For those of you who thought UConn Coach Jim Calhoun's salary is too high, it's nothing compared to what John Calipari now gets paid.

He's getting an eight year, $31.65 million contract to coach basketball at Kentucky. That's just a tad under four mil a year.

"I do not walk on water; I do not have a magic wand," he said at a news conference today. Apparently someone thinks he does, and is willing to pay through the nose to watch him strut his coaching stuff.

From the president on down to the guys and gals around the office, a lot of NCAA men's tournament brackets got ripped to shreds Thursday night, and to quote a friend of mine in Indianapolis, "I love it."

Since I don't follow teams as closely as many of you do, I'm not sure what was the bigger win Thursday night -- Missouri knocking off Memphis, who many, including President Obama, had going to the Final Four, or Duke losing for the first time in 50 years to Villanova. 50 years!!

And how fun is this to imagine -- UConn, Pitt or Villanova, Syracuse and Louisville all making it into the Final Four? Almost like another Big East tournament. THIS is when I like college basketball.

If you have ever watched competitive men's hockey, it doesn't take long to see that players have to be tough, strong, and fast to succeed. For a long time - too long - ice hockey was seen as a guy's sport. But I am part of a group of guys who have been put in their place on the ice by a woman.

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UConn head basketball coach Jim Calhoun left the hospital Friday morning with what university officials are calling a clean bill of health.

Calhoun spent the night at the hospital so doctors could monitor his symptoms. He said he's been feeling lousy for the last several days.

According to a written release, Calhoun joined the team for breakfast and is expected at the afternoon practice although he may not be available for media briefings later in the day.

The Huskies will prepare for a second round game against Texas A&M. The Aggies outclassed BYU in a first round game and the Huskies made short work of Chattanooga.

So how focused are the coaches during this time of year? Soon after A&M defeated BYU, Aggie head coach Mark Turgeon tapped me on the shoulder and asked what time his game on Saturday would be. How's that for not looking too far ahead.

The Aggies are scheduled to play UConn Saturday at 3:35.

UConn men's basketball head coach Jim Calhoun is ill and will not be with his Huskies when they take the court for a first round NCAA Tournament game against Chattanooga.

One of Calhoun's assistant coaches told me the head caoch is suffering from flu-like symptoms.

My guess is... and it's just a guess, that it's nothing too terribly serious. I saw Calhoun's son and close friends in the arena who likely wouldn't be here if the coach was in serious trouble.

Remember, this has happened before, in the regular season and in the NCAA Tournament.

Last time was in 2004 when Calhoun left a game against DePaul not feeling well. The Huskies won the game and ended up winning the national championship.

It happened again in 1999 when Calhoun also didn't start the game on the bench in a game against Texas-San Antonio. The Huskies won that game too and also ended up with the National Championship.

George Blaney takes over and is more than a capable replacement.

Not an easy trip to the Wachovia Center this morning to catch the BYU-Texas A&M game.

Some sort of emergency blocked the streets and as our shuttle driver from the hotel to the arena said, "It was like getting ten toes in one sock."

There was also some sort of media circus where I'm told a Philly politician was heading off to jail. Made me feel like I was back home in Connecticut.

Anyway, we finally got to the arena and now I'm watching A&M put on a clinic against BYU in the first 5 minutes of the game. The winner of course will play the winner of UConn's game against Chattanooga.

In just hours from now the UConn men's basketball will open NCAA Tournament play against Tennessee-Chattanooga.

It's been awhile since the Huskies have won an NCAA Tournament (2 years), but the fellas looked loose Wednesday afternoon when they took the Wachovia Center floor for practice. It's more of a showcase than a real practice. Lots of dunks earning oohs and awes from the crowd which gets free admittance to the event.

The Chattanooga players all said the right things, that UConn is a great team and they'll need to play the perfect game to beat the Huskies.

If the Mocs, as they're called, are to compete in this game, they'll have to make a lot of three pointers. But head coach, John Shulman says you have to believe. And he does. Although he concedes that he doesn't have nearly as talented a group as what he'll be facing Thursday afternoon.

Head coach Jim Calhoun appeared very relaxed during the Wednesday practice, but you can imagine that will change as soon as the ball is thrown up for tip Thursday.

He said teams are judged by their last game, and that despite his teams 27 win regular season, the Huskies will be judge first by this tournament, then by the 6 overtime loss to Syracuse and then by the regular season.

If that's the case, the Huskies need to make a nice run here because it would be a shame to let such a successful season go to waste.

It's amazing what a natural boost of adrenaline can do for the body!!! Thanks to the historic excitment of the UConn/Syracuse 6 overtime classic, I've made it through a shift of live television beginning at 3pm on Thursday and ending around 7:40am Friday!!!

Live TV is so much fun, it keeps me energized.. Of course it doesn't hurt to have more than 100 bright lightbulbs on to keep someone alert....

UConn's loss will have a momentary disapointing effect, but remember,, the NCAA Tournament will begin in a week, and the Huskies figure to be one of the top 5 favorites to win a National Championship. So UConn will have a chance to rest, and repair on and off the court during the next week, before starting what just might be a deep tournament run...

Enjoy the Basketball,
Marc