New York - It was a day, a rare one in Jim Calhoun's career, when nobody near the vicinity of Calhoun's airspace got anything right.The television report from Chris Carlin of SNY's "Loudmouths," proclaiming that "sources" say Calhoun would retire at the end of the year, certainly wasn't right.

The television report from Chris Carlin of SNY's "Loudmouths," proclaiming that "sources" say Calhoun would retire at the end of the year, certainly wasn't right.Calhoun's players certainly weren't right during their 73-51 barf-o-rama against St. John's at Madison Square Garden.

Calhoun's players certainly weren't right during their 73-51 barf-o-rama against St. John's at Madison Square Garden.Interested observers who suggested the Huskies should bypass a potential National Invitation Tournament berth aren't right.

Interested observers who suggested the Huskies should bypass a potential National Invitation Tournament berth aren't right.And now the UConn Huskies, who have owned March so many more times than any of us ever thought possible, fade into irrelevance for the duration of the month. That doesn't feel very right, either.

And now the UConn Huskies, who have owned March so many more times than any of us ever thought possible, fade into irrelevance for the duration of the month. That doesn't feel very right, either.Hard to even know where to begin.

Hard to even know where to begin. So here's a blinding flash of originality: We'll begin at the beginning.

So here's a blinding flash of originality: We'll begin at the beginning. Carlin's "report," a bunch of shinola dressed up in broadcast bluster, had no chance of being true. That's because Carlin has no more insight into Calhoun's conditions and connections than the rest of us would have at trying to rebuild a Chrysler. Jeff Calhoun, the coach's son, was left to debunk the bunk before Jim Calhoun had his turn at the plate after the game:

Carlin's "report," a bunch of shinola dressed up in broadcast bluster, had no chance of being true. That's because Carlin has no more insight into Calhoun's conditions and connections than the rest of us would have at trying to rebuild a Chrysler. Jeff Calhoun, the coach's son, was left to debunk the bunk before Jim Calhoun had his turn at the plate after the game:"I was made aware of the story," Jim Calhoun said. "And it had nothing to do with anything and was not based upon any substantive fact."

"I was made aware of the story," Jim Calhoun said. "And it had nothing to do with anything and was not based upon any substantive fact."Calhoun said he has not spoken to the "two people" with whom he'd need to speak about his future. He did not name them, although it's pretty clear he meant UConn president Michael Hogan and athletic director Jeff Hathaway.

Calhoun said he has not spoken to the "two people" with whom he'd need to speak about his future. He did not name them, although it's pretty clear he meant UConn president Michael Hogan and athletic director Jeff Hathaway."One I haven't talked to in a year and the other I haven't talked about that situation in eight months," Calhoun said. " … I'm in the business of trying to recruit players to UConn. I love the school. And I still love coaching. … Yes, there is a contract offer out there. I haven't seen the final copy. But it's out there, yes."

"One I haven't talked to in a year and the other I haven't talked about that situation in eight months," Calhoun said. " … I'm in the business of trying to recruit players to UConn. I love the school. And I still love coaching. … Yes, there is a contract offer out there. I haven't seen the final copy. But it's out there, yes."The better discussion here is why Calhoun hasn't signed it. Athletic department sources - real ones - suggest there are some stipulations in it with which Calhoun is not comfortable. That's fodder for another day.

The better discussion here is why Calhoun hasn't signed it. Athletic department sources - real ones - suggest there are some stipulations in it with which Calhoun is not comfortable. That's fodder for another day. Otherwise, Carlin's "report" reeks of the "new" media: Fire enough against the wall, see what sticks and then sit back and giggle as your colleagues try to substantiate fiction.

Otherwise, Carlin's "report" reeks of the "new" media: Fire enough against the wall, see what sticks and then sit back and giggle as your colleagues try to substantiate fiction.So after Jeff Calhoun cleared up his dad's situation, there was the matter of the game. Pathetic would be one way to describe it. Really pathetic would be another. How a team with everything to play for could no-show in the most famous basketball arena of them all defies explanation. Calhoun had none. Neither did his players.

So after Jeff Calhoun cleared up his dad's situation, there was the matter of the game. Pathetic would be one way to describe it. Really pathetic would be another. How a team with everything to play for could no-show in the most famous basketball arena of them all defies explanation. Calhoun had none. Neither did his players.Here's some advice, though: Before you get flagged 15 yards for piling on, try to remember that there are a few banners still hanging in Gampel Pavilion. They still count. Want to hammer Calhoun for this season? Fine. Just make sure you understand how many times Calhoun's teams have owned March.

