UConn, ranked in the national polls just weeks ago, has fallen to 2-4 in the Big East. In comparison to Marquette, the Huskies are at the opposite end of the confidence spectrum heading into a non-conference game Saturday against red-hot Indiana.

The Huskies not only have fallen back into the Big East pack described by Thompson, they now face one game that possibly could determine their entire season.  And that’s a rarity so early in the season.

This week’s RPI lists the Huskies at a very unhealthy No. 73. UConn has won only one road game and that was at St. John’s. The Huskies are 0-3 against teams ranked in the top 50, losing to West Virginia, Marquette and Pitt. They own only one victory over a top 100 team. Mississippi is No. 93.      

The Huskies suddenly seem on a path headed toward the NIT — especially after a loss to Indiana on Saturday and another to Louisville on Monday. The schedule doesn’t get any easier. Five road games remain, including a non-conference game at Georgia Tech.

Down the stretch against Marquette, Calhoun couldn’t find anyone with the courage to take an open jump shot or enough aggression to drive the lane.

“Leadership is a problem,” Calhoun said after that loss. “Focus is a problem. And our kids have not developed into the kind of team yet they are near capable of being. We were just god-awful offensively.”

Calhoun has never been in this situation before. There aren’t any seniors or juniors on this UConn squad who can put an arm around the youngsters and guide them through the tough moments of conference play. No one has emerged as a go-to guy and until the Huskies have some success under pressure it will be hard to break out of this pattern.

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At Pitt, the Huskies shot 35.6 percent from the floor. They made a run at the Panthers in the second half and for an instant it appeared they might be ready for that magical moment of maturation.

Then they went scoreless for 4 ½ minutes.

Calhoun is a Hall of Fame coach with two national championship rings. But 17 games into this season, he hasn’t connected with this team and the players aren’t connecting with him. There is a shortage of patience for everyone concerned and another setback Saturday might make any recovery mission impossible.

“Every team that loses games finds a reason to be happy,” Calhoun said. “I don’t have one damn reason to be happy.”