In a season where the UConn women’s basketball team has seen many longstanding streaks broken, arguably the most important lives on.
The Huskies are headed to their 12th consecutive Final Four in search of their 12th national title after beating Louisville 80-73 Sunday. The streak of Final Four appearances is the most in Division I men’s or women’s college basketball, ahead of the UCLA men’s team that went to 10 straight.
Coach Geno Auriemma has been here for all 12 of those appearances, and finds it hard to believe.
“I don’t think it’s supposed to happen,” Auriemma said. “Not in today’s world with the way things change and the way teams keep getting better and better. It’s not normal, and it’s something that’s hard to describe. Because, if you’re writing a book and making it up, people would say that doesn’t happen in real life, and it has happened in real life. I’m still — like you said, I’m boggled. My mind just doesn’t get it. How this could happen this many years in a row with a different cast of characters that change so often? But, no, it’s not normal. It’s not normal.”
Over the years UConn has set a lot of records that don’t seem normal. From 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances to three straight unbeaten regular seasons to 111 straight wins, the Huskies have taken streaks to another level.
Twelve straight Final Four appearances is their most impressive streak, though, because it speaks to the consistency UConn has been able to achieve at a high level for over a decade. Like Auriemma pointed out, that’s a lot of players moving in and out of the program and changing the way the Huskies play. Yes, UConn recruited some of the best players in every class, but Louisville coach Jeff Walz doesn’t think that should take away from the significance of the record.
“It’s amazing,” Walz said ahead of the Huskies’ game against the Cardinals. “You’re not having a bad night. I mean, for those 11 straight, that’s 44 games that you’ve played in the NCAA Tournament, and you really have not had a bad night. That’s pretty darned impressive. I’ve got the utmost respect for it. I know everybody would say, hey, he’s always got better players, he’s got this, he’s got that. We all have some good players. It’s just impressive that two or three of them have not had a bad night on the same night.”
None of UConn’s players had a bad day on Sunday, which is what ultimately helped the Huskies hold off a late run by Louisville to advance to the Final Four. While Auriemma tries to avoid paying attention to records his team sets and streaks that are still alive, there was something special about this year’s team keeping the Final Four streak alive.
For most of the previous 11 seasons, UConn made it to the Final Four with ease. This year was different, though. The Huskies lost two regular season games, were the No. 2 seed in the Albany Regional behind Louisville and started two players who had never started before — including a freshman. It was a season of hard lessons, gritty wins and growth. And Auriemma watched it all, more exhausted and exhilarated than he’s been while coaching a team in years.
“I have felt everything about this team all year long,” Auriemma said. “I’ve loved them. I’ve hated them. I wanted the season to end. I wanted the season to keep going. I wanted 10 guys to transfer. I only wanted to coach one guy. I wanted to have them over for dinner every night. I wish they’d never eat again the rest of their lives. Every single emotion. We can’t play defense. We can’t run offense. We’re a great defensive team. Man, we run offense great. Every single thought you could ever imagine was in my brain all year long, to a point where — you know, I can’t even — I don’t have any more brain space.”
Kelli Stacy can be reached at kstacy@courant.com.