Here's some advice, though: Before you get flagged 15 yards for piling on, try to remember that there are a few banners still hanging in Gampel Pavilion. They still count. Want to hammer Calhoun for this season? Fine. Just make sure you understand how many times Calhoun's teams have owned March.Which brings us to the NIT. You remember that, right? The enduring image of Jeff King sitting on top of the basket in the same arena as Tuesday's stinkbomb? That was 1988 and one of the biggest things that ever happened to UConn basketball: The Huskies won the NIT. Two years later, they were in the Elite Eight.

Which brings us to the NIT. You remember that, right? The enduring image of Jeff King sitting on top of the basket in the same arena as Tuesday's stinkbomb? That was 1988 and one of the biggest things that ever happened to UConn basketball: The Huskies won the NIT. Two years later, they were in the Elite Eight.The idea that they wouldn't go this year because they've finished poorly is absurd. Calhoun wasn't about to make a decision in the aftermath of Tuesday's numbing outcome.

The idea that they wouldn't go this year because they've finished poorly is absurd. Calhoun wasn't about to make a decision in the aftermath of Tuesday's numbing outcome."I think it's a good time to reflect where we are today and how we ended up today. This is certainly not typical. We've been beaten before and ended seasons on some sour notes and some great notes," Calhoun said. "The only thing we can hope for is an NIT berth, obviously. I have great respect for that. I never thought about turning it down."

"I think it's a good time to reflect where we are today and how we ended up today. This is certainly not typical. We've been beaten before and ended seasons on some sour notes and some great notes," Calhoun said. "The only thing we can hope for is an NIT berth, obviously. I have great respect for that. I never thought about turning it down."Would the Huskies get a berth? Before Tuesday's games, they were a No. 1 seed, according to NIT bracketology. (Yes, they do NIT bracketology.) According to the "Bracket Project" at bracketproject.50webs.com/nit.html, UConn is a No. 1 seed and would play Steve Pikiell and Stony Brook in the first round. Remember, too, that the NIT is under the NCAA's umbrella and that Hathaway is a member of the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Would the Huskies get a berth? Before Tuesday's games, they were a No. 1 seed, according to NIT bracketology. (Yes, they do NIT bracketology.) According to the "Bracket Project" at bracketproject.50webs.com/nit.html, UConn is a No. 1 seed and would play Steve Pikiell and Stony Brook in the first round. Remember, too, that the NIT is under the NCAA's umbrella and that Hathaway is a member of the NCAA tournament selection committee. Would it look good if a committee member's school big-timed the NIT, if for no other reason than the fan base might be in a snit?

Would it look good if a committee member's school big-timed the NIT, if for no other reason than the fan base might be in a snit?Maybe there would be nobody at Gampel Pavilion to watch the Huskies in the NIT. Question: Is that relevant? This is one time when butts in the seats shouldn't count as much as the program's future. Calhoun has the opportunity to see part of it in the NIT.

Maybe there would be nobody at Gampel Pavilion to watch the Huskies in the NIT. Question: Is that relevant? This is one time when butts in the seats shouldn't count as much as the program's future. Calhoun has the opportunity to see part of it in the NIT. He could use it as a dress rehearsal/preview of next season. Kemba Walker, Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Darius Smith, Ater Majok, Charles Okwandu and Donnell Beverly would - and should - play before Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards. Robinson, Edwards and Dyson had their opportunity to make something of this season and blew it.

He could use it as a dress rehearsal/preview of next season. Kemba Walker, Alex Oriakhi, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Darius Smith, Ater Majok, Charles Okwandu and Donnell Beverly would - and should - play before Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson and Gavin Edwards. Robinson, Edwards and Dyson had their opportunity to make something of this season and blew it. UConn is very fortunate to have an opportunity to see next season before next season.

UConn is very fortunate to have an opportunity to see next season before next season."I guess I have to talk to the athletic director. Obviously he makes the final judgment. He runs the athletic department," Calhoun said. "But I have great respect for the NIT. Always have. … I always think you should keep playing. Right around the corner something good is going to happen. It's a coach's dream. No way I felt we would lose today. I know in a couple of days if we laced them up again, there's no way I would ever think we would lose again. It's what keeps us going at times."

"I guess I have to talk to the athletic director. Obviously he makes the final judgment. He runs the athletic department," Calhoun said. "But I have great respect for the NIT. Always have. … I always think you should keep playing. Right around the corner something good is going to happen. It's a coach's dream. No way I felt we would lose today. I know in a couple of days if we laced them up again, there's no way I would ever think we would lose again. It's what keeps us going at times."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.