BUFFALO — Is Connecticut icon Jim Calhoun going to return to coaching?
That was the buzz Friday at First Niagara Center following an ESPN report that Calhoun has “significant interest’’ in the vacant Boston College job.
There is virtually no way, sources around the UConn program believe, Boston College would hire Calhoun, given there is so much bad blood between him and that school — Calhoun vowed never to again play BC because of the way the Eagles left the Big East for the ACC.
There is growing sentiment, though, that Calhoun — who will turn 72 in May — is feeling much better physically than he did when he retired as Huskies coach two years ago and he is itching to get back in the game as a head coach.
Calhoun told the Hartford Courant: “I have not talked to any other school. I never say never, but I’m not trying to get a job.’’
It is plausible Calhoun planted this supposed interest as a trial balloon to see which way the wind is blowing on a possible return.
Calhoun has remained close to the UConn program he built into a powerhouse and is here with the team this week, watching his former player, Kevin Ollie, coach the Huskies for the first time in the NCAA Tournament.
“It wouldn’t be tricky for me, it would be great,’’ Ollie said. “If that’s what he wants to do, more power to him. I know he’s enjoying his vacations he’s taking in January playing golf. I don’t know if he wants to pass up on those. But if he wants to get back in the game, more power to him.’’
With Syracuse, Villanova and UConn all here, the feel was definitely old-time Big East, but Jim Boeheim was not getting into the spirit.
“I just don’t think about it anymore. … You’ve got to move on,’’ Boeheim said. “It’s like you don’t ask questions about someone’s ex-wife, do you?
“You can only get in trouble answering that question, if you’re married again.’’
Villanova swingman James Bell on squaring off with former Big East foe UConn: “I wouldn’t say nostalgia. You miss the good teams in our league. Syracuse, Connecticut, they brought an extra edge to our league that we kind of miss.’’