Calhoun gets third title; joins Knight

“We’re on top, I guess, at least momentarily. Recruiting starts in another day or two. So,” he paused, “it begins again.”

A moment later, he promised not make any rash decisions.

“It’s going to be what I feel passionately, whether I can give the kids everything humanly possible. If I can, I’ll coach as long as I can keep on doing it. If I decide that I don’t, then I’ll move on to something else.”

Barely a month ago, more than a few people thought Calhoun was already there. Then Kemba Walker put the team on his back, carried them to five straight wins in the Big East tournament and all the way to Houston.

“Coach Calhoun, he’s been through a lot this whole year. … But you know, I think we helped him overcome everything,” Walker said afterward.

“I think,” he added, “we made his year.”

Guys like Walker made his career, but Calhoun did more than his share for theirs, too. The remarkable thing is how much they’re still teaching each other.

___

Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.