Geno tests positive as UConn gets a top seed

UConn is in its normal spot with a No. 1 seed for the women’s NCAA Tournament. Familiar territory for Stanford and South Carolina, too.

It’s a brand new day for North Carolina State. And the Huskies, while used to their position in the bracket, are facing some uncertainty after coach Geno Auriemma tested positive for the coronavirus.

N.C. State is a No. 1 seed for the first time, joining Stanford, South Carolina and Connecticut on the top lines for the San Antoniothemed regions for the women’s tourney. The Cardinal earned the overall No. 1 when the field was revealed Monday night.

Auriemma’s Texas arrival will be delayed. He will remain in isolation for 10 days and can rejoin the team on March 24. The other members of UConn’s travel party have tested negative for COVID-19.

Auriemma will miss the Huskies’ opening game against High Point — one of four first-timers in the NCAAs — and a potential secondround matchup against either Syracuse or South Dakota State.

“I’m an innocent bystander right now. I’m going to sit back and watch them do their thing,” he said. “[Assistant coach Chris Dailey] is undefeated in tournament play. I don’t think you can get a coach who has a better record in the tournament than she does.”

For the past few years, earning one of the top 16 seeds would put a team at home in the tournament’s first two rounds, but that’s not the case this March. Every game will be played in the San Antonio area because of the pandemic, with the last four rounds tipping off at the Alamodome.