UConn officials bristle at calling Final Four run a comeback, say Huskies never left

Connecticut's Shabazz Napier responds to a question following an NCAA college basketball team workout Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Storrs, Conn. UConn will be playing Florida in the Final Four on Saturday in Dallas. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (The Associated Press)

Connecticut's Niels Giffey, of Germany, responds to a question following an NCAA college basketball team workout Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Storrs, Conn. UConn will be playing Florida in the Final Four on Saturday in Dallas. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (The Associated Press)

STORRS, Conn. – UConn's men's basketball team has overcome academic sanctions, player transfers, a coaching change and a switch in conferences to make it back to the Final Four.

But don't call it a comeback, at least not around coach Kevin Ollie or his predecessor, Jim Calhoun.

Calhoun says Connecticut never went anywhere, pointing out the team's last title came just three seasons ago.

Ollie says any statement about resiliency was made last year, when the Huskies went 20-10 despite being banned from the NCAA tournament for failing to meet academic statements.

This season, he says, was just about improving.

But guard Shabazz Napier says UConn's experiences, both good and bad, over the last three years, may give the Huskies an edge in Dallas.

UConn (30-8) faces Florida (36-2) on Saturday night.