NEW YORK (AP) — Jim Calhoun says he can’t forget the time he walked across Ford Field for a game against Michigan State in the national semifinals and heard Spartans fans bellow “cheater!”
The word bothered him then and still does today, because Connecticut’s coach insists no matter what comes of the NCAA investigation of his program, he is not a cheater.
Calhoun admits mistakes have been made and he’s taken steps to correct them. Calhoun and other school officials met with NCAA investigators last week to convince them the school has done enough to punish itself for recruiting violations.
Calhoun, speaking Wednesday at Big East media day, says he’s excited as ever to start a season even as NCAA penalties linger a year after he took a medical leave.