Tag: UConn Basketball

Geno Auriemma says changing the WNBA eligibility rules could ruin women’s college basketball

Geno Auriemma thinks WNBA eligibility rules should stay exactly as they are to preserve women’s college hoops.

Women’s college basketball is in a place of high interest right now after the careers of stars like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, LSU’s Angel Reese, South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso and UConn’s Paige Bueckers.

In fact, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke recently about how that familiarity has generated more star power for the women’s side than the men’s side of the sport.

However, the odds of losing one of those premiere talents after a year could ruin the women’s college hoops altogether, at least to UConn coaching legend Geno Auriemma told ESPN Radio’s “UnSportsmanLike” this week.

As of 2022, domestic women’s college players who are graduating seniors or are at least 22 years old can be eligible for the WNBA Draft. Meanwhile, men’s college basketball players only have to play for a year pre-NBA before turning pro.

To Auriemma, giving women’s basketball athletes the chance to leave after only a year could prove catastrophic.

“It depends whether you want the game to grow or you want to kill it,” Auriemma shared on the show. “If you want to kill it, then let the kids leave after freshman year.

“On the men’s side, it’s become transactional. Everybody’s a free agent. Everybody’s a mercenary. It’s not the kids’ fault. … To me, what helped the women’s game grow is the people in Iowa got to grow up with Caitlin Clark. The people of Connecticut got to grow up with all of my great players. There’s something to be said for that.”

While we’re not sure what the future holds for WNBA eligibility, we do know that Auriemma joins the group who feels things should stay exactly as they are.

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Why does UConn head coach Dan Hurley pass on certain players while recruiting?

Dan Hurley talks recruiting and parents in building his UConn basketball program.

Dan Hurley’s success at UConn can be traced back to his recruiting philosophy. And for Hurley, the juggernaut that he has built at UConn is based on not getting the best athlete available.

In fact, Hurley, who comes from a family of storied coaches, said he avoids “neon players” who won’t buy into the program.

UConn has won back-to-back national championships, clinching this distinction with an emphatic win on Monday over Purdue.

In terms of recruiting, Hurley looks at certain critical factors, and many of them are away from the basketball court. In assessing a recruit, Hurley looks and asks “Have they played on seven different travel teams? Have they transferred to four or five different high schools?”

“They tell on themselves, they drop hints. You get the wrong kind of people in that inner circle around your players, they’ll sink your program,” Hurley said during a recent CBS interview.

“The locker room is so important, the personalities in that room. What they’re saying in that room after a tough loss.”

Hurley sees certain traits in a recruit – and their entourage – as big red flag. Certain recruits and their families have tendencies of “Becoming coach killers and program killers.”

 

“With the way we do things as well as the focus that we put on winning here those five national championship banners and the 11 on the women’s side you prioritize winning here as a head coach or you won’t be coaching for very long.

“And we’ve passed on players with incredible measurable height and athleticism off the charts to bring somebody in here that is going to give us a better chance to win.

“And (that is) somebody that if the losing does start is going to help you be able to to respond.”

Celebrate UConn’s 2024 national championship with USA TODAY commemorative cover

Get your hands on the ultimate piece of gear to celebrate UConn’s back-to-back National Championships

The University of Connecticut is once again atop the college basketball mountain.

The Huskies defeated Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers 75-60, dominating the NCAA Tournament for a second-consecutive season.

There are many ways to celebrate this monumental achievement, and USA TODAY is offering a piece of history with the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship commemorative cover.

SHOP: UConn 2024 commemorative cover

Whether your a lifelong Huskies fan, recently hopped on the bandwagon, or just want to celebrate the greatness of a dynasty, this cover can become the ultimate piece of wall art.

Fans can get the cover framed, or as a variety of prints including wooden, canvas, acrylic, and metal.

Never forget the moment that UConn won back-to-back national championships, with this ultimate symbol of Huskies fandom.

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We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Top images from Alabama’s battle against UConn in the Final Four

Alabama’s memorable March Madness run has come to an end. Relive the excitement from the game against UConn in the Final Four.

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a memorable and unprecedented March Madness run that culminated in the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance. However, head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and his team couldn’t get beyond the extremely well-rounded UConn Huskies to advance to the national championship game against Purdue.

This year’s Alabama team was heavily doubted heading into the 2023-2024 regular season, as the roster had high turnover, the coaching staff was basically brand new across the board and the defense took a significant step in the wrong direction.

Nobody expected the Crimson Tide to be as dominant as they were in March, and yet they shocked the nation, their fans, and everyone but themselves by making it to the Final Four.

Photo gallery from Alabama vs. UConn in the Final Four of March Madness

How to buy Purdue vs. UConn NCAA Men’s National Championship game tickets

Want to watch Purdue and UConn play for the title in person? Limited tickets for the Men’s NCAA Championship game still remain for as little as $192.

After almost three weeks of true basketball madness, chalk reigns supreme in the men’s bracket, as No. 1 Purdue and No. 1 UConn will play for a national championship.

The Boilermakers turned No. 11 NC State’s Cinderella run into the proverbial pumpkin behind 20 points and 12 rebounds from Zach Edey, though the Wolfpack have every reason to hold their heads high after a fantastic tournament run.

No. 4 Alabama played UConn closer than any team so far in the NCAA Tournament, but the Huskies were too much when it mattered most, closing the game on a 30-16 run, and defeating the Crimson Tide 86-72.

