MORGANTOWN - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun is a man of many hats.

He's a cancer survivor.

He's a Hall of Fame coach.

And he's somewhat of a prophet.

Back in February of 2004, he was asked about West Virginia's then-second year coach John Beilein. Calhoun's to-be national championship Husky team, loaded with Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordan and Charlie Villanueva, had just defeated the Mountaineers 88-58 in Storrs, Conn.

"Within three or four years," Calhoun said, "[Beilein will] have this West Virginia team challenging within the Big East and NCAA tournaments.''

The very next season, WVU was in the Elite Eight. The next, it was the Sweet Sixteen.

Well, this is Bob Huggins' second season with the Mountaineers. And Calhoun, after his team's narrow victory Tuesday at the Coliseum, again predicted a bright future for West Virginia fans. He also reminded all he has some perspective.

"I came [to Morgantown] in 1987-88 before 4,000 people when we went on to win the NIT,'' said the coach. "It kind of helped get us started. So I go back.''

UConn defeated WVU 62-57 that March. This, however, is a different Big East animal.

"I've been in this building going back to Gale [Catlett] and John [Beilein],'' Calhoun said. "A lot of fist fights and real tough basketball games. Both teams leave with a great deal of respect for each other.''

Especially after Tuesday's game.

"We've beaten Gonzaga this year and Wisconsin - two pretty good teams - but I'd describe [the victory over WVU] as our best win ... We had to play hard to beat West Virginia.''

MORGANTOWN - Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun is a man of many hats.

He's a cancer survivor.

He's a Hall of Fame coach.

And he's somewhat of a prophet.

Back in February of 2004, he was asked about West Virginia's then-second year coach John Beilein. Calhoun's to-be national championship Husky team, loaded with Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordan and Charlie Villanueva, had just defeated the Mountaineers 88-58 in Storrs, Conn.

"Within three or four years," Calhoun said, "[Beilein will] have this West Virginia team challenging within the Big East and NCAA tournaments.''

The very next season, WVU was in the Elite Eight. The next, it was the Sweet Sixteen.

Well, this is Bob Huggins' second season with the Mountaineers. And Calhoun, after his team's narrow victory Tuesday at the Coliseum, again predicted a bright future for West Virginia fans. He also reminded all he has some perspective.

"I came [to Morgantown] in 1987-88 before 4,000 people when we went on to win the NIT,'' said the coach. "It kind of helped get us started. So I go back.''

UConn defeated WVU 62-57 that March. This, however, is a different Big East animal.

"I've been in this building going back to Gale [Catlett] and John [Beilein],'' Calhoun said. "A lot of fist fights and real tough basketball games. Both teams leave with a great deal of respect for each other.''

Especially after Tuesday's game.

"We've beaten Gonzaga this year and Wisconsin - two pretty good teams - but I'd describe [the victory over WVU] as our best win ... We had to play hard to beat West Virginia.''

Calhoun pointed to West Virginia's dogged play as a sign the future is bright.

"They're going to make a hustle play; they're going to dive for a loose ball,'' said the coach. "They tell me Bobby had a 3.9 [grade point average] at West Virginia. And what he's done is use some Huggins - I think they use one of those quadrangles in which to fight - and use some of John's principals on offense. Only a dumb man would get rid of those.

"So he's got you spread - because they aren't as big as they will be in the future - and they space you. We were really nervous about getting beat on the boards because they're coming from a distance. We're much more used to post guys moving two feet then going up. We did a great job adjusting to it as the game wore on.''

Calhoun smiled.

"It's a really tough out any time you play [WVU],'' he said. "The fans here have always been great.''

West Virginia may have lost Tuesday's game, but it gained a point guard. Bryon Allen, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect from Oak Hill Academy, committed to Huggins for the 2010 season.

Allen is a three-star prospect according to both Rivals and Scout recruiting services. On the Oak Hill Web site, the player is described as "strong, physical and attacking offensive player with a good intermediate game.''

Allen joins former Poca High standout Noah Cottrill, now a four-star guard at Mountain State Academy, in the 2010 class.

WVU will next visit Marquette for a noon Saturday matchup. The game will be televised locally by WCHS.

Alex Ruoff, despite a cold shooting night against Connecticut, still leads the Mountaineers with a 16.8-point average. Da'Sean Butler (15.6) and Darryl "Truck'' Bryant (11.1) are the other WVU players averaging double figures.