UConn women not looking past opposition in Final Four
TAMPA, Fla. — Four No. 1 seeds are in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA tournament for only the third time, yet there’s still a distinctive feel that it’s really two-time defending champion Connecticut’s title to lose. Notre Dame, South Carolina and Maryland are trying to dispel that notion.
The coaches of the teams, beginning with UConn’s Geno Auriemma, say the title isn’t automatically going to the Huskies.
The Huskies (36-1) are in the Final Four for the eighth straight year and seeking a record 10th national title, but Auriemma said the best teams in the country are still standing, and all of them are capable of winning the title.
“We’re not going down there thinking that we’re so good that it doesn’t matter. ... We don’t buy into this nonsense that we’re the only team that can win this thing, any more than I’m sure the rest of the country thinks Kentucky can’t lose in the men’s Final Four,” Auriemma said. “That’s not the case at all. Things happen in the Final Four that you just don’t expect.”
With All-American and two-time Final Four most outstanding player Brenna Stewart leading a talent-laden roster, UConn is shooting for its third consecutive title. A 10th national crown would lift Auriemma into a tie with UCLA’s John Wooden for the most NCAA basketball championships.
But the Huskies still must beat Maryland (34-2) in today’s semifinals and then defeat Notre Dame (35-2) or South Carolina (34-2) on Tuesday night.
The Huskies beat Notre Dame by 18 in early December, trounced South Carolina by 25 when the Gamecocks were unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in February, and have won 35 straight since a two-point overtime loss at Stanford in November. Maryland hasn’t faced UConn this season.
If Terrapins coach Brenda Frese has the formula to end the Huskies’ reign, she’s not revealing it.
“It’s going to take a collective team effort. Obviously in that Stanford game, they did a tremendous job collectively as a team,” Frese said. “Defensively, they’re a great scoring team and you’ve got to be able to take some things away. And then you have to have your own team that’s gotta be able to keep pace in terms of being able to score.”
No team has had more success against UConn recently than former Big East rival Notre Dame and coach Muffett McGraw has the Irish in the Final Four for the fifth straight year.
McGraw understands why there’s a perception that there’s UConn — and then there’s everybody else. But she says women’s college basketball has outgrown that scenario, even if the Huskies remain the most dominant program in the country.
“I think this is one of the best tournaments that we’ve had in terms of parity. I feel like there were so many great games,” McGraw said. “There were upsets. There were great games that the No. 1 seeds advanced. ... I think that was great for TV.”
DEVELOPMENTS
Stewart, Semrau honored: Breanna Stewart has joined another exclusive club, and she is only a junior.
Connecticut’s versatile star is the winner of The Associated Press Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, becoming just the fifth player to accomplish the feat. Florida State’s Sue Semrau was selected as coach of the year for the first time.
Stewart, a unanimous All-American for the second straight season, got 20 votes from the 35-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Notre Dame’s Jewell Loyd received the other 15 votes. It was the closest race since 2007, when Courtney Paris edged Candace Parker and Lindsey Harding by two votes.
Stewart joined Brittney Griner, Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus and Chamique Holdsclaw as the only two-time winners. No player has won the award three times.
Stewart helped the Huskies win the national championship in her first two years at the school. The 6-4 guard/forward has averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds this season.
Semrau guided the Seminoles to their best season. Florida State made it to the regional final of the NCAA tournament before losing to South Carolina. It also won a school-record 32 games, including 14 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and reached the conference tournament final for the first time.
Stewart wins Wade Trophy: UConn junior Breanna Stewart has won the 2015 Wade Trophy Award, which was presented by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Saturday.
The award is named after Lily Margaret Wade, coach of three-time national champion Delta State. It recognizes the best women’s player who not only excels athletically but is a role model on and off the court.
UCLA wins WNIT: Freshman Jordin Canada scored a season-high 31 points to lead UCLA to a 62-60 win over West Virginia for the Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship Saturday at Charleston, West Virginia.
Canada was the only double-figure scorer for the Bruins (19-18) and was selected the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Canada made a layup with 22 seconds left, stole the ensuing inbounds pass, was fouled and made two free throws for a 62-57 lead.
Averee Fields led West Virginia (23-15) with 17 points.