The UConn Huskies (7) are set to begin their first NCAA Tournament after coach Jim Calhoun's departure against the St. Joseph's Hawks (10).

Calhoun won three National Championships with UConn before turning the team over to Kevin Ollie, his handpicked successor. The former coach was forced to resign when his health just would not allow him to stay on the sidelines consistently, but Calhoun seemed thoroughly pleased with the direction Ollie is taking the team.

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"He's taken it over. He's done a wonderful job," said Calhoun, who is now UConn's special adviser to the athletic director, according to the Associated Press. "I'm really proud of him."

UConn's latest tournament victory was 2009, when Calhoun led a squad headed by Kemba Walker. Like Calhoun mentored Ollie into the eventual head coach, Walker did the same with Shabazz Napier, who took home the AAC Player of the Year Award in his senior season.

Napier said still having Calhoun around in the program is a major benefit.

"He's there for everybody. I take full advantage of it," Napier told the AP. "He's a smart guy. You don't have to be a scientist to know that."

Even St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli acknowledged Calhoun for his accomplishments.

"I think we're still facing the brand," Martelli said ahead of Thursday's game. "I really do think it helped get us over the celebratory hangover that we had on Monday."

St. Joseph's has gone 20-5 since being drubbed by Villanova 98-68 on Dec. 7, but they have still lost to ranked opponents more than they have won. Most recently, they beat VCU to take the Atlantic 10 Tournament title.

Napier had the opportunity, which many former teammates took, to leave the school with no penalty after UConn was handed a one-year postseason ban. He stuck it out and does not want to waste his shot before graduating and leaving for the NBA.

"I didn't watch the tournament. I was watching other things," Napier said of last season. "But it fueled a lot of motivation and hunger to get where we're at now."