December 21, 2010

UConn Women own the longest streak: With a 93-62 defeat of Florida State at sold-out XL Center, UConn won its 89th consecutive game, a Division I record surpassing the 88 won by the U.C.L.A. men, coached by John Wooden, from 1971 to 1974.

posted by cjets to basketball at 10:14 PM - 5 comments

They haven't lost two games in a row in something like 17 years. Really, amazing program and this year's team (especially Maya Moore) is remarkable again.

Coach Wooden apparently had something interesting things to say in regards to UConn (from the link):

Greg Wooden, a grandson of the legendary U.C.L.A. coach, who died in June, attended Tuesday's game and said his grandfather would have been "absolutely thrilled" to see the Bruins' streak broken by a women's team, especially one as unselfish as UConn.

Late in his life, Wooden said, his grandfather "thought the best basketball was played at the collegiate level and it wasn't by the men."

Now, granted, the game has changed a lot in thirty years, but I think that was Wooden's point.

There's been a discussion around our household regarding whether a men's program is ever going to have a streak like this again, and most of us agree that the fact that many men go pro before they've been on a team for three years will prevent this kind of dynasty from occuring again in NCAA Men's Basketball. Really too bad.

posted by Joey Michaels at 02:19 AM on December 22, 2010

The junior class has never lost. That is all. Goes hand-in-hand with the Penn State volleyball team.

posted by yerfatma at 08:34 AM on December 22, 2010

Goes hand-in-hand with the Penn State volleyball team.

Twenty more and UConn will tie Penn State for the longest winning streak in NCAA Division 1 sports. If they can win 4 championships in a row, it will be truly impressive.

Actually, I am impressed with UConn's streak. They should be really proud of what they have done, and deserve all the recognition and accolades they get.

posted by Howard_T at 03:29 PM on December 22, 2010

That's amazing. Even more so when one considers they did this in the era in the WNBA.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:26 PM on December 22, 2010

Amazing. Especially to this USC alum ;)

posted by billsaysthis at 05:21 PM on December 24, 2010

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