Connecticut’s Stewart, Auriemma are honored again
But Oregon State isn’t intimidated
Indianapolis — Breanna Stewart is in a class by herself. Even her decorated coach, Geno Auriemma, found himself in a place he couldn’t imagine.
The 31-year coach who has won 10 national championships fought back tears after receiving The Associated Press Coach of the Year award Saturday, one day before his Huskies open the Final Four in their bid for an unprecedented fourth consecutive NCAA title.
“I can’t describe it. I don’t know why it happened,” Auriemma said. “It’s been really different from the time the NCAA Tournament started. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Auriemma’s Huskies are two victories away from another championship, and Stewart is a big reason why.
UConn’s star senior won the AP Player of the Year award for a record third time. She was also the unanimous choice, the first time that’s happened since the award was first given in 1995.
“When it was announced, I didn’t know that was the case,” Stewart said. “I never knew there wasn’t a threetime award winner for basketball. It definitely resonates a little bit. I’m sure it will sink in more tonight. It’s an unbelievable honor to do something in a sport that’s never been done before.”
Auriemma has never been one to shy away from questions or stir up controversy with his answers. Yet on Saturday, he was emotional in a different way. He was talking about making it to the Final Four again and his group of seniors when he started to choke up as his team watched from a few feet away.
“I usually don’t get like this, I don’t know what the hell’s going on. I don’t, I don’t, I don’t get like this, not for stuff that concerns me personally,” said Auriemma. “I don’t know why but for some reason, this week has been really different for me. I don’t know why. It just has been really different.”
Stewart won as a sophomore and junior and joins Ralph Sampson of Virginia as the only college basketball players ever to be honored three times by the AP.
If UConn does win its next two games, Auriemma will have an 11th national championship that would move him past UCLA coach John Wooden for the most all-time in college basketball history. Auriemma received 16 votes. Scott Rueck of Oregon State, UConn’s opponent in Sunday’s semifinal, and Muffet McGraw of Notre Dame were second with three votes each.
Oregon State has noticed Stewart and the Huskies from across the country.
“It’s hard to miss them. They’re on ESPN all the time,” senior guard Jamie Weisner said. “It’s legendary. I would say it’s even an honor to play against them. In 20 years I can tell my kids that I played against that UConn team.”
Despite the praise, the Beavers aren’t intimidated by UConn.
“I think it’s a mental thing, just like you can’t lose the game before you step foot on the court,” senior center Ruth Hamblin said. “You just got to know that they’re humans and they’re going to make mistakes. And every team is beatable if you play the right way. You know they’re not invincible.” but you still have to maintain some kind of normalcy in your life,” Hillsman said. “Neighbors is a good guy and really I respect him and respect what he does. That’s one of those things where you — I’m not that guy, we’re not playing against each other. We’ve got to put a game plan together and let our kids go and play.”
Those players already have met once this season, with Syracuse jumping to an early 21-point lead before holding off the hard-charging Huskies, 66-62.
But a lot has changed in that time, especially at Washington.
After finishing fifth in the Pac-12, the Huskies have made a stunning postseason run by beating Maryland on its home court, Kentucky on its home court and conference rival Stanford in the Lexington Regional title game. They are the first No. 7 seed to reach the national semifinals since Minnesota in 2004.
Back then, the surprising Huskies were still trying to find their identity. Today, they’re a confident, relaxed bunch eager to play.