Auriemma
Connecticut’s quest for the fifth perfect season in NCAA women’s basketball history will begin at home.
The undefeated Huskies earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament Monday night and will open against Vermont at Storrs, Conn.
Nine teams have entered the NCAA Tournament unbeaten and only four have emerged unscathed. UConn and coach Geno Auriemma were the last in 2002.
Auriemma said he’s not worried about the bull’s-eye on his team’s back.
“We don’t care who we play. We don’t care where we play,” Auriemma said. “We don’t care what time we play. I’m anxious to get started, and I know our players are as well.”
Oklahoma, Maryland and Duke earned the other three No. 1 seeds. The Sooners are in the Oklahoma City regional, the Terrapins are headed to Raleigh, N.C., and the Blue Devils will make the cross-country trek to Berkeley, Calif.
Tennessee also extended its run as the only team to make every NCAA Tournament but earned a No. 5 – its lowest seed ever, creating a tough road to a third consecutive title.
The Final Four is scheduled for the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on April 5 and April 7. When the city last hosted the championship in 2001, UConn lost in the semifinals.
The Huskies (33-0), who have run through their opponents this season by an average of 31 points per game, will be looking for their sixth national championship. A potential second-round opponent for UConn is former assistant coach Tonya Cardoza and Temple. The Owls must beat Florida to meet the Huskies.
If the Huskies advance to the regionals, they’ll take a trip down I-95 to Trenton, N.J., where California, Texas A&M or Florida State could be waiting. The Seminoles lost to UConn by 12 points in the Caribbean Classic.
One team UConn won’t play until at least the Final Four would be Tennessee.
Coach Pat Summitt said she was not surprised her 22-10 team received a No. 5 seed. The team also took 10 losses into the tournament in 1997, grabbing a No. 3 seed and winning the title.
Tennessee’s previous lowest seed was fourth in 1986 and the team has advanced to the regional semis every season.
The Lady Vols have been a fixture atop the bracket since the first NCAA Tournament in 1982. They’ve earned a top seed 19 times, a No. 2 seed four times and a No. 3 seed three times.
Not this time.
“For once in a long time, we’re not the top dog. We’re the underdog,” Summitt said. “They have nothing really to lose and everything to gain in laying it all on the line.”
They’ll play Ball State in their opener Sunday.
Arizona State is a No. 6 seed, and must open with No. 11 Georgia in Duluth, Ga., on Saturday.
Summit