HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun took a medical leave Tuesday for an undisclosed condition, the latest health concern for the 67-year-old Hall of Famer.
The school did not provide additional details. Calhoun had prostate cancer in 2003 and skin cancer twice, most recently in 2008.
Dr. Peter Schulman, the coach’s primary-care physician, said in a statement he advised Calhoun to take time off “to address some temporary medical issues, none of which involve any previous medical conditions that he has dealt with.”
Associate head coach George Blaney will run the Huskies in Calhoun’s absence. UConn is 11-6 and fell out of the Top 25 this week after losing three straight games. The Huskies host St. John’s on Wednesday night and top-ranked Texas on Saturday.
“Our primary concern is coach Calhoun’s health and his complete recovery,” UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway said. “We will do everything possible to support Coach during this time.
Iowa State G leaves team
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa State guard Lucca Staiger stunned the Cyclones on Tuesday by announcing plans to leave the program and pursue professional opportunities in his native Germany.
Staiger, a junior, started all 17 games this season. He was averaging 9.4 points and 42.5 percent shooting from 3-point range in his second year with the Cyclones.
Iowa State coach Greg McDermott said Tuesday night that Staiger informed the coaching staff of his decision Tuesday morning, about 36 hours before the Cyclones (12-5, 1-1 Big 12) play at Texas Tech tonight.
Top 25 men
No. 8 Tennessee 63, Alabama 56
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Wayne Chism scored all 11 of his points over the final 7 minutes and No. 8 Tennessee held off Alabama for a victory.
No. 13 Purdue 84, Illinois 78
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — JaJuan Johnson scored 24 points and E’Twaun Moore added 16 as Purdue ended a three-game losing streak that cost the Boilermakers a spot in the top 10.
No. 19 Georgia Tech 66, No. 17 Clemson 64
ATLANTA — Zachery Peacock made two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining and Georgia Tech knocked off another ranked team.
Wichita St. 60, No. 20 N. Iowa 51
WICHITA, Kan. — JT Durley had 19 points, Graham Hatch added 14 and Wichita State knocked off Northern Iowa to end the nation’s second-longest winning streak at 15 games.
No. 21 Ohio St. 76, Northwestern 56
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Evan Turner keyed a fast start with five of his 20 points and Ohio State never trailed in rolling past Northwestern.
Local schools
Seattle men 74, Cal State Northridge 64
SEATTLE — Chris Gweth scored eight of his 12 points during a 20-8 second-half run to give Seattle the lead for good, and the Redhawks pulled away from Cal State Northridge in the final minutes. Cervante Burrell led Seattle (9-11) with 17 as the Redhawks won their second straight after dropping six of their previous seven.
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