Not with a bang ...

SPOPRTING GOODS

I don't know if anyone in the Constitution State will dare say this, but the UConn Huskies men clearly gave up for the last three games of the season after the agonizing loss to Louisville at home.

This, however, comes close:

Disinterested, confused and lifeless, UConn stumbled through one of the worst performances in its proud tournament history, perhaps a fitting stamp on a four-month malaise.

For much of the season (And I have to be careful here, because this is a team that had quality wins over Texas, West Virginia, and 'Nova, and near misses against Georgetown, Syracuse, and Kentucky.) the Huskies looked like they were mailing it in. Certainly last night's performance was demonstrative: Kemba Walker driving to the basket with no thought to dish off possession after possession; Jerome Dyson taking all of seven shots in 26 minutes (hitting on two); overall, under 40% shooting from the field and the foul line. It really was painful to watch.

Now, of course, fans are wondering what the Huskies will have next year. The team's two ostensible big guns—Dyson and Robinson—will be gone, and, with Walker the only one left who's had any consistent playing time, the season could be even more unsuccessful (in terms of wins and losses) than this dreadful year.

As the death watch continues, there's some speculation that the team will play in the NIT. Here's hoping that doesn't happen. The team seems to have no interest in continuing the season; any more competition would only make an ugly season uglier and would add to the state's angst.

Meanwhile, a certain amount of speculation is swirling around the man who just couldn't get this team excited about anything. Nevertheless,

After his team's 73-51 loss to St. John's in the first round of the Big East tournament, coach Jim Calhoun said he is not considering retiring and has already been out recruiting for next year. Calhoun said he's in talks with the university about a contract extension.

This situation is starting to make me a little nervous. After all, St. Jim

was forced to take a 3.5-week leave of absence in late January due to a medical condition. When he returned on Feb. 13, his team struggled in a loss to Cincinnati that had Calhoun saying he was "embarrassed" about the performance.

This situation isn't entirely unlike a football coach "coaching" from the press box, but I don't want to be accused of a syllogism here.

In the midst of all of this, though, Huskie fans still have one star to hitch their wagons to.