Okay, maybe that isn't the image Jim Calhoun wishes I pulled up for this blog. And I know, it only adds to the perception that many of you have of this man: He yells, he screams, he's too tough on his players and he lacks compassion. Now some of you have added this to the list; he should step away from UConn. Are you kidding me?

This was one of Coach Calhoun's finest coaching jobs at UConn. No, they didn't win a third National Title. Spoiled UConn fans will have to live with two. No, they didn't win a record 17th Big East Title. UConn fans had to settle for fourth place. But with a team picked in the middle of the pack, UConn won 24 games and ripped off ten straight wins in the middle of the season.

Coach Calhoun pointed out today that in 1986, the year he was hired, the most ever wins by a UConn team was 23 games. So this season was better than any other pre-Calhoun, at least in terms of wins.

Perspective. That is what UConn fans often lack. Only Jim Calhoun, Billy Donovan at Florida and Coach K. at Duke have won at least two National Titles in the last 20 years (Coach K. has three). I know the end to the last few seasons has been frustrating; the '06 loss to George Mason in the Elite 8, no post-season in '07 and one and done at the '08 NCAA's. But please...should they get rid of the coach? Someone actually suggested that to me on the radio last week. Sure, go ahead, get rid of him. Schools would be lined up to hire him.

As longtime, former UConn Sports information Director Tim Tolokan once said, Jim Calhoun will not be fully appreciated until after he is gone. It is about time everyone started appreciating him now.

And one final thought, and it's about that picture. Remember the "big" picture. The "ends" do 'justify" the means with Coach Calhoun. How many of his former player return for his charity events? Too many to count. How many of those same players were back for his Hall of Fame induction. I think it was like 55 or 60. That is all that you need to know. He is compassionate. Ask Caron Butler. He just doesn't always show that compassion during a basketball game.

I never liked my college football coach much when I was a player. I love him now. The same can be said of Coach Calhoun's former Huskies--UConn Huskies and Northeastern Huskies. Eventually, I think UConn Nation will have the same collective feeling. They didn't always like Jim Calhoun at UConn...but someday they will love him.

Like I said last year, I have never won an NCAA Tournament pool, so take these picks with a grain of salt:

My Final 4 teams are North Carolina, Georgetown, Memphis, & UCLA (which means I have UConn winning just 2 games)
Then I have UCLA beating the Hoyas in the Championship Game.

Enjoy the games.

It's March. And that can mean only one thing. Those bracket sheets. Next to operating power tools, I am not sure I am more incompetent at anything else in life than filling out those brackets.

Last night, I introduced my son Ryan to the process... for fun, of course. I do not want to be followed across state lines for filling out a piece of paper. Our big wager is simple: The loser has to be the first to mow the lawn this Spring. And judging by the weather, that won't be anytime soon. And that's good....because it will be me.

Speaking of meteorologists, they are far more accurate than I am. Their projected cold front looks a lot better than my picks in the first round of the tournament. Let's see, I had Georgia, Kentucky and Temple today. And guess what? They all lost. I am 1-3 so far. 1-3! Are you kidding me!

My son has Pitt beating Vanderbilt for the title. Two four seeds. But I guess I can't trash talk these picks given my start or past history.

So to my neighbors, don't laugh when you see my mowing the lawn next month. You now know why. My son Ryan also stands to win a soda. Perfect. He can watch me mow while he drinks his coke. It's only a matter of time before my picks get mowed down.

And for those of you wondering, I have Carolina, Wisconsin, Pitt and UCLA in my Final Four with UNC beating the Bruins of UCLA. I feel so sorry for those coaches. I just ruined their season.

The Big East got it right. UConn's Maya Moore is the first freshman in league history to win Big East Player of the Year honors. I won't bore you with stats. Her 18 points a game is just a small part of why this is a no brainer. To me, this goes way beyond numbers. Anyone who knows even a little about basketball can simply see she is just better than everyone else.Maya Moore brings back memories for me of a baseball camp I attended 24 years ago. There was a scout there from the Pittsburgh Pirates name Dick Probola. I asked "Pro" (the nickname he went by) what it took to make the Majors. He said, "Nate, the first thing I look for is body control. A good ballplayer is always in control of their body." As a 16 year old, I didn't get it. Today I do. Especially when I watch Maya Moore play hoops.She has phenomenal body control. There is almost no wasted motion. She can shoot...so smooth. She can pass. She rebounds. She plays tight, tough defense. She is always in control.I believe Maya Moore will surpass Diana Taurasi as the greatest Husky ever. In fact, barring an injury, I think she will end up becoming one of the greatest women's basketball players ever, period. "Pro" would have liked Maya Moore. She has body control. She has game. She has the Big East Player of the Year award. She has some future.