Pittsburgh Treatment Upsets Calhoun

Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun, upset with how his No. 1 Huskies were treated during their 70-69 victory at Pittsburgh, plans to complain to the Big East Conference.

Calhoun said the team’s temporary locker room at Fitzgerald Field House on Saturday was unheated and that his point guard, Khalid El-Amin, was subjected to racial slurs.

El-Amin and Calhoun also said they were struck by flying objects, including plastic soft drink bottles, after the Huskies rallied to win by scoring five points in the final nine seconds. Calhoun said he was struck twice in the back of the head.

Calhoun argues the game should have been played at the downtown Civic Arena, rather than cozy Fitzgerald Field House, which opened in 1951 and is currently being renovated.

“This place has to clean itself up,” Calhoun said. “It was 40 degrees in the locker room before the game. The game should not be played [at Fitzgerald].”

Pittsburgh Athletic Director Steve Pederson disagreed with Calhoun that the locker room was not heated, saying he inspected it before the Huskies arrived and found nothing wrong.