Auriemma: We decide how big of a chance they have

UAlbany a 49-point underdog in NCAA opener to UConn

STORRS, C.T. >> UConn has won 107 games in a row, 19 more than any other team in the sport, on the men’s or women’s side.

They’ll have a chance for 108 against Albany on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. And legendary head coach Geno Auriemma isn’t taking anything for granted.

“I’ve been around a long time, I’ve coached a lot of years,” Auriemma said. “I’ve never taken a first round game lightly. And neither will my players. But if it was a done deal, then why are we playing? Why don’t we just call up Albany and say, ‘Listen. Save yourself a trip down here. This is what we want the score to be, let’s put it in the paper up there.’

“So if there’s absolutely positively no chance that Albany could win, then why are we playing? The fact we’re playing and they’re keeping score means they have a chance. That’s what this is all about. That’s what the NCAA Tournament is all about.”

Albany is the No. 16 seed. UConn is, of course, the No. 1 seed. They’ve won four-straight National Championships and are favored to win on Saturday by 49 points. You could forgive Auriemma, or anyone else for that matter, for overlooking Albany. Heck, a national title rematch could await the Huskies on Monday in a tilt against Syracuse.

“They definitely play great team basketball,” UConn guard Katie Lou Samuelson said. “They know what they’re doing out there, winning six in a row. They’re going to be ready to go our take us lightly or be worried about anything like that. They’re going to play as hard as they can.”

Auriemma said he considers every first-round team that UConn plays a champion. That’s because, in order to get there, they had to win a conference championship. They know how to win,

Auriemma says, and that makes them dangerous.

Albany, having won the last six America East titles, very much knows how to win at this time of year.

“We don’t treat any team we play as anything less than a champion,” Auriemma said. “Because if they weren’t champions, they wouldn’t be here.”

Auriemma waxed on about how he doesn’t necessarily think small conferences should have conference tournaments. It often prevents the conference’s best team from making the NCAA Tournament.

He said in this case, it actually helped. Albany finished second in the America East during the regular season, but they were the deserving team to get in because of their pedigree.

“A 16 has only (beat a No. 1) one time I think in the NCAA Tournament,” Auriemma said. “But here they are, they’re at UConn. But as long as the refs show up and the guy who keeps score shows up, they have a chance. After 40 minutes, we’ll decide how big of a chance they have. That’s the way I always look at it.”

JESSICA HILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In this file photo, Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma gestures to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Florida in the American Athletic Conference tournament finals in Uncasville, Conn. UConn finishes the season at No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for the 14th time in school history.

JOHN CARL D’ANNIBALE — THE ALBANY TIMES UNION VIA AP Albany players celebrate their America East Conference championship win over Maine, March 10 in Albany.

JESSICA HILL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Connecticut’s Katie Lou Samuelson shoots over South Florida’s Laia Flores, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the American Athletic Conference tournament finals at Mohegan Sun Arena, March 6, in Uncasville, Conn.

ROGELIO V. SOLIS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Mississippi State guard Roshunda Johnson (11) attempts a shot while being defended by a Troy player during the first half of a first-round game in the women’s NCAA college basketball tournament in Starkville, Miss., Friday.