As in all recruiting stories, the situation is quite complicated, but the crux of the matter is this: Josh Nochimson, a former student manager turned player agent, provided "lodging, transportation, restaurant meals and representation" to Miles during his recruitment by the Huskies. Since Nochimson is a UConn alum and former member of the basketball program he technically "represents the athletic interests" of his old school (i.e., he's a booster) and by rule he cannot "make any contact, including telephone calls and letters, to a prospect or the prospect's family, on or off campus," which records show he clearly did. Even worse—Connecticut coaches allegedly knew about the relationship and did nothing to stop it. In fact, they more than likely encouraged it. Plus, the program may also have violated several other rules by contacting Miles more than was allowed.

The relationship and UConn's knowledge of the situation are potential major NCAA violations. The findings are part of Yahoo! Sports' ongoing look into the changing role of agents and their impact on college basketball. Agents aren't just recruiting players from college programs, they are recruiting players for them, according to an NCAA official.

The UConn basketball staff was in constant contact with Nochimson during a nearly two-year period up to and after Miles' recruitment. Five different UConn coaches traded at least 1,565 phone and text communications with Nochimson, including 16 from head coach Jim Calhoun.

Nochimson became an agent after Richard Hamilton left UConn for the NBA in 1999. He became Hamilton's business manager and representative, and eventually signed with other pro players, but he was decertified as an agent last year, when Hamilton discovered that Nochimson had stolen over a million dollars from him. (When confronted, Nochimson confessed to the whole thing.) Shocking, I know.

This all sounds very bad for the Huskies and it probably should be, but Jim Calhoun haters should probably not get their hopes up. The NCAA hasn't been keen on busting major D-I programs with any serious punishments and as the organization itself admits, this is how it's done now. Agents deliver players to schools and the schools deliver them right back to the agents when they "graduate." If they ever do. Miles—who attended five different high schools in four-and-a-half years and only played one full season of prep ball—was expelled from the university a month into his first semester, after he violated a restraining order placed on him by another student. He never played a game for the Huskies, but—even after the expulsion and the incident with Hamilton—their coaches continue to be in contact with Nochimson.

Probe: UConn violated NCAA rules [Yahoo]

"Coach Calhoun has not been feeling well for the past several days and it is best that he not coach the team today for precautionary reasons," said UConn Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Jeff Anderson.

Officials are not being any more specific than that at this point, but Calhoun was treated for cancer last year and missed a game earlier this season with health issues. More info if we get it, but he will definitely not be coaching the Huskies' first round game. Associate Head Coach George Blaney will be in charge.

UConn Coach Jim Calhoun To Miss NCAA Opener [Hartford Courant]

The governor thinks that Calhoun's give-and-take with blogger/political activist Ken Krayeske at a UConn press conference on Saturday was tacky. And she said so.

"I think if coach Calhoun had the opportunity right now, he would welcome a do-over and not have that embarrassing display," Rell told reporters after a meeting with business leaders and local college officials. Asked what she considered embarrassing, Rell said, "I just thought the whole tone, his whole tone."

By today, Calhoun seems to have regained a portion of his composure.

"I'm getting ready for a Marquette basketball game. Whatever people want to say and whatever they want to do, we have three really tough games coming up, and that's what I'm interested in."

Rell is a breast cancer survivor and author of several state three-strikes laws, but more importantly, attended Old Dominion. Do not mess with a cancer-surviving Monarch.

Photo (right side): Christine Stuart.

Rell Calls Calhoun Comments 'An Embarrassing Display' [Hartford Currant]

The dispute arose when "freelance journalist" Ken Krayeske opened Calhoun's post-game press conference on Saturday by asking the coach about his rather large salary and how it might relate to Connecticut's rather large budget deficit. However, Krayeske is freelance journalist in the way that Rush Limbaugh is guy who likes to talk about politics. Most of his writing is done for his own progressive political website and he actually ran the 2006 gubernatorial campaign for the state's Green Party candidate. He was even arrested for disturbing the peace at Rell's inauguration parade in 2007. In other words, he's a professional rabble rouser. I hate rabble rousers.

So does Jim Calhoun, apparently, because he was anticipating where the line of questioning was going and angrily insisted that he would not give back a dime of his $1.6 million salary—he actually make way more than that, so thanks for asking—because he's a rainmaker and the guy asking him questions is a stupidhead. He was rude, condescending, and responded to a legitimate question with shouts and insults. How much revenue did that little hissy fit generate for the university, Jim?

Then again, maybe a post-game press conference isn't the best place to discuss state budget policy. It also isn't cool to disparage every other reporter in the room, by implying they are obedient sheep who don't know how to do their jobs. (They're sports writers, dude, not war correspondents.) UConn basketball does make a lot of money and even if you don't want to admit it, having the No. 1 basketball team in the country does keep lacrosse players in dry socks and makes having to live in Danbury slightly more tolerable. So does that First Amendment you keep shouting about also allow me to say that I think you should shut your pie hole?

On the other hand, the basketball coach at the state college makes 10 times more than the Governor? I don't think that $12 million he single-handedly brings in will quite cover the $944 million budget gap, so maybe when the Governor asks that all state employees make sacrifices in a time of crisis it doesn't help to have the highest paid employee of all griping about how he needs every one of his million dollars that didn't come from his shoe contract for his retirement plans. You know who else wanted to retire someday? The accounting secretary down at the Sanitation Department, but she's only got four weeks left on her unemployment insurance, so you know ... fuck you, Coach.

This is one of those public fights where you can kind of see both sides of the argument, but you can't bring yourself to back either of the incredibly obnoxious sides.

Krayeske vs Calhoun Revisited : Boston Score [Boston Score]
Jim Calhoun Vs. Ken Krayeske Over UConn Salary [Capitol Watch]
Coach Calhoun Yells, Refuses to Discuss Comcast Contract [The 40-Year Plan]
Jim Calhoun Is Not Amused By Your Questions [Deadspin]

While Kreyeske may never land an interview with Calhoun following that exchange, he could has a bright future writing for Slate.

ESPN via College Hoops Journal and Sox and Dawgs