Calhoun prepares for 22nd season at UConn; Barbee's 1st at UTEP

Jim Calhoun is starting his 35th season as a head coach. Tony Barbee is beginning his first.

As the first day of college basketball practice finally arrives, the two sure sound a lot alike.

"This is a real exciting time for us all," Calhoun said. "My wife always tells me she can tell when practice is going to start. I get excited. If you don't, it's probably time to get the sticks out and play a lot of golf."

Calhoun will start his 22nd season at Connecticut on Friday, the first day coaches get to blow their whistles in earnest as they prepare their teams for the 2006-07 season. Barbee, on the other hand, will run his first practice as a head coach just two months after taking over the program at Texas-El Paso.

At 35, he was born the year Calhoun ran his first practice as the head man at Northeastern.

"I'm champing at the bit," Barbee said. "This is a heck of an opportunity, becoming a head coach at a place like UTEP with its history.

"The timing normally is to get a new job in March and April and then the summer is a time to get ready. I had to hit the ground running, and it hasn't stopped. But now I get to spend time with my players."

The start of practice is also special to a couple of coaches who are back at work after some time away.

Bobby Cremins retired from coaching in 2000 after 19 seasons at Georgia Tech. He returned to ranks in July, taking over at the College of Charleston.

"That first day was always a special day," the 59-year-old Cremins said. "You finally get off the road and spend time with the kids. You start teaching the game. Coaches love this time of the year. You get off the recruiting road and spend time in the gym. I love the smell of that gym."

Bob Huggins, out of coaching for a year after his contract wasn't renewed in 2005 following 16 years at Cincinnati, takes over at Kansas State. He has his own reason for being glad that practice is starting.

"I'm ready to stop traveling," he said. "I'm ready to go home and sleep in my own bed."

Dennis Wolff starts his 13th season at Boston University. His 13-man roster has two seniors, six sophomores and five freshmen.