At practice on Thursday, I asked Coach Auriemma, if after watching the replay of the Notre Dame loss on Monday, if he thought the Irish played better than his team did during the triple overtime loss.
You will be interested in his comments:
“I would have liked to see Notre Dame play with their two of their better players [Stef Dolson and Bria Hartley] on the bench [after fouling out] in all three overtimes.”
That makes sense. But I’m not sure I totally agree with what follows, unless he is referring to the fan base. It didn’t notice any particular outcry in the media after the triple overtime loss.
Then again, I don’t read his mail.
“The great thing about coaching at UConn is that we’re used to winning every game and winning those that come down to the wire. And we have not done that is some instances lately.
“The bad thing about coaching at UConn is that the other team is not allowed to win. And if they win, it’s only because we played badly. I’ve never heard anyone say to me after a loss, ‘Hey, you know what, those guys are really good.’ I don’t think it’s happened in 15 years.
“I don’t know if Notre Dame played better. If you look at how we played defensively and how many shots [59] their leading scorers [Skylar Diggins and Kayla McBride] had to take … Again, if make one more free throw no one is asking me these questions.
“If you are a player or a coach at UConn, that’s the world we live in. We are not allowed to lose. The other team is not allowed to win because if they win it’s because UConn stunk.
“And I don’t think anyone has any idea what that [mindset] does to a player and their psyche. Just think about that. They play in the only place in the country where you are not allowed to lose – ever, even to the top two teams in the country, even if it’s by one at home or in triple overtime [on the road] and by six to the defending national champion.
Does it wear on the players? What do you think? I am not complaining. I am just stating fact. I don’t know what I can do about it. It is what it is.”
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14 Responses to Does Geno Think Notre Dame Was The Better Team?
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Geno you are lying or you don’t read your email. I for one wrote an email to you and Chris saying what a great game you played. One Foul Shot, just one, two turnover less (by Mo Jeff) and Uconn won in Regulation. I and many more in this blog have praised the Uconn play and touted Dolson, KML, Stewart, Faris, Tuck for playing a tough game in a tough environment.
One two or three (as Steve Gee calls em) Trolls who are on this site only to have negative things to say about Uconn took up a lot of space. But by and Large Uconn fans were loud and voracious about what was good by Uconn in the ND game.
Yes Geno, your team was far from perfect. 11 Turnover by Dolson. Mo Jeffs two costly turnovers, the lack of scoring by Stewart, the miss free throws–I bet you addressed these and a few more in your pre practice sessions. I won’t go into Doty or the injured Hartley–they and we know how they played.
But I believe with very few exceptions the Uconn fans on this blog all believe that Uconn shall beat Notre Dame upon the next meeting.
Those of us and we are many, have taken word abuse and called many names for supporting YOU GENO and this team.
I don’t believe any one of the Naysayers are Notre Dame supporters–one would hope they have more class than that–now I won’t speak on behalf of the Rutgers fans.
Geno I think you owe us Fans who took this abuse, maybe not an apology, but thanks for standing with you and this team.
Hey Idiot, we don’t agree often but I think your comments are right-on. There are a few trolls on this blog who ruin it for everyone else by making ridiculous and demeaning comments about UCONN players that are way out of line. No team with UCONN’s talent should make 35 turnovers in a game, yet they almost won the damn game 3 times! I don’t mind when they play well and get beat by a better team; that was certainly the case against Baylor, but ND is not a better team so I disagree with Geno about who is to blame for such a poor performance. The saying goes that “teams who press don’t like to be pressed themselves” and that certainly happened when both Baylor and ND doubled the ball carrier against UCONN.
notre dame is a better “team”.
Thank you ray-ray, you’ve made the point–one of few, often commenting anti-Uconn supporter.
Geno missed reading Johns Articles on the loss–
I do have to admit the Chat was more negative than I expected–but it was sprinkled with very positive and complimentary comments.
GENO YOU DO OWE US SUPPORTIVE FANS AN APOLOGY.
MAYBE IT BEST YOU DON’T COMMENT ABOUT GAMES OR SUPPORT GENO–YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING THE LOW ROAD.
Geno isn’t going to read this or do what you ask of him. Idiots.
everything coach said was right, one made fould shot in overtime,and uconn wins,maybe next year is our year,we can,t win every game, look at the lady vols,where there program has been in the last 4 years, and they were number one for years,those girls played there hearts out,lets wait until april
Notre Dame is NOT the better team. By any means.
6 wins out of 7 prove you’re an idiot
Kelly Faris said after the previous Notre Dame loss “This loss is on me”. Even though few believed that, she got a lot of respect for that. Geno should have said the same, true or not true, and he would have gotten a lot more respect than he has now. Instead he is leaving his team with the blame solely. Reminds me of the Italian captain who abandoned his passengers by jumping into the lifeboat of that cruise ship that was sinking a while back.
No one loves Geno more than me, as I would quit my job in a nano-second and join his campaign for the Presidency!! He would make an interesting President; sorry to digress. But it drives me crazy when coaches absolutely refuse to foul when up three in a 1 possession game. I would foul every time!!
Yup. Amen.
not to criticize any 1 player,but our point guards looked like Deer in headlights ,Hartly and Doty looked scared and how do you let them roll the ball up the floor and save starting the clock , also how do you let them shoot that 3 pointer ??????
Last year Geno worked a wonder of psychology on the team – helping them find a point of pride and recover from a truly devastating loss to ND at end of regular season. Which, along with the St. John’s loss, had rocked the UConn world.
I believe he is “playing the long game” – and working to get the team into the best mental shape possible for the two tournaments.
ND has won two razor close games vs. UConn. I like our chances next time it comes down to the wire. and these games will count for more.
FIRE GENO. WOMENS BASKETBALL SHOULD BE ABOUT THE PLAYERS. NOT A COACH WHO HIDES HIS FAILURES AND FEARS BEHIND SARCASM. GENO IS SO STUPID HE STILL THINKS HARTLEY IS ONE OF UCONNS BETTER PLAYERS. GENO IS SO ARROGANT THAT HE PLAYS DOTY TO SPITE FANS.