PHILADELPHIA (AP) — This dominating Connecticut win just might have made an ailing Jim Calhoun feel better.
A.J. Price scored 20 from the outside and Hasheem Thabeet added 20 inside to lift top-seeded Connecticut to its first postseason win in three years, 103-47 over Chattanooga on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Calhoun had not been feeling well the past few days and was not at the Wachovia Center for the opening tip-off. UConn did not say what was wrong with Calhoun or if he'll be on the bench for Saturday's second-round game against Texas A&M in the West Regional.
Associate head coach George Blaney coached the Huskies (28-4) in Calhoun's absence. Stanley Robinson topped the Huskies with 24 points.
The Southern Conference champion Mocs (18-17) were pumped for their shot at becoming the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 in the tournament. They had a nice start, but were simply overmatched by one of the best teams in basketball.