SHOP: Purdue vs. UConn NCAA Finals tickets

In a college basketball season marked by upsets, two of the best teams, with two of the best big men in the country will square off with a national title on the line.

The National Championship Game will be played in Glendale, Ariz on Monday, April 8 at 9:20 p.m. EDT, and limited tickets still remain.

Don’t miss the chance to see history, either with Purdue’s first NCAA Tournament title or UConn’s back-to-back championships.

At the time of publication, National Championship Game tickets were still available for as little as $192.

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Alabama basketball releases high-energy Final Four trailer

Not ready for the Final Four of March Madness? Watch this trailer by Alabama basketball as the team prepares to take on UConn and you’ll be ready to take the court alongside them.

The day has come for the college basketball national championship matchup to be decided. As the NC State Wolfpack take on the Purdue Boilermakers and the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the 2024 March Madness Tournament.

Though Alabama is not the favorite in this matchup, with even the staff at Roll Tide Wire being split on score predictions, the team seems ready to roll.

As Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats has said during this week, there’s not much stress on his team. They feel as if they are playing with house money. They are happy to be where they are at but don’t feel the pressure that UConn likely faces to get to the national championship game. That ease of mind could be a real game changer when it comes time to tip-off.

On social media, Alabama basketball shared a trailer for the game against the Huskies and it has fans ready to line up alongside the team to take the court.

Narrated by Alabama alum and ESPN personality Rece Davis, the Crimson Tide is ready to roll into the Final Four with the mentality of ‘Why stop now?’

 

Caitlin Clark praised Paige Bueckers ahead of Iowa and UConn’s Final Four game

Caitlin Clark has tremendous respect for Paige Bueckers and how she plays the game.

Ahead of their 2024 women’s NCAA Final Four game, Iowa women’s basketball’s Caitlin Clark praised UConn’s Paige Bueckers and what she’s been able to accomplish in her career.

Clark and Bueckers have known each other since middle school, and the former lauded the latter for her competitive spirit and the way she leads her team when she plays.

It’s a really cool reminder from Clark for how much these athletes respect one another, even when the competition gets fierce with a shared goal on the table.

Clark will be headed to the WNBA after the season while Bueckers will stay in school for another year. It sure sounds like Clark will be cheering Bueckers on as she remains one of college basketball’s true stars.

Bueckers also talked about the possibility that she’ll replace Clark as the sport’s biggest star next season, hoping instead that the focus will shift more to all of the great women’s basketball players at the collegiate level.

These were some really cool insights from two of the game’s great players, who are both winners no matter who wins in the Final Four game on Friday.

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The irony of where Alabama basketball is preparing for the Final Four

Alabama basketball is gearing up to take on UConn in the Final Four of March Madness in a gym that you wouldn’t believe.

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball won the West Region as the No. 4 seed and is now preparing to take on the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the Final Four. This unprecedented March Madness run by the program is not over yet, as head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and his team look to advance to the national championship game.

Though UConn arrived in Phoenix, the site of the Final Four, very early Thursday morning, the Crimson Tide has been there since Tuesday, preparing for the biggest game in the program’s history.

A series of photos shared to social media by the Alabama men’s basketball account shows the team, and its many stars like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] and others, at their temporary practice facility.

The irony of it all is that the Crimson Tide is practicing at the home of Grand Canyon University, the team Alabama defeated in the round of 32 of this year’s tournament.

In response, the Grand Canyon men’s basketball account quoted to post and said “Just lock up when you’re done.”

Alabama defeated Grand Canyon in a physical battle that resulted in a low-scoring thriller that ended with a final score of 72-61.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball as the team gets ready to face the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of March Madness.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

NCAA announces officiating crew for Final Four matchups

The officiating crew is set for the Final Four matchups!

The 2024 NCAA Tournament men’s Final Four will get underway on Saturday evening when the semifinal matchups tip-off from Phoenix.

The UConn Huskies are the favorites entering the final weekend of the season as the No. 1 overall seed looks to repeat as national champions. While the Alabama Crimson Tide, Purdue Boilermakers, and NC State Wolfpack will each look to claim a title in the desert.

Like it or not, officials will also play a role in the Final Four matchups, and on Monday the NCAA released the officiating crew that will head out to Arizona to call the semifinal and championship contests.

How to watch Final Four semifinal matchups

  • NC State vs. Purdue, 5:09 p.m. CT on TBS/TNT/truTV
  • Alabama vs. UConn, 7:49 p.m. CT on TBS/TNT/truTV

Can NC State continue its magical run? Can anyone beat UConn? We’ll all find out this weekend as the 2023-24 college basketball season reaches its climax and we say farewell to March Madness.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Paige Bueckers stunned fans with her explosive Elite Eight performance for UConn

Paige Bueckers put on a show in the Elite Eight round.

While Iowa’s Caitlin Clark got plenty of love for her incredible performance against LSU on Monday night, UConn’s Paige Bueckers wowed fans after leading her team past USC in the evening’s second Elite Eight game.

Bueckers scored 28 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Huskies made it to the Final Four over an excellent Trojans team led by the outstanding JuJu Watkins.

This impressive sequence late in the fourth quarter helped UConn pull away from USC, as Bueckers got five very tough points in the clutch.

It’s baskets like this that will help the Huskies guard succeed in the WNBA one day, even though she’s returning to UConn for the 2024-25 season.

 

To make Bueckers’ stellar performance even better, she and the Huskies will take on Iowa and Caitlin Clark on Friday in the Final Four for a chance at the 2024 national title game.

That game should be must-see television for all sports fans.

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