Women’s college basketball has made great strides and regular national television coverage could be on the horizon, University of Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma said during an appearance at San Diego’s Hall of Champions last month.
His nationally ranked (No. 2) Huskies team demonstrated why it has been hugely successful with a 85-53 victory over San Diego State’s women at Cox Arena on Dec. 21, extending their unbeaten streak to 9-0. It was played before 5,271 fans, the largest ever for an Aztec women’s game.
Auriemma was joined by Beth Burns, coach of the Aztecs, in stressing the merits of women’s basketball.
During an illustrious tenure of 22 seasons, Auriemma has transformed the UConn program into the standard by which others are measured, winning five national titles. He serves on the board of directors for the Women’s National Basketball Association and is an analyst on ESPN in the off-season. He has a head coaching record of 621-120, or 83.8 percent.
Burns is in the third season of her second stint at SDSU. She returned to SDSU (where she was initially the women’s basketball head coach from 1989 to 1997) following her 1997-2002 seasons at Ohio State, where her team won the Women’s National Invitational Tournament championship in 2000. This past year, she led the Aztecs to their most wins since 2001, finishing as the 11th-most improved team in NCAA Division I.
“When we used to come to a town it was like a circus,” Auriemma said. “People wanted to know what this women’s basketball was all about. Now they know.
“When I started coaching at UConn in 1985 I couldn’t get the No. 2 team to play us at our place. Nothing to prove, they said. We finally did in 1990 when No. 2 Auburn came and we beat their butts. Suddenly, kids started to take notice.”
He said the program improved greatly and the athletic department was convinced the budget was a worthwhile investment.
“This came about when we started charging admissions,” Auriemma said. “We average about 11,000 [spectators] a game. We’re starting to get Monday night TV games. Next step is when TV starts to cover it on a regular basis. Best way to educate the public is to put a great product on the floor.”
Off the court, that success has meant a flawless graduation rate.
Burns agreed that to play top teams it is important for a team to gain experience against quality opposition.
In comparison with a man’s game, women must know the fundamentals and utilize footwork and speed, according to the UConn coach.
“Men can play around the rim and just jump over their problem,” he said.
“If you want to be great you have to see what great is,” said Burns. “And with a starting lineup that includes a freshman and two sophomores, that learning has begun. We play hard and fast … it’s an exciting brand of basketball. We have come a long way from 18 months ago when we were 3-24.
“Part of our job is to educate people on basketball. I speak anywhere they ask me. I’m the ambassador to what we do.”
For more information on future events at San Diego’s Hall of Champions visit www.sdhoc .com.