Geno Auriemma has been there, coached the U.S. national team through two Olympics and been criticized for the rosters he assembled, successful as they were.
“My favorite part (this year) is that nobody mentioned me,” Auriemma said Tuesday before his charity golf event at The Hartford Golf Club. “I thought that was great. First time in 16 years I wasn’t the reason somebody didn’t make the team, or somebody did.”
Any criticism Auriemma, the UConn women’s basketball coach, took during his time in USA Basketball, was tame in comparison to the national churning over Caitlin Clark’s omission from the team that will represent the United States at the Paris Olympics next month. Clark, 22, the extremely popular WNBA rookie who set college basketball scoring records at Iowa, did not make a team in which experience was emphasized.
“Everybody always makes a big deal when someone doesn’t make the team,” Auriemma said. “That’s disrespectful of whoever did make the team. What, they don’t deserve to make it? I don’t remember it being an international incident when Charles Barkley didn’t make the team (in the 1980s), he turned out to be a hell of a player. Isiah Thomas didn’t make it and Chuck Daly (Thomas’ coach with Detroit) was the coach. Things happen, man, and you’ve got to respect the process.”
Clark’s first few weeks as a pro with the Indiana Fever have had their ups and downs, but she is averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game.
The 12-woman Team USA features three former UConn players, including Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, who is playing in her sixth Olympics. None of the players selected are under 26.
“Look, here’s what I would say, if you called (Coach Cheryl) Reeve and said, ‘Cheryl, are you happy with your team?’ and she says yes, then you picked the right team,” Auriemma said.
Two weeks ago, Auriemma weighed in on the way Clark has been treated by veterans in the WNBA and supported her, saying she was being “targeted.” So his take on the Olympics was based on his experiences as past coach of two gold medal and two World Championship teams between 2009-16.
“I thought they did great,” Auriemma said. “There is always going to be someone who makes the team and everybody is surprised, and somebody who doesn’t make the team and everybody is surprised, but that’s because they don’t have to make those decisions.”
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One thing didn’t surprise the coach was that Taurasi, 42, was still good enough to make the squad. Taurasi is averaging 16.9 points per game for Phoenix.
“If she stayed healthy, she’d play till she’s 60,” Auriemma said. “Sue (Bird) was the same way. If they could just show up and play and not go through everything it takes to get ready to play, that’s the grind they don’t like. But the love of the game, wanting to play, TV, winning gold medals, that will never go away. She just loves the game too much and the game loves her, that’s the best part.”
The other big news last week was Dan Hurley’s decision to turn down an offer to coach the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers to stay with UConn, where he is expected to sign a new contract soon.
“I’m sure everybody was a little bit nervous,” Auriemma said, “but I always thought he would stay here. There’s too much invested here. Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, it’s hard to just pick up and leave that. I’m sure there’s a number for anybody to do whatever. I’m glad he stayed, I’m glad he went through the process, though.”
Someday, Auriemma believes Hurley could adjust his coaching style to fit professional players.
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“He has said that’s what he wants to do down the road,” Auriemma said, “and I’m sure if that’s what he wants to do, he’ll figure out how to do it. The timing has to be right, the place has to be right, a lot of factors go into it. It’s not like it can’t be done. Brad Stevens did it (with the Celtics). I’m sure it could be in his future somewhere down the road.”
Auriemma, 70, who is embarking on his 40th season at UConn, has been involved with the “Geno For The Kids” golf tournament, benefitting the Connecticut Children’s Foundation for 22 years.
“It’s become one of the big events that happens out here and everyone looks forward to it,” Auriemma said. “Last year we were able to send the hospital a check for $750,000, so I am hoping we can send them over $1 million. You know, when we started, it was $15,000. It has done a lot for a lot of kids.”
Auriemma has his players nearby to help out at the tournament, meeting and greeting fans. The Huskies often visit the hospital.
“The more time they spend over there, it makes you feel good,” Auriemma said.
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