TRENTON, N.J. – UConn entered the regional final against Arizona State unbeaten and ranked number one. To coach Geno Auriemma there is no more pressure than being seeded fifth or eight. “At this time of year being undefeated really doesn’t mean that much,” Auriemma said following the semifinal win over California. “You take it on a game-by-game basis. In order to play on Tuesday you have to win on Sunday.”
In these days of increased parity in the women’s game, UConn is dominant and the team to beat this year. There is no rebuilding in Storrs, just a succession of nationally-ranked title contenders. What is the secret? For, one talent. Add good solid coaching. And very much a part of that coaching is getting outstanding individuals to sacrifice and buy into a total team concept.
It’s not easy, but in the UConn program it is something that has been done for years. A good example on this team in Renee Montgomery the outstanding lead guard. “Renee doesn’t care who shoots and how many they shoot if they are open,” Auriemma said. “If you have a good open look she wants you to take it every time.”
On Sunday freshman Tiffany Hayes had a number of those looks en route to a game-high 28 points. Hayes shot 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 6 from three-point line.
It’s hard to believe or remember that UConn’s Maya Moore is only a sophomore. Moore was a priority of Cal’s defensive attention but she did not force a thing. She still wound up with an effective 22 points.
Notes
- One of the really good guys in the business, Rider AD Don Harnum, was on hand. Rider and the MAAC hosted the regional. Harnum is happy in athletic administration with no designs to return to the sideline. “The thing I miss about coaching is the practices, working with the kids, preparing and the games,” the former Rider mentor said. “I do not miss the recruiting. It is time consuming and stressful and something you have to do but can be very demanding.”
- Arizona State is on a run and the team has rallied around Dymond Simon, an outstanding junior guard, who went down late in the season with an injury. Losing her meant a redefinition of roles and players stepping up. To coach Charli Turner Thorne it was the choice of accepting a challenge. “We had others step up after (Simon’s injury),” Turner Thorne said. “We believe in ourselves and know we can outwork teams, but when Dymond got injured we had a choice. The team took the challenge and chose to win.”
- Interesting choice of words: Arizona State junior guard Danielle Orsillo predicted the regional final with UConn will be a ‘dog fight’.
- In the stands was former DePaul and NBA notable Mark Aquirre, whose daughter Angelei is a freshman guard with Cal.
- Would Turner Thorne be in touch with Cal coach Joanne Boyle regarding UConn? “Definitely,” the Arizona State mentor said. “Joanne and I are good friends and I’m sure she will have some good observations to share.”
- UConn received some solid minutes from 6-2 junior Kaili McLaren, who spelled Tina Charles when the latter got in foul trouble. McLaren defended and rebounded and did a nice job in relief.
- Ashley Walker did a good job inside, knocked down some threes and appeared headed for a big afternoon. The Cal forward, as were her teammates, soon became victim to the UConn defense. Walker finished with 21 points, but only five following intermission.
- Interesting stat: UConn shot better from beyond the arc than two-point range. They did miss some easy inside opportunities the first half and the percentages reflect it:
- Three-point shooting: 9-16 (56 percent)
- Two-point shooting: 19-47 (40 percent)
- As noted yesterday, Arizona state’s Charli Turner Thorne and Texas A&M coach Gary Blair expected a defensive battle in the fifty-point range. The game gave fans an entertaining brisk offensive display as the Sun Devils scored an 84-69 triumph.
- The numbers bear it out:
- ASU: 69 possessions, 1.22 points per possession
- Texas A&M: 72 possessions, .96 points per possession
- A game of that pace is near NASCAR tempo. And on the points per possession scale ASU literally lit it up.
- Best shirt in the stands: “Friends don’t let friends root for Arizona”.
- Writing colleague George Rodecker noted the Sovereign Bank lot had, “more Connecticut than New Jersey cars.”
On The Baseline
- UConn brought cheerleaders while the other three schools brought dance teams. Cal doesn’t have a cheer squad. They haven’t had one for about seven years. Cal has new uniforms courtesy of Nike. One sophomore member , Mary, noted they are a Nike squad with the logo on the uniform. Best uniforms though go to Arizona State’s dance team.
- Best fight song: UConn. Probably because we hear it so much, especially in March due to the success of both the men and women.
