Auriemma Talks To SNY (blog.ctnews.com)

In his blog this morning for the Connecticut Post, Rich Elliott provides the transcript of comments Geno Auriemma made to SNY anchor Gary Apple during a conversation held Tuesday night in New York.

Here is what Geno said…

On the pressure he feels heading into the Olympics …
“America is basketball and basketball is America. So, for us, any time we’re in an international competition the expectation level in America and around the world is that the U.S is going to dominate the competition. And in the Olympics, these past four, the women’s team has done exactly that. So going in the pressure is, `Listen, we’ve won four in a row. Now it’s your turn and we expect nothing less.’ And I’m used to that being at UConn.’’

On how excited he is to get to London and be part of Olympics as the head coach …
“I’m nervous. I’m nervous. I felt it at the World Championships. And that was the World Championships, and that was important but it’s not the Olympic Games. So I’m nervous. I’m counting on my players, all 12 of them. I just want all the players that played in the Olympics in Beijing to be as great in London as they were Beijing. That’s all I’m asking them to be.’’

On the allegations against him …
“We put out a statement and I think the statement speaks for itself, how we feel about what is being alleged. And in the end everything will come out.’’

On the timing of the lawsuit …
“This issue is going to be dealt with by attorneys and people who live in that world. Me … my focus is making sure that everything that I do with my family, with my team at UConn, with my Olympic team and everything going forward that that’s my focus right now as opposed to anything else that might be going on.’’

On if he is bothered by the fact that his reputation is being brought into question …
“I think any time people are talking about you whether it’s good, whether it’s bad, whether they’re complimenting you or whether they’re criticizing you, I think all that has an affect on you and your friends and your family. And I guess that’s just the price of being in the public eye in 2012 America.’’