Geno Auriemma Reflects on UConn’s Journey to Another NCAA Championship Game

Geno Auriemma Reflects on UConn’s Journey to Another NCAA Championship Game

TAMPA, Fla. — When it comes to NCAA basketball, few names resonate as powerfully as Geno Auriemma. With 11 NCAA basketball titles under his belt, Auriemma stands as the most successful coach in the history of the sport. However, it’s been a while since he last tasted victory, with his most recent championship win dating back to 2016. Since then, the UConn Huskies have faced some tough losses in the women’s Final Four, leaving fans and analysts alike wondering when the next title will come.

As Auriemma prepares for his 13th NCAA championship game at his 24th Final Four, he reflects on the journey and the lessons learned along the way. The Huskies are set to face South Carolina on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC), and Auriemma is determined to make the right decisions this time around.

“I’ve lost more Final Fours for my team than they have, because coaches make decisions about what to do with their team,” Auriemma candidly admitted on Saturday. “And if you make the right decision, you win.”

Reflecting on past performances, the Huskies enjoyed a golden era with four consecutive NCAA titles from 2013 to 2016, thanks in large part to the incredible talent of star player Breanna Stewart. However, the following years brought heartbreak. In 2017 and 2018, UConn lost by two points in overtime during the national semifinals, falling to buzzer-beating shots by Mississippi State’s Morgan William and Notre Dame’s Arike Ogunbowale, respectively.

Auriemma doesn’t see these losses as mere frustrations. “I don’t look at those two as heartbreaking frustrations,” he said. “I would have if I didn’t make two decisions in both of those games that I think have more to do with us losing than those two buzzer-beaters.”

He continued, “So that’s the frustration that I take away from that: ‘Why do you keep screwing it up for these guys?'”

While Auriemma didn’t specify the decisions he regrets, he acknowledged the inherent uncertainty in coaching. Often, it’s only after the game that a coach can truly assess whether a decision was right or wrong.

The Huskies’ journey has been fraught with challenges. In 2019, they lost again to Notre Dame in the national semifinals, this time by five points. A surprising 10-point loss to underdog Arizona in the 2021 national semis added to the list of unexpected defeats.

In 2022, UConn faced South Carolina in the title game. Despite being slight underdogs, the Huskies were further hampered by injuries and illness, leading to a 64-49 defeat.

UConn’s star guard, Paige Bueckers, suffered a knee injury in the summer of 2022, sidelining her for the 2023 NCAA tournament. This absence broke the Huskies’ streak of making 14 consecutive Final Fours.

Last year, a late moving screen call against UConn senior Aaliyah Edwards contributed to yet another two-point national semifinal loss, this time to Iowa.

Despite these setbacks, UConn is once again on the brink of a championship. Auriemma is optimistic, especially since the team is healthy, a luxury they haven’t always had in recent years. Players like Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have faced significant injuries, but now, the team is ready to compete at full strength.

• UConn’s last championship win was in 2016.
• The Huskies have faced several close losses in recent years.
• Key players like Paige Bueckers have dealt with injuries.
• Geno Auriemma is focused on making the right decisions.

“The fact that we sort of have a chance to be able to manipulate the game a little bit better than we had before, that’s rewarding,” Auriemma said. “That makes up for all the heartache and all the trauma and tribulations that we have had to go through.”