Business as usual for UConn
HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Huskies didn't celebrate after the game. Just another night's work for coach Geno Auriemma's latest dynasty.
After their ho-hum 59-44 win over Notre Dame put them in the championship of the Big East tournament on Monday night, the Huskies just shook hands with the Irish — same as they have after pretty much every other game during their incredible streak.
No, the Huskies weren't all that excited about their record-setting 71st straight victory. Even though they broke an NCAA mark held by a previous UConn dynasty for most consecutive victories in women's college basketball.
Now if UConn can extend that streak to 72 tonight against No. 9 West Virginia in the title game, maybe then Tina Charles, Maya Moore and the rest of the Huskies will get excited.
"I can't think anything is more important than winning and playing in the Big East championship for these kids," Auriemma said.
Auriemma conceded that his team may reflect a little bit between the Big East tournament and the NCAAs.
"I want to keep the focus where it is," Auriemma said. "Wednesday, Thursday, Friday — probably until we get to the NCAA tournament may be a little bit of a look back for everybody. But then you've got to get back to focusing on the things that are important."
UConn surpassed its own mark set from Nov. 9, 2001, to March 11, 2003. Unlike that amazing run, which ended in a loss in the Big East conference tournament semifinals to Villanova, this Huskies team has thoroughly dominated its opponents in every game, winning all of them by double digits.
"After the season, the last game we play we can look back and see what we've done," said Kalana Greene, who scored 15 points. "You don't want to celebrate about wins. We don't plan on our season being over any time soon."
The Huskies (32-0) are just seven wins away from a seventh national championship and becoming the first team to have back-to-back undefeated seasons.
Even top teams haven't posed much of a challenge for the Huskies since they beat Georgia Tech to start this run on Nov. 16, 2008.
With Monday's win over Notre Dame (27-5), UConn improved to 13-0 against top-10 opponents, winning by an average of 26.2 points. Even second-ranked Stanford lost by 12 when the teams met in late December.
UConn has rarely even trailed during its streak. The Huskies have been behind for a total 86 minutes in the 71 games. It's been even more uncommon for UConn to be down in the second half — only facing a deficit three times after intermission. None of those scares lasted long. There hasn't been a need for any late-game rallies or last-second shots by the Huskies.
