UConnTennessee rivalry lives on, but with less hype
STORRS — UConn coach Geno Auriemma realizes much has changed in the 15 years since his last visit to Rocky Top. The building he walks into Thursday night may be the same, but that’s about it.
“I don’t think anything else is the same,” he said. “There’s nothing the same about Tennessee women’s basketball like it was 15 years ago. They’ve gone through incredible changes, as have we.”
Following a 13-year hiatus, UConn and Tennessee renewed their rivalry last January in conjunction with “We Back Pat” week, an initiative organized by the Pat Summitt foundation to honor the legendary Lady Vols coach, who died in 2016 from Alzheimer’s. The Huskies won 60-45 in Hartford, extending their all-time lead to 14-9 in the series, including 4-0 in national championship games.
They’ll meet again Thursday (7 p.m.) when the No. 25 Lady Vols host the No. 3 Huskies at ThompsonBoling Arena.
Auriemma, who passed Summitt with his 1,099th career victory Tuesday against Butler, no longer feels the rivalry is a big deal. The buzz, he says, isn’t what it used to be.
“Let’s put it this way, we didn’t sell out the game last year, not even close,” Auriemma said. “So how big a deal is it? We probably sold out every single Notre Dame game we played in the last 10 years. So I don’t know. I don’t know. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.
“Maybe because it’s been too long, maybe it’s because it was never about Tennessee and Connecticut. Maybe it was because it was Pat and Geno after a while.”
Tennessee coach Kelli Harper, who played on three NCAA title teams under Summitt in the 1990s, says no, it is still a big deal.
“We’re really excited about Thursday and really looking forward to the game. I think a lot of people are,” said Harper, now in her second season at the helm. “Should be a lot of fun. I think a lot of people work hard to make this a big game for women’s basketball nationwide. People tune in, and hopefully they’ll do so on Thursday.”
UConn and Tennessee have historically dominated women’s basketball — the Huskies have 11 national titles, the Lady Vols eight. No one else has more than three, and only four other programs own two.
But the Huskies have won six NCAA championships since the Lady Vols captured their last under Summitt in 2008.
And while the rivalry was on pause, new villains emerged.
“When I was growing up the huge rivalry was with Notre Dame, so I really didn’t get to see that UConnTennessee rivalry for myself,” UConn freshman Paige Bueckers said. “But just seeing all the videos and all the pieces they’ve done on it over the years, I know how big it is.”
While the teams aren’t scheduled to square off next season, both Auriemma and Harper have expressed interest in continuing the series at some point down the road.
“It takes two people that want to do it, and I’m always up for playing anybody, anywhere, anytime,” Auriemma said. “People that know me know that. … So if Kellie wants to, I’m sure there’s a pretty good chance it’ll happen. When though, I don’t know.”
Said Harper: “I think we’d have to talk through logistics and what that would look like, but we’re definitely willing to have those conversations.”
The Huskies (8-0) have played only one ranked team to date (No. 18 DePaul), and Auriemma is anxious to see how his team fares Thursday — in front of fans no less. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, UConn has played in mostly empty arenas this season. Tennessee has been allowing up to 4,000 fans into
home games.
“Definitely a different atmosphere for sure,” junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa said. “A different conference, a different style of play. I think we’re just excited to have a first road trip down there. It’s our first out of conference. I think it will be a good test for us to see where we’re at.”
Auriemma, who faced the Lady Vols 22 times between 1995-2007, is used to being vociferously booed in Knoxville. But this time he expects a warmer reaction.
“We’re contributing a lot of money to a great charity, a great cause. I don’t know why they would be upset,” he said. “I’m sure they will be during the game if we play great. I’m sure they’ll be vocal.”
But, he added, it won’t be like old times. Hardly anything is when it comes to UConn-Tennessee.
“I’m glad,” he said. “A lot of times when we went down there, I thought, ‘It doesn’t matter what they say, it doesn’t matter what they do. We have a really good team and we’re going to kick their butts,’” he said. “I don’t feel that way right now. I hope they take it easy on me, give me a break.”