Geno Auriemma and his No. 2-seeded UConn Huskies began the nationwide championship sport in opposition to the No. 1-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday. He is probably the most skilled coaches in school basketball, having been in 12 nationwide championship video games earlier than, successful 11 of them.
Earlier than the beginning of the sport, Auriemma spoke about how he was feeling heading into the gam:
“I believe every year that you just get into certainly one of these, it is totally different. I believe it is extra nerve-racking every year, extra unsure every year. Perhaps since you’ve seen all the nice and seen all of the dangerous, however I do know our workforce’s excited to play.
“I do know these youngsters are actually pumped up, they usually’ve been like that the final three video games really to play in each video games. I really feel good, I belief them and we’ll see the place it goes.”
The final time Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies have been within the nationwide championship sport was in 2022. They performed the South Carolina Gamecocks that point as nicely however got here out on the dropping aspect. Their most up-to-date win got here in 2016 once they received their fourth straight nationwide championship.
Geno Auriemma displays on UConn’s win over South Carolina earlier within the season
UConn coach Auriemma and the Huskies performed the South Carolina Gamecocks as soon as earlier than earlier within the season. The matchup came about on Feb. 16, with the Huskies successful 87-58.
Auriemma was requested if there was something his workforce might take from that sport and produce into the nationwide championship sport.
“You may take a number of the issues that we did that labored exceptionally nicely,” Auriemma stated. “Some issues we checked out that did not work so nice. Issues they did that did not work as a result of they missed pictures, not as a result of they did not have alternatives.
“Throw away the ultimate rating and also you understand, the depth degree of this sport will likely be approach totally different than it was in Columbia.”
So, regardless of the lopsided margin of the primary matchup, Geno Auriemma is ensuring his workforce would not take South Carolina calmly.
Heading into the nationwide championship sport, each groups performed two days prior within the Closing 4. UConn defeated No. 1 UCLA 85-51, and the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated No. 1 Texas 74-57 to arrange the matchup.
