12/22/24
April 08, 2009
Dominating: The UConn Huskies (of the female variety) finished off their unstoppable run to the national championship last night with a 76-54 dismantling of Louisville. According the the linked article (from SI.com), this team is the first team in the history of college basketball to win every single game in their season by double digits. They did this in a conference that got seven teams into the NCAA field, with four making it to the second weekend and two to the Final Four. So now, is this team the best women's college basketball team ever?
posted by boredom_08 to basketball at 09:25 AM - 7 comments
Maybe one of the best teams ever, period. Basketball is probably the most difficult sport to protect a big lead in.... to win 39 games by double digits is an astounding testament to talent, practice, and focus. Amazing.
posted by DudeDykstra at 12:49 PM on April 08, 2009
You know, this team is fabulous, but the 2002 Huskies may have been even better. This team has amazing talent, but arguably doesn't have the depth of the 2002 team. More discussion on this subject here. Of particular interest is Geno Auriemma comment about how this team has had a lot more fun than his other two (!!!) unbeaten teams.
On the other hand, double digit victories don't lie and they managed to win this even after losing a key player - freshman Caroline Doty.
Auriemma has a long way to go to catch up with Pat Summit (if such a thing is even possible), but he certainly has earned his place as one of the great college basketball coaches of all time.
Furthermore, most of this team is returning next year.
posted by Joey Michaels at 04:44 PM on April 08, 2009
*laces up sneakers... Does warm up exercises... Takes a few deep breaths...*
Yeah, but they're only women...
*runs for cover*
Seriously, that's pretty spectacular.
posted by Drood at 05:45 PM on April 08, 2009
Drood: I lol'd.
posted by Joey Michaels at 05:56 PM on April 08, 2009
My Alma Mater, The Mavericks of Minnesota State University won the Women's Div II title this year...quite a difference between that team and UConn.
To win that many games in that fashion speaks to a well rounded team with a great coach...only question now is how long the streak continues.
posted by dviking at 10:23 PM on April 08, 2009
I agree with Geno who said the 2001 team was the best (meaning most talanted and deep) team. The fab 4 (Bird, Cash, Jones and Williams) were juniors, Taurasi was a freshman, and Abrosimova and Ralph were seniors. However, the two all-american seniors both had season ending injuries before the NCAA tourneament and they lost to Tennessee in the final 4. Another Big East team (Notre Dame) won the title.
posted by pullmyfinger at 10:30 AM on April 09, 2009
I was really hoping Stanford would upset the Huskies to set up a Cardinals/Cardinal final, but when all is said and done it would have been a travesty if UConn didn't win. An amazing season. Congrats Huskies.