Geno Auriemma might have expected a big win, but what he walked away with was even bigger. His UConn Huskies didn’t just claim a dominant 70-50 victory over the Creighton Bluejays in the Big East tournament championship, they also secured the program’s 30th conference tournament title. That alone is a historic achievement, making the Huskies the undisputed leaders in conference titles. But Auriemma’s reasons for celebrating don’t stop there. Along with a boost in confidence, he also got a nice financial bonus to go with it.

“Geno Auriemma says he has “answers to things he didn’t have last year,'”” Jake McCreven shared on X. That likely takes us back to last year’s NCAA Women’s Final Four, where UConn fought hard but fell just short in a heartbreaking 71–69 loss to Iowa.

This season, however, presents a different narrative, with Auriemma feeling more confident in his team’s abilities. While some uncertainties might still linger, one thing is clear—Auriemma isn’t leaving empty-handed. “UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma picks up $75,000 in bonuses as Huskies win Big East Conference tournament over Creighton ($50K for title, $25K for NCAA tournament bid),” USA Today Sports’ Steve Berkowitz posted on X. This takes his current season’s earnings from bonuses to $100K.

So not only has Geno Auriemma walked away with $100k, but now aims at higher rewards from making it to the playoffs. But let’s not be so sure of the Huskies’ win at March Madness based on their conference championship win.

Why could UConn Huskies fail in their March Madness run?

UConn has all the makings of a powerhouse heading into March Madness, but let’s not pretend they’re invincible. There are a couple of glaring weaknesses that could come back to haunt them when the stakes are highest.

First, there’s the issue of size in the post. Sarah Strong is exactly what her name suggests—a strong presence in the paint—but at 6-foot-2, she’s not towering over defenders. At 6-foot-4, Jana El Alfy adds size, but her limited 16-minutes-per-game role raises concerns. That’s a real concern against teams like UCLA and Texas, which have true centers who can bully opponents on the boards.

A concerning trend emerges from UConn’s three losses: they were outrebounded in each one. Then there’s the three-point defense.

UConn isn’t bad at guarding the perimeter, but they’re not elite either. Opponents shoot 29.4 percent from deep, which puts them at 101st in Division I. That’s not exactly lockdown defense. Five teams have torched them at 40 percent or better from three, and UConn went just 2-3 in those games. UConn limits three-point attempts, but when opponents create clean looks, the Huskies struggle.

UConn’s Big East triumph proves they’re a force, but size mismatches and perimeter defense could spell trouble in deeper rounds. If Auriemma can patch these gaps, a Final Four run is in reach. If not, an early exit could be on the horizon.