PHILADELPHIA — The last two times Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun missed an NCAA tournament game, the Huskies won the national title.

"Hopefully we can make it three," said guard A.J. Price after No. 1 seed UConn (28-4) dismantled No.16 Chattanooga 103-47 on Thursday in a West Region game.

Calhoun was admitted Thursday afternoon to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after "feeling lousy for the past several days," Calhoun said in a statement.

He remained overnight for observation listed in good condition. "I am feeling much better. I will stay the night as a precaution and anticipate being checked again in the morning and being able to leave the hospital at that time."

The players were surprised when told of Calhoun's absence upon their arrival at Wachovia Center.

"I was worried about him," said center Hasheem Thabeet.

But because Calhoun has missed games before because of stress and exhaustion, dehydration and gastric issues, his players expect him back Saturday for the game against No. 9 Texas A&M.

"It's always a little shock, and then he comes back the next day," said forward Jeff Adrien (16 rebounds, 13 points), who mentioned Calhoun's past problems with "stomach issues."

"We've been down this road before," said Price (20 points).

Calhoun has missed all or part of 21 games since 1990 because of illness, including five games while on leave following surgery for prostate cancer in 2003. This was the third NCAA tournament game he missed. In 2004, he left a second-round game against DePaul early. He missed the 1999 first-round game against Texas-San Antonio. Both seasons, the Huskies won the national title.

Calhoun, 66, has successfully battled prostate cancer and skin cancer in 2007 and then again last summer. "He's a fighter," Adrien said of the lessons the team has learned from Calhoun's example. "That's what he expects from us."

During the game, Thabeet (20 points,13 rebounds) said he could hear Calhoun's voice in his head yelling, "Get that rebound."

"I can always hear his voice," Thabeet said with a smile.

Associate head coach George Blaney, who took over for Calhoun, had little reason to raise his voice in the 56-point win, the third-largest margin in NCAA tournament history.

After the game, Calhoun's son, Jeff, called his father at the hospital and put him on via speakerphone in the locker room. In the background, the players could tell Calhoun was in the hospital by all the "beeping," Adrien said.

"He told us it was a great performance." Price said. "We did a great job defensively. We scored the basketball in transition the way we should have. He was upbeat about everything, told us he couldn't wait to join us again. We can't wait to have him back."

Blaney said he did not know exactly what Calhoun's illness was but would talk to him again Thursday night. There were clear signs Calhoun was feeling better.

"He asked for stats and everything," Blaney said.