UConn Basketball: Rough Road For Jim Calhoun Culminates In National Championship

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The 2011 National Championship Winning UConn Huskies Give Jim Calhoun His Third Title

It wasn't pretty but do you really think that matters to UConn coach Jim Calhoun?

The Huskies scratched and clawed their way to a 53-41 victory over the Butler Bulldogs for Calhoun's third career championship.

Not bad considering the Huskies were unranked coming off a NIT appearance a season ago.

It wasn't an easy ride for the Hall of Fame coach. Calhon dealt with cancer for the third separate time in 2010 and faced a recruiting violation that loomed over the team for a good-part of this season until the NCAA made a decision.

All of that doesn't matter.

Now Calhoun and the Huskies can say they held the national-runnerups to 18 percent from the field—the lowest of all-time in a championship game. It was a historic defensive effort that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

All the credit goes to Calhoun as he rallied his young team at the absolute perfect time.

Jeremy Lamb was struggling to adjust to the college game and it was really beginning to show in his body language.

Calhoun decided to shower the freshman with praise, touting him as "the next one". Lamb went on to score in double figures in his last 11 games—all of which were in the postseason.

He tuned into a legit second option and credit Calhoun for infusing the confidence into him.

The Huskies went through a nasty streak in the middle of Big East play that saw them lose 4-of-5 games in late February. But Calhoun never wavered in his confidence of Kemba Walker and it paid off in a huge way.

UConn finished the season 17-0 vs non-conference opponents and 14-0 in tournaments. Coach won the National Championship despite starting three freshman and a sophomore.

The 68 year-old Calhoun now has three titles, four Final Fours and a lifetime of memories. He already was inducted into the Hall of Fame...so there really is nothing left for Calhoun to prove.

Some think he may retire but I think Calhoun enjoys what he does too much to give it up now. Expect him to defend his championship on the UConn bench next season as he continues his passion of teaching kids.

Take a moment and recognize a splendid coach that has entered a club few others are in. Calhoun now has a place in history right behind the likes of John Wooden, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Bobby Knight and Coach K.

Not bad.

Congrats to Jim Calhoun and the 2011 champion UConn Huskies.

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