Not quite the same old rivalry
Still plenty at stake in UConn’s 1st game at Tennessee in 15 years.
It’s been 15 years since Geno Auriemma traveled to Knoxville to face the Lady Vols and their legendary program-builder Pat
Summitt. How much has changed since then? Well, everything.
In the 13 years the former rivals went without playing, UConn and Tennessee headed in opposite directions. UConn has won six of its 11 national titles since then, elevating the program’s status to one of the most storied dynasties in all of sports. Prior to her untimely death in 2016, Summitt retired in 2012 due to an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Tennessee hasn’t made it to the Final Four since Summitt’s eighth and final NCAA title in 2008, and hasn’t made it past the second round of the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
Does UConn-Tennessee still mean something all these years later? It depends who you ask. But either way, there’s still plenty at stake in Thursday’s matchup between two top 25 teams, which tips at 7 p.m. and airs on ESPN.
The game is the second installment of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Revival Series, which supports the Pat Summitt Foundation in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Fan excitement over the series’ return began last season, with the programs meeting for the first time since 2007 and UConn taking down Tennessee, 60-45 at the XL Center. But to Auriemma, there wasn’t that same fire or intensity to the matchup that defined the series in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“I think people have to realize it’s not a big deal anymore,” Auriemma said. “I don’t feel it. Maybe it’s because it was never about Tennessee and Connecticut. Maybe because it was Pat and Geno after a while. I don’t feel it. I don’t know if [Tennessee coach] Kellie [Harper] does. I don’t know, I’ve never asked her.”
Since Summitt’s retirement, Tennessee has been working to re-emerge as a national power, first under Holly Warlick and now under second-year coach Harper. The No. 25 Lady Vols finished 21-10 last season and are 9-2 so far this year (3-1 in SEC play), earning a spot in the Associated Press rankings for the first time this season earlier this month.
“It’s been proven that anytime you replace a legendary coach, there’s an adjustment period,” Auriemma said. “The adjustment was Holly and Pat, and nowthe adjustment is Kellie and Holly and Pat. I think Kellie’s done a tremendous job. Watching them play this season, I don’t know that around the country people are talking about Tennessee being a national championship contender. But that’s because it takes a little bit of time for a new coach to come in and put their own stamp on the team and the culture of the team and what they want to accomplish, and that means recruiting and the day-to-day work with the team.
“From what I can see from afar, I think they’re on the right track. I still think going there is an incredibly difficult place to play and an even more difficult place to win. And Kellie’s a really good coach, so I wouldn’t expect any different.”
It’ll be all the more difficult of a place to play for Auriemma’s young team that features six freshmen. No. 3 UConn (8-0, 7-0 Big East) — which has experienced a host of nonconference game cancellations — hasn’t had a big road test to date, and has only played one other ranked team (DePaul). Thursday, they’ll have to deal with 4,000 Lady Vols fans that likely remember all too well what the schools’ rivalry was like in its heyday.
“I haven’t personally been a part of the UConn-Tennessee rivalry but I know what it means to the program and I know how big it’s been for women’s basketball in general,” said UConn freshman Paige Bueckers. “So any game with that type of historic meaning is very important to all of us. And then with a crowd, we’re still waiting to have crowds on a consistent basis. Everybody’s going to be cheering against us. It’ll be fun to have that atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere for sure, different conference, different style of play,” added junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa. “I think we’re just excited to be able to have a first road trip down there. I think it’ll be a good test for us to see where we’re at in the season, but we’re definitely looking forward to it.”
Though the schools have yet to discuss extending the series beyond this year, Harper told media this week that Tennessee “definitely [has] interest there... and we’re definitely willing to have those conversations.” When told of Harper’s response, Auriemma said Wednesday he doesn’t see why they couldn’t make it happen.
Auriemma, who is 4-3 on Rocky Top going into Thursday, anticipates a cordial welcome from Tennessee’s fans, too.
“A lot of times when we went down there I thought, ‘Doesn’t matter what they say, doesn’t matter what they do, we have a really good team and we’re going to kick their butts.’ I don’t feel that way right now,” he said with a chuckle. “So I hope they take it easy on me, give me a break.”