*FAN SUBMISSION from Charles Kruzits from Catonsville, MD. Follow him on Twitter @kruzindirty.*
Geno Auriemma sat at the podium moments after his UCONN Huskies had won the National Championship and fielded several questions from the reporters in the room. One answer stuck out, and it completely erased the notion that Auriemma views himself as bigger than the game in my opinion. He said, “I never beat Coach K. I never coached against Coach Wooden. The only person I compare myself to is Pat Summitt. And to be in that spot with her means a lot to me.”
This wasn’t tongue-in-cheek, it was sincere. The man just won his eighth NCAA Championship and he refrained from touting himself, instead, he downplayed his reputation and accomplishments while boasting those in his field whom set the bar high. In a season that was highlighted by Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins, and UCONN’s inability to defeat Notre Dame, the end result seemed fitting.
Born in Montella, Italy, Auriemma’s family immigrated to Pennsylvania when he was seven where he spent the rest of his childhood. A deadly combination, an Italian born Philadelphian, Auriemma is on pace to shatter many coaching records including the most National Championships in both the men’s and women’s game.
UCONN’s season replicated the reputation that Philadelphia has embraced: tough, no-nonsense, and eventually will claw until they get their way. The Huskies lost four games during the regular season and BIG EAST Tournament while three of them were at the hands of the Fighting Irish. Their other loss came from Griner and the Baylor Bears by six points.
Through the losses against ND the Huskies learned to strive and overcome. In the BIG EAST Championship game, UCONN suffered a humbling loss against ND. In a tie-game, the Huskies held the ball for the last shot but suffered a lapse in judgment and turned the ball over and ND took the ball the length of the floor for an uncontested layup to preserve the two-point victory. It was that loss which caused a fire to brew in the hearts of the Huskies program.
“We sat in the locker room [after the Notre Dame loss] and [Auriemma] looked at us and he said, ‘You know what? When we get back together, I’m going to show you how to win a national championship.’ And, sure enough, we’re sitting right here,” Kelly Faris said via the Hartford Courant.
Auriemma kept his word and his players backed their coach as the Huskies waltzed through the tournament making victims of their opponents. The National Champs boasted a point differential of 33 in their six wins in the tournament including an opening round 68 point win against Idaho.
Courtesy: CBS News
To those who are hoping the Huskies don’t repeat, I’m sorry to inform you but it’s likely, very likely that Auriemma will surpass Summit in the record books for most National Championships. Griner and Diggins will be accepting their diplomas and moving on to their next journey in life while the Huskies are returning the bulk of their lineup including freshman phenom Breanna Stewart.
The 6’4 guard led all scorers with 23 points while grabbing a game-tying nine rebounds in just 30 minutes of play against the Louisville Cardinals. Stewart was used little in the second half as the Huskies continued to make baskets and show the world why they’re the best team in the land.
While the Huskies yearly land the top recruits, it’s not always about the talent on the floor.
The Cardinals thwarted the Bears’ chance at repeating as they swarmed Griner every chance the 6’8 power player touched the ball. The most dominant player in a long time for the women’s game, it was the coaching and effort of the ‘Cards that sent Baylor and Griner packing.
Auriemma didn’t have the UCONN teams in the past that included the names of Taurasi, Moore, Lobo, or Bird. Instead, he turned his youthful club into a winning team by believing in them and never giving up. After the third loss to ND, you would think that the Huskies were not only physically, but mentally drained by the Fighting Irish.
However, Auriemma “showed them how to win a National Championship,” and while doing so he is continuing to rise amongst his peers and stand on his own. As a spry 59 year old, it’s likely that Auriemma will surpass Wooden. And even though he didn’t want to say it, he will go down as the best women’s coach in the history of the sport, sorry Pat.
The “Phitalian” immigrant is a model of success but beyond his incredible feats, for the fact that he’s made women’s basketball a topic of discussion around the water-coolers.
