UConn silenced by a better team again

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The last time they played in Colonial Life Arena, they quieted all the noise with one of the best, most aesthetically beautiful quarters of basketball they’d ever played. The UConn women outscored the defending national champions, 29-8, in those 10 minutes two years ago. Afterward, even their demanding coach was impressed.

“If you really know a lot about basketball, you’re going to say, ‘Wow, that’s amazing.’ ” Geno Auriemma said of that second quarter after the 83-58 rout of South Carolina.

The first quarter wasn’t amazing for UConn on Monday night. It was pathetic offensively, just pathetic. Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley agreed the Gamecocks sped up the Huskies, made matters a little too fast for them. They rushed shots. They forced passes. They missed makeable shots. The wonderful ballet of the past was a 10-minute train wreck of the present.

The Huskies shot 1-for-16. They had five turnovers. They scored two points, the fewest they’d scored in a quarter since the women’s college game changed from 20-minute halves in 2014-15. South Carolina did a terrific job of pressuring UConn on the perimeter. And while the first quarter ended with a manageable nine-point deficit thanks to their own defense, a gut-punch had

been delivered, a message had been sent and the 18,000 fans who always show up for UConn here went absolutely nuts when USC shots really started falling.

In 2016, UConn silenced the No. 1 Gamecocks and their crowd.

In 2018, UConn silenced the national champions and their crowd.

This is 2020. UConn scored its fewest points in a game since a 49-34 win over Rutgers in the 2012 Big East Tournament.

“They didn’t play the tradition of UConn,” Staley said of her No. 1 team after this 70-52 rout. “They just played the team that was out there.”

Baylor beat UConn at the XL Center by 16 and Auriemma acknowledged the Bears were bigger and badder. Oregon beat UConn by 18 at Gampel Pavilion and Auriemma tipped his hat to the Ducks’ layers of skill and guile. And, now, another 18-point loss. These are margins we haven’t seen around the program in more than a decade. Auriemma was a little cranky, a little snippy after the Huskies lost their third game by at least 15 points for the first time in a season since 1992-93.

“I have to say before we go any further,” Auriemma said early in his post-game press conference, “We’re allowed to lose a Goddamn game once in a while where the other team plays better than us. So how about you write that somewhere?

“South Carolina played way better than Connecticut. That’s allowed to happen once in awhile and it’s not like, ‘What did you guys did wrong?’ ”

OK, the Huskies are allowed to lose a (gosh)darn game once in a while where the other team plays better than them. No. 2 Baylor.

The Huskies are allowed to lose a (gosh)-darn game once in a while where the other team plays better than them. No. 3 Oregon.

The Huskies are allowed to lose a (gosh)-darn game once in a while where the other team plays better than them. No. 1 South Carolina.

The Cocks crowed three times. So help me, God.

Auriemma is obviously frustrated and much of it is understandable. With 11 national championships and 12 consecutive Final Fours, he wonders sometimes how much does he have to prove? Are UConn fans ever satisfied?

On the other hand, he cannot love the way this team has played. They miss shots aplenty against tough teams, 39 of the 61 on this night. They aren’t physically tough. They lost almost all the 50-50 balls against South Carolina, a proud program determined to overcome the great hurdle of having gone 0-8 against UConn. They’re just not good enough to win the national title.

Auriemma wasn’t surprised Crystal Dangerfield, who outscored her teammates, 28-24, played well. As a senior, she has a history of doing it in big games. The others don’t. Gone are Katie Lou Samuelson and Napheesa Collier and thousands of their points. When asked about that wonderful second quarter in 2018, said, “Look who was out there for us.” Point made. Other than Dangerfield, he said, players miss a few shots and they don’t want to shoot anymore.

Yes, they were mentally tough enough not to roll over totally. At one point in the fourth quarter, they even closed to 11 before a Christyn Williams (1-for-11) airball. Auriemma insisted Olivia Nelson-Ododa and his No. 5-ranked team are much better than it was last Monday against Oregon and imagines they will be much better next week.

Repeatedly, Auriemma made the point that the only way to get better is to play in these high-profile games, be the one responsible for winning them. Win? Gain confidence. Lose? Gain resolve to change it.

Throughout the day, ESPN.com had a significant feature on prized UConnrecruit Paige Bueckers.

The headline blared: “The prospect to revive the greatest dynasty in sports.”

That’s a lot of weight on the Minnesota high school kid, no matter how confident she is. Unless she is prepared to bring along a couple of players with the ice of 10,000 Frozen Lakes in their shooting veins and the Mayo Clinic hearts of a couple more tough rebounders, great teams must grow together. No one does it alone.

The Huskies needed more than Paige Bueckers on this night.

The Huskies are 20-3. Yet DePaul, 13th in the AP poll, and Tennessee, 25th, are their only victories over ranked teams. With all AAC teams left, there will be no No.1 seed. The quality wins aren’t there. Heck, reputation might save them from being a three seed.

“We were No. 1 earlier in the season,” Auriemma said. “Hard to believe, right? So who gives a (poop) where you are, four, five, 12, 17, 25? Who cares? This year, the object is to get through the season and get into the NCAA Tournament and see what happens. Some years the object is we’re going to be a No.1 seed and win the whole thing.

“This year we’re like every other team in the country. God forbid. Horror of horrors.”

Yes, the Huskies are allowed to lose a (gosh)darn game once in a while where the other team plays better than them. They have proven that much this season.