There is one good thing about Jim Calhoun not being on the sidelines today. My 3 ½-year-old daughter, Bethany, is coming to her first-ever basketball game, and she and my wife will be sitting right behind the UConn bench. Not too concerned about any F-bombs flying out of George Blaney's mouth. Obviously, the same couldn't be said if Calhoun were here.

The mascot, Jonathan the Husky, is a concern, however. The Bether is still a bit traumatized by the New Britain Rock Cats' Rocky Cat mascot from a couple of years ago. Rocky Cat had the audacity to tickle her, and she still remembers. When I told her Jonathan the Husky would be at today's game, her first question was, "Does he tickle?"

Her head will be on a swivel all game, looking for Jonathan.