Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is an Italian-born American college basketball coach and the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team. He has led UConn to eleven NCAA Division I national championships, a feat matched by no one else in college basketball, and has won seven national Naismith College Coach of the Year awards. Auriemma has been the head coach of the United States women's national basketball team since 2009, during which time his teams won the 2010...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth23 March 1954
CityMontella, Italy
afraid ball felt games hands regular scenario season
She felt like during the regular season there were times when she may have had opportunities to take over games and didn't. And now that her career's winding down, in this scenario she wanted the ball in her hands and she wasn't afraid to take big shots.
barometer beat easily great handed happening heads left might moment national played sure team win
It's a great barometer for not only what is happening with our team at the moment but what could happen, what might happen down the road. There are times we have played them at our place and played unbelievably well and beat them easily and I thought, 'You know what? I think this team can win the national championship.' There's times when we've played them at their place and got our heads handed to us and I left there thinking, 'You know what? I'm not sure we're a national championship-type team.
ability barbara expect forget handle huge national since team time truly won
This is probably the first time since 1991 that I feel like we're truly a team that relies so heavily on each other. Everyone has to make a contribution for us to be really good. And obviously, Barbara and Ann have the ability to make huge contributions, and they did. That's what you expect from them. And sometimes we do forget they've won two national championships. They know how to handle these situations.
ball ends hand progress
I think there's been a lot of progress made and I can usually tell by where the ball ends up. Like does the ball end up in the right player's hand and what's going on in that possession.
adversity beat court dame focus good handle last road sign year
I never know what to think anymore. Last year we go up to Notre Dame and spank them all over the court and then they come here and beat us. But I do think when you go on the road and play really well, that's a good sign. That's a sign that you can handle adversity and focus on what you need to focus on.
ankle bad definitely saturday serious sure whether
We weren't sure whether or not it was real serious or mildly serious or whatever. When we got back, it was X-rayed and there's no fractures. It's just a bad ankle sprain and she's definitely out for Saturday and then we'll take it from there.
credit extend guess lead looking plays pressure
We got the big lead and we had a chance, when pressure came, to really make some plays to extend it. But we let one play lead to another to another to another. It just got completely away from us. I guess credit their defense, but I was just looking at the stat sheet.
couple gone itself needs seen stretch
I've seen (Strother) go through stretches where nothing's gone in, but she had that one stretch where she made everything. It all evens itself out, I think. I think all she needs is a couple to drop. ... She'll come around.
anybody darned finishing good league strength teams
The strength of your league is what is going on in the middle. We have always been good at the top. But we will have teams finishing 10th, 11th 12th in our league who are pretty darned good, and I don't know that anybody else has that.
ankle broke hard standing time
The time she broke her ankle standing still. Do you know how hard that is to do?
defend guard
I still don't think we can guard her. But what you can do is make her have to guard you. We made it so she had to defend in the lane.
five great last maybe moments tournament
I sense that this year, there have been more near-upsets and more great moments in this tournament than maybe the last five combined. Which is a sign, I think, that we are going in the right direction.
answer believe duke feels leads lose manner national plays question situation sure win
I've been in their situation enough times where you come in and you feel like you've got every answer to every question that comes up. And you know the only way you can lose is if you don't play to your ability. I'm sure Duke feels the same way. (Duke) plays in a manner that leads you to believe they're going to win a national championship.
best celebrate coaching direct fortunate good hard lucky neck net odd opportunity people personal perspective players stand stuff winning
As I look at stuff like this I say to myself, it's kind of odd because you always think of coaching as an opportunity for your players to stand up their on that podium and put the net around their neck and celebrate winning championships. You never think of yourself as being in that situation. You're only as good as the people that you get to direct, and if you're fortunate enough to have the best people to direct then you're one of the lucky few. I think that's kind of what this is all about. So it's hard for me to put it into perspective from a personal perspective.