What on Earth has Happened to Omar Calhoun?

The once 38^th overall recruit in the class of 2012 has fallen off the map.  Big time. And I miss him.  After only playing 5 minutes and not even recording a shot attempt in last night’s 61-56 win over Harvard, it is clear that something is wrong.  It could be injury that no one really knows about, or it could be because he has been anything but the player from last year.  Using the word “slump” doesn't even really fully describe Calhoun’s play, since all UConn fans know the potential he has and showed in his Freshman year.  

Before, every game, I have said that “Omar Calhoun is going to have a breakout game today.”  He hasn't but I’m still going to say it, because I want him to succeed and you can tell that he wants it so bad and that goes a long way for me. 

Last year, Calhoun averaged 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds a game, but towards the end of the year, he was consistently pulling down 5+ rebounds.  Currently, he is averaging 7.1 points and just 2.1 rebounds.  We've needed him to contribute to rebounding, since obviously we never rebound, and he just hasn't, only recording more than 5 rebounds once, against Eastern Washington.  But, forget about the points and rebounds from last year, the kid from Brooklyn really played like he was from Brooklyn.  He was tough and he was determined to succeed.  He wanted the team to do well and he wanted to be a major part of them doing so.  I’m sure he still wants that, but it’s tough to have those strong of feelings when you start to play sparingly.

I’m not going to lie, when Calhoun first started to play for UConn, I hated him.  I was thinking, who is this Freshman just coming in jacking up shots?  He seemed like the typical Freshman who doesn't buy into the offense and plays like he’s still a Senior in high school.  But, then the Louisville game happened on January 14,2013.  20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks.  I remember no one else really stepping up and playing that well, and Omar just kept getting to the hoop or knocking down a big shot to keep us in it.  And his defense.  He played tough New York defense.  And from then on, I was sold on Omar Calhoun.  He then fought through his wrist injury, playing 38 minutes in a win against Cincinnati last year, even though he couldn't shoot because of his injury.  Ollie kept him in because of his rebounding, defense, and will to win.  Then, of course, there was the Georgetown shot to send it into overtime.  He also pulled in 7 rebounds that game.

Now, it is just so different.  He didn't even pull off his warmups at any point in the 2^nd half last night.  He is buried on the bench, playing 7, 14, and 5 minutes in the past 3 games.  Last year, he didn't play under 20 minutes once last year.  This year, he has already played under 20 minutes 6 times.  I understand that there are fewer minutes to have, with a much improved Neils Giffey, and Lasan Kromah, who has deserved to take all the minutes that Omar Calhoun once had.  He hasn't even come close to deserving 20 minutes with the way he is playing, and it is very unfortunate because this team could be in a very different place if he was playing the way he played last year. 

Unless, there is a serious injury, I have no answer for why Calhoun is at where he's at.  But, even if it is an injury, we already know that he is a tough enough kid to play through it.

This is the Omar I want back.  Calling for the ball down 3 with time running out.  And then draining it.