In tomorrow’s battle of preseason disappointments, Pitt has a chance to make sure UConn goes on the wrong side of the bubble. Creating a scenario where the Huskies would miss two straight NCAA Tournaments — thanks to their ban for next year due to bad academics. Don’t let UConn fans tell you differently. The Huskies earned it the same way they earned their NCAA Championships. Recruiting talent only, not worrying about grades, and shoving non-producers out the door at a disturbing clip. Then when busted complain that the metrics are the problem, that it wasn’t Jim Calhoun’s fault, that the issues are being addressed, that it is unfair to the present kids and that it is so0oooo unfair.

But I digress.

Anyways, Jim Calhoun remains at home recovering from some surgery on Monday for his spinal stenosis. Being back for Saturday’s game was always a longshot, but hard to rule out because: 1) it’s the season finale/senior day — along with the expected departures of Napier, Lamb and Drummond; and 2) Calhoun is such a stubborn bastard there was every chance he would show up with an IV still plugged into him.

Now, it appears more likely he will try to be ready to coach in the Big East Tournament.

UPDATE: And naturally, Calhoun showed up at the Huskies practice today. Didn’t run it or anything. But he showed up. So, maybe he will show tomorrow just for the ceremonies and to provide an emotional lift.

God I love revisionism.

The comments about how Coach Dixon has wasted Taylor. Played him out of position and stunted his development are hilarious. Just because of the stars he had as a recruit, and the “All-American” designation. Or the comments from 2009, by his high school coach. An argument that entirely ignores Taylor’s poor defense, generally, and the potential nightmare of him trying to actually stay with power forwards moving around the court and dragging Taylor behind them.

For three years, we have seen Dante Taylor make incremental progress from his freshman year to the present. The opinion generally has been that he has been a bust. Call it semantics if you wish, but I think he’s been disappointing, not a bust. He still has another year, and I think he’s been weighed down by being designated as a McDonald’s All-American. It now is used against him as a pejorative

Still, maybe one side has a point over the other. Both sides believes Taylor should be better. The issue is, should he be better because the coaching staff failed him, and Dixon played him at center rather than power forward? Or is it that Taylor just isn’t as good as everyone thought and never was?

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