No decision expected today from Thabeet

UConn officials do not expect Hasheem Thabeet to make an official decision today regarding his future and the NBA Draft and there's "no plan at this point to do anything in Storrs, regardless of the announcement," according to a release from UConn spokesman Kyle Muncy. Sunday is the deadline to declare.

"When there is news to pass along, it will likely come in the form of a statement, with the remote possibility of a teleconference if schedules permit," the release continued.

Jim Calhoun said Wednesday night that, "I think before the deadline, he'll probably tell me (what his decision is) and we'll either have a press conference and tell people, or put something out (i.e. a press release) that he is returning next year." Reading between the lines, no press conference = no declaration, but that's not to definitively eliminate the possibility Thabeet opts to go pro.

As reported today, Thabeet is very much mulling his decision. He said he's either heard or read several different opinions on both sides, including the same things he did last year.

"'I think he needs one more year'; a lot of people say that," Thabeet said. "Then at the end, people will say the same thing (next season), 'He needs one more year,' and there you go, I'm a senior. I'm going to take my time to make my decision. I'm in no rush. And then when I'm ready, I'll make a decision that I think is the best for me."

As he said throughout this past season, Calhoun believes Thabeet can be a top-flight lottery pick if he stays and continues to improve as he has.

"I've always felt that (he needs another year)," the coach said. "I've never saw a kid improve that much. And as I see that, I can take that where he is now and see him in the stratosphere where the other top players are."