UCONN Coach Gene Auriemma Says South Carolina’s Play Is “Not Basketball,” Dawn Staley Fires Back
South Carolina’s women basketball team has had an amazing season. They have won every one of their 27 games. They’ve defeated tough opponents like UConn and LSU, Florida, Ole Miss, and Ole Miss in recent matches. After his team’s loss to South Carolina, Geno Auriemma, UConn’s head coach, made post-game comments that drew swift criticism from Dawn Staley as Gamecocks coach.
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Geno Auriemma from UConn said the Gamecocks were too physically demanding, and that Geno was referring to Geno. “It’s not basketball” They play.
Auriemma said, “I didn’t say anything for a long, long time. If you want to bring Lou in, you can see the bruises on her body. It’s just appalling what teams do to her now. It’s not basketball anymore. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not basketball.”
“It’s just appalling what teams do to [Lou Lopez Sénéchal] now. It’s not basketball anymore.”
Geno Auriemma criticized the officiating during his team’s 81-77% loss to No. 1 South Carolina. pic.twitter.com/6uGScCwsTE
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) February 6, 2023
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley defends her teamAuriemma was called out by her, she said. He was reminded that her team had won two national championships in the same manner they played against UConn.
“We play in the SEC. That’s how we play. We’re not going to change it,” Staley stated.
Staley says Auriemma’s comments were disrespectful and an attempt discredit South Carolina’s style.
Dawn Staley is a South Carolina coach Carolina Calls Tuesday, the next Tuesday, stated that her team will succeed when she succeeds “we’re called something other than players that are locked in.”
The next day, Auriemma resigned after UConn’s 59-52/52 loss Marquette “I don’t know whether Dawn was referring to me specifically or whether this has been happening to her team for quite some time now. If people have been paying attention, seriously, I’ve been making that statement for 20-some years since Diana [Taurasi] was playing for us.”
Although South Carolina’s women’s basketball team remains dominant and is the highest-ranked in the nation, UConn has been struggling. The Huskies lost to South Carolina, then Marquette, before winning over Georgetown. In their most recent game, the Huskies lost to St. John’s Red Storm, 69-64.
UConn’s current record stands at 24-5. While they remain a top team and have a great record, recent struggles have caused concern among analysts and fans. The Huskies, despite being an experienced and talented team, have been showing signs of fatigue and have struggled in recent weeks to win games.
The South Carolina Gamecocks on the other side are in a winning streak with a undefeated 27-1 record and a win over LSU. The Gamecocks will defend their national title and continue to be the best women’s college basketball team.
UConn has only a few remaining games in the regular-season. South Carolina and UConn have their sights set on the playoffs. The Huskies want to regain momentum and make an impact in the NCAA tournament.
The Gamecocks will be looking to win their second consecutive national title and finish the season undefeated.
It will be interesting to watch how the teams perform as the season draws to a close and whether UConn can recover from their recent woes. South Carolina will still be the team to beat at tournament time.
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