UConn head coach Jim Calhoun spoke with the media Friday as UConn prepared to face Rutgers Saturday afternoon at the Hartford Civic Center. Calhoun discussed his new contract which was announced on Friday. He also updated the media on Hilton Armstrong's knee injury and discussed a walk-on who has just been given a scholarship, among other things.

Calhoun Signs New Contract

Head coach Jim Calhoun signed a new six year contract Friday morning. The contract is retroactive beginning July 1, 2004 and running throught the 2009-2010 season. Calhoun also has the option to sign for an additional two years taking him through the 2011-2012 season.

Calhoun will be paid roughly 1.4 million in base salary and public relations commitments the first year. He will make 1.5 million over each of the following three years and 1.6 million in each of the final two years of the contract.

"We are pleased to announce this new contract for coach Calhoun, who I consider to be the preeminent coach in men's college basketball today," said UConn Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway. "Coach Calhoun has an extensive record of excellence both in the performance of his teams and in the quality of the young men that have been a part of our program. He is a valuable member of the UConn community and the state of Connecticut. We look forward to continued success in the men's basketball program under Coach Calhoun's leadership."

"I am very happy that the University is allowing me the opportunity to do what I hope to do, and that is end my career here at UConn, whenever that time may be," said Calhoun. "With the help and support of Jeff Hathaway and (University President) Phil Austin, that is what this new contract allows me to do. It especially pleases me to know that the University has now put me financially in the same class as the other outstanding men's basketball coaches in America. And, importantly, this commitment allows me and my staff to continue our pursuit of another championship with a renewed show of support from the University."

Fine Tuning The Huskies

While coach Jim Calhoun has confidence that his young team can be very good, he feels they need to step up and play to their capabilities, particularly over the next two games against Rutgers and Seton Hall.

"This is a crucial weekend for us," said Calhoun. "Nothing is critical yet because we have a lot of games to go, but it's an important one for us. We're at home, we have two teams that probably won't finish in the top 4, 5 or 6 in the league and you need to get a few wins against teams that you feel you have a chance to be better than."

Calhoun says he would like to see the Huskies play more patiently on both ends of the floor. He feels they play tough defense for most of the shot clock and then get impatient and give up easy baskets. He would like to see his team stick with their defense and be patient. On the offensive end Calhoun would like to see the same. He feels the team is rushing their offense and losing patience and getting out of their sets too early.

There's one other thing Calhoun feels can help this team quite a bit right now...

"Some outside shooting would be a breath of fresh air for this basketball team," concluded Calhoun.

Odds and Ends

Hilton Armstrong, out with a sprained MCL, is questionable for UConn's match-up with Rutgers. According to Calhoun trainer Joe Sharp feels there is "an outside chance" Armstrong will be able to play.

With Armstrong sitting out practice Friday, former Husky Donny Marshall filled in and practiced with the team.

Former UConn guard John Gwynn, an NCAA official, has been promoted and will now officiate in the Atlantic 10 conference.

Walk on Jason Baisch, a senior forward from Southbury, Connecticut has been given a scholarship by head coach Jim Calhoun. Calhoun decided to give Baisch a scholarship that UConn had available and made the announcement in front of the team before Wednesday's practice.

"It was a surprise," said Baisch. "I know coach appreciated me, especially making me captain and stuff like that...It was in front of the whole team during his pre-practice speech and my eyes were wide open and I was amazed, and then, well the money's nice, but the things he said about me afterwords is what really meant something to me. I got a little teary eyed but I tried to keep it in, the things he said about me were really nice."

Look for Baisch and fellow walk-on Sami Ameziane to possibly contribute against Rutgers. UConn will be down to a three man frontcourt if Armstrong can not play and Calhoun may look to Baisch to fill in and get the other big men some rest. Ameziane, meanwhile, has been playing very well in practice and Calhoun is contemplating giving him some minutes running the point, particularly if UConn sees a zone defense.

"There's a chance Sami could play tomorrow," said Calhoun. "He's the quickest guy on our team...He's magnificent on the fastbreak, he's ok in the halfcourt man offense, and he's very good running the zone offense."

UConn faces Rutgers Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm at the Hartford Civic Center. The game will be televised by WTXX20 TV. Connecticut will face Seton Hall on the road Monday at 7:00 pm. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

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