA Tournament bid if Smith and guard Troy Bell heat up down the stretch, against a schedule that is not overpowering.
GENERAL THOUGHT
Bobby Knight, a veteran of 38 years, became just the fourth coach in history to win 800 career games Wednesday when his Texas Tech team defeated Nebraska, 75-49. To put that in perspective, consider Howland is 644 wins from that mark after eight-plus seasons, Craig Esherick of Georgetown is 719 short after four-plus seasons and Ricky Stokes of Virginia Tech is 757 away after three-plus years.
Boeheim and Calhoun are in shouting distance with 638 in 27 years and 637 in 31, respectively, but still have a long way to go to catch the embattled General.
If Boeheim, 58, maintains his average of 24 wins a season, he could reach 800 in just about seven years.
FASTBREAK
Three of the top four scorers in the league play in the East Division, with Bell (24.1) at the top, Marcus Hatten of St. John's tied for second with West Division rep Mike Sweetney of Georgetown (22.7) and Smith. Conversely, five of the top six defensive teams in the conference play in the West, with Pitt holding the top spot at 58.2 points allowed per game.
WORTH WATCHING
No. 4 Pitt at No. 10 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., today, WTAE-4. The Panthers (16-2, 6-1 Big East) attempt to separate themselves in the West Division in a rematch with the 10th-ranked Irish (18-4, 6-2), who are looking to avenge a 17-point loss in the conference opener at Petersen Events Center. These teams have owned the West the past two seasons, with Pitt winning the division last year and Notre Dame in 2001.
