UConn players reveal how Jim Calhoun's presence has helped their Final Foul run

UConn has one of the richest histories in college basketball, and they have Jim Calhoun to thank for that.

Calhoun coached the Huskies for 26 seasons between 1984 and 2012. He brought the Huskies their first three national titles, and they are now looking for their second since he left the program over a decade ago.

He had been behind the scenes with UConn team during their Sweet 16 and Elite Eight wins in Las Vegas last weekend, and some of the Huskies’ biggest stars are benifitting greatly from his presence behind the scenes.

“He’s the G.O.A.T. When he talks, you listen,” UConn guard Jordan Hawkins said. “He gives us great advice before the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight and he gave us great advice when we came down here. We’ll have that in the back of our minds.”

While the Hall of Famer was with the Huskies, he led them to not only the first three national titles in program history, but to 18 NCAA Tournament apperances, 13 Sweet 16’s, 9 Elite Eight’s, 4 Final Fours and 17 combined Big East regular season and tournament championships.

“His experience and leadership is good for us,” guard Tristen Newton said. “Tells us what to expect when we get to these positions. His message is really go out there, do what we’ve got to do to win a game. That’s pretty much the main point of it.”

Calhoun isn’t the only Husky legend that UConn head coach Dan Hurley has turned to for advice since over the past week. He rattled off a few names he talked to this week as well — Jay Wright, Tom Izzo, Mike Krzyzewski — and UConn Women’s Basketball coach Geno Auriemma.

Auriemma has won 11 national championships with the Huskies, and prior to 2023 had led his team to 14-straight Final Fours after getting beat in the Sweet 16 to Ohio State.

“[Calhoun and Auriemma] are UConn basketball,” Hurley said. “So just to have those two guys around — obviously it’s hard for me to meet with them together. But I get a lot of time with them separately. I hope to get a picture with the both of them. Coach is coming out, I think, tonight. I know that will go viral if I could get those two guys together.”

Whether Calhoun and Auriemma’s messages to Hurley and the team have payed off remains to be seen, but we won’t have to wait long to find out. Tip-off between the Huskies and Miami in the Final Four is set for 8:49 p.m. ET on Saturday night live on CBS shortly following the conclusion of San Diego State vs. Florida Atlantic.