SUPER BOWL 2012

We’ll learn in the coming days or weeks whether or notJim Calhoun decides to return for a 27^th year at UConn’s helm. Hardto say right now what his decision will be.

Presuming he does return, however, there’s another stepUConn needs to consider taking: naming a “coach-in-waiting,” like some otherprograms have done (including Syracuse, where longtime assistant Mike Hopkinswill take over whenever Jim Boeheim decides enough’s enough).

UConn is getting killed on the recruiting trail now.Recruits have questions about Calhoun’s health and how long he’ll remain at theschool. Calhoun is the program’s No. 1 selling point, and there isn’t even aclose No. 2 (at least until a practice facility is built). It’s Calhoun who isthe program-builder, the Hall of Famer, the owner of three nationalchampionship rings and – perhaps most importantly to top-notch recruits – who hasput dozens of players in the NBA.

Recruits know Calhoun can’t be here forever. But when heleaves, it would be nice to know that his legacy, so to speak, will be carriedon by another member of the UConn family. Presumably, that’ll be Kevin Ollie,who Calhoun seems to want as his successor. I don’t believe Ollie is ready tobe head coach quite yet, but another two or three years of tutelage and hecould be there. He’s already got tons of credentials on the recruiting trail,and tons of respect from current players.

Personally, I think Glen Miller deserves consideration,as well. But it seems Ollie is the man.

Will either be a better coach than, say, a Shaka Smart orBrad Stevens? Maybe not. But at UConn, I’m not sure Smart, Stevens or anybodycan come in and replicate what Calhoun has done here. He’s one-of-a-kind.Replacing him with a UConn family tree member might be UConn’s best bet.

UConn is said to be considering the coach-in-waitingthing, among many options. Things will finally start getting more concrete oncenew A.D. Warde Manuel arrives. His first day on the job is Monday.

*** One other thing: there’s a lot of speculation whetherAlex Oriakhi is planning to transfer. If UConn is barred from next year’s NCAAtournament, Oriakhi is the only current player who should be able to transferto another school without having to sit out a year, since he’s the team’s lonesenior-to-be.

I don’t know what is going through Alex’s mind right now,but here’s what his mother, Angela, told me a little over a week ago:

“We don’t have any plans of him going anywhere.”

And this: “One thing’s for sure: he loves Coach Calhounto death. Nobody can complain about Coach Calhoun in front of him … he respectsand loves Coach Calhoun.”

Did that change Thursday night? I don’t know, thoughCalhoun was pretty brutal on him. I’ve never sat directly behind UConn’s benchbefore, but that’s where my press seat was for the Iowa State game and, boy,Calhoun is rough.

At one point he screamed at Oriakhi, “Next G-D jump shotby a 6-5 guy, get out of the gym!” Later, he yelled at him, point blank, “Youwanna get out of here, go ahead!”

Not that Oriakhi deserved any praise on Thursday, ofcourse.