Talked to Jeremy Lamb's dad, Rolando, on Jeremy's recent "struggles."

Rolando isn't just the guy who knocked Jim Calhoun out of the 1984 NCAA tournament. He's "America's Character Coach," so he's helping his son get through a time when he's the focal point of UConn's offense and teams are making it very difficult for him to get open and score.

I asked Jim Calhoun if Jeremy Lamb had any thoughts of possibly testing the waters of the NBA draft after his breakout freshman season. Here's what Calhoun had to say:

"No. Jeremy, right now, has three weeks of class. Then, he's going to start his weight-training program, getting ready for the 19-and-under (national team). That's all we've talked about. I've talked to both him and his parents and everybody else involved. We're even seeing if he can go May-mester, which is a 3 ½-week summer session, to get that quick, so that in June he can go out to Colorado Springs to try out for the 19-and-under team."

Calhoun said he had breakfast Sunday morning with Lamb and his family and had a nice, hour-long talk with Jeremy's dad, Rolando.

I know this story has been written before and probably isn't new to UConn fans. But with Jeremy Lamb emerging as a bona fide star and the Huskies in the Sweet 16 (not to mention Virginia Commonwealth's surprise run to the Sweet 16), now is as good a time as any for the story of how VCU's Rolando Lamb, Jeremy's dad, beat Jim Calhoun's Northeastern team with a buzzer-beater back in the 1984 NCAA tourney. Note the YouTube video of Rolando's shot within the story. And notice a young Glen Miller, a guard at Northeastern at the time, distraught on the sidelines.

Also from today's Register, here's the advance for tonight's 7:15 p.m. game, noting that San Diego State could have a decided homecourt advantage (and with video of the Huskies at yesterday's open practice).

Here's my notebook, which focuses on the relationship between Jim Calhoun and Steve Fisher, who have never faced each other on the hardwood.

And finally, here's today's gameday for the game tonight. I'm looking for a relatively low-scoring game, and wondering how the Aztecs try to contain Kemba Walker. Not sure if anyone can right now.

Whether or not Jeremy Lamb has the skills to play at UConn or any other top-notch Division I program remains to be seen, though by all accounts, the rangy, 6-foot-4 Class of 2010 guard – who is making an official visit to Storrs this weekend – could be a real sleeper.

What likely won't ever be questioned is Lamb's character.

His father, Rolando Lamb, a former standout at Virginia Commonwealth ('85) who played a couple of seasons in the CBA, runs an organization called The Making of Champions. Lamb, who dubs himself America's Character Coach, holds seminars, workshops and conferences and goes into schools preaching to coaches and athletes how to better themselves as people and as role models.

"Being a former professional athlete myself, I have a lot of wisdom and experience to share with them," Rolando said. "People think sports builds character, sports don't build character, it reveals character. The only thing that builds true character is daily consistent obedience to the word of God.

"I get a lot of coaches fussing to me about that, and I simply say two words to them: Dennis Rodman. Hey, he's going to go down as one of the greatest defenders and rebounders ever to play the game, but then I ask the coaches, 'Would you want your son or daughter to grow up to be like him.' You can name a lot of athletes like that …"

Mike Vick?

"In that situation, Mike Vick has paid his debt to society," Rolando said. "Should he have a second chance? Absolutely. So, hey, let's give it to him."

He continued: ""I believe it's important – to whom much is given, much is required. These athletes who have tremendous gifts, talents and abilities, they have a responsibility to be an example, and to give back."

So does Jeremy, going into his senior season at Norcross (Ga.) High adhere to his father's principles?

"Yes, sir," Jeremy said.

Jeremy averaged about 10 points per game last season coming off the bench and playing behind his brother, Zach, as well as Taariq Muhammed and Denzel Jones. Zach Lamb and Muhammed are both at Miami-Dade C.C., while Jones is at Division II Clark-Atlanta.

Lamb, who was escorted around campus on Friday by UConn assistant Patrick Sellers, is making his first official visit anywhere. He has unofficials slated for Georgia, Auburn and Clemson, and official set for Texas on the first weekend of September. So far, he likes what he sees at Storrs.

"I like the coaching staff, they seem cool. I like the environment: nice locker room, nice arena. It seems good."

Heading up north wouldn't be a problem for the Georgia kid, either.

"I just want to find the best fit. At first, I was second-guessing about distance. But it'd be good."

Lamb is very rangy – OK, let's be honest: he's rail-thin – and knows the area of his game he must improve upon the most.

"I need to get better at finishing around the rim. I get to the rim (well), but I need to get stronger at finishing. I'm a pretty good shooter, and I handle the ball well."

And, it seems, he has great character.

(Quiz time: Who sang the song that gives us the title to this post?)