Walls Are Closing In on Geno Auriemma, Thanks to National Reporter’s Overwhelming UConn Stance

With the highest winning percentage of any college basketball head coach and 11 NCAA championships with the UConn Huskies, Geno Auriemma is one of the greatest coaches. Having spent more than half of his life coaching the Huskies, he once led them to win back-to-back March Madness championships, 2013-2016. But the team simply couldn’t keep the same momentum after 2016.

When it comes to March Madness, the spotlight burns brightest on Auriemma and his UConn Huskies. ESPN’s Elle Duncan and Arielle Chambers discussed the high stakes for a team synonymous with winning. They could not help but point out that with an eight-year title drought as the pressure is evident on Auriemma to silence the whispers of fading dominance.

Speaking on the ‘Ella Duncan Show’, Duncan stated,” It’s been since 2016 since they won right, it’s been eight years, which is the longest gap Geno has ever had without a national championship. And they are still a program that as this space is expanding and growing, they are still the team that everyone comes up to me and goes, ‘You do women’s basketball? How’s UConn this year? Are they going to win it all?’ Like every year. I’m like, ‘Well, you know South Carolina is the new dynasty.’ It’s always like sort of instinctively, let’s go to UConn. So I think they always have the most to lose.”

While UConn does have a talented roster, staying healthy has been their Achilles’ heel in recent years. Star players like Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd have balled on the court but have also spent time on the sidelines during critical moments. Elle Duncan highlighted this harsh reality, pointing to injuries as a key reason for the Huskies to not win a championship post-2016.

She further stated, “For all intents and purposes, this will be Paige’s last year, she has one more year of eligibility and Geno is getting up there as well and there’s some questions about how long he’s going to be there and it felt like if they could be healthy, but of course they weren’t, but if they could be healthy, this was one of the best shots they had at winning the national championship.”

With Auriemma not getting any younger, the Huskies’ front office must be aware that the 70-year-old veteran could decide to call it quits or even consider a move to the WNBA before retiring. As Ella Duncan rightly pointed out, this season could be their best shot at winning the championship, especially after UConn made an improbable Final Four run without Azzi Fudd.

However, much depends on the fitness of their key players. Geno Auriemma, for one, would be hoping for a fully healthy roster as March Madness approaches. With a big test against Dawn Staley’s South Carolina around the corner, let’s take a look at what’s next for the Huskies.

What’s next for Geno Auriemma’s Huskies?

Before Auriemma can even think about squaring off against the powerhouse South Carolina Gamecocks, five crucial games stand between him and the showdown everyone’s waiting for. Despite boasting a 10-0 Big East record and a 19-2 overall record. The 6th-ranked Huskies would know that they need to be prepared for the upcoming stretch of games before they even think about the number-one team in the country.

They face the DePaul Blue Demons next in the Wintrust Arena. While there is a good chance the Huskies could win, Auriemma knows this isn’t the time for any complacency to creep in.

Going forward a lot will depend on the fitness of Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers. They are the cornerstones of this program and their fitness will be key for the Huskies if they are going to come out of this rough stretch of games unscathed.

With questions about player fitness and Geno Auriemma’s future looming large, the Huskies face a defining stretch that could set the tone for March Madness. As Elle Duncan emphasized, this season might be their best shot at reclaiming glory. Time will tell if the Huskies are able to break the South Carolina dominance or not.

One thing’s for sure: Whatever unfolds, you’ll get the updates right here first! Stay tuned, because the next chapter of this high-stakes saga is about to unfold.