Coach Auriemma Looking For Number 8
Hegemony is a preponderant influence. Connecticut has an hegemony over women's college basketball. It was never more evident than in Monday night’s 83-53 win over Kentucky in one of Coach Geno Auriemma's favorite games, the Elite Eight. Nothing short of National Championships are expected at UConn and Coach Auriemma has seven of them, one short of retired Tennessee coach Pat Summitt.
Coach Auriemma is now two games away from tying her as his team makes its sixth consecutive Final Four appearance and 14th overall. He has never lost a National Championship game. The Final Four will begin Sunday in New Orleans. The Huskies won the 2004 National Championship over Tennessee, a possible foe in the 2013 National Championship. Make no mistake about it, UConn is not the best team in the country. Baylor is. Baylor beat Connecticut earlier in the season in Hartford. But the Bears were eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen by Louisville in what many characterize as the biggest upset in women's basketball history. That loss made the path easier for the Huskies.
UConn will play the winner of the Tuesday night game between Notre Dame and Duke. The Irish are the only team to ever beat Connecticut three times in a season under Coach Auriemma. UConn beat Duke by 30 earlier in the season and the Blue Devils appeared intimidated by the UConn pressure.
