GO UCONN!!!!!

************************************************

Here is something from Geno on how the loss of his mother impacted him. I'm sure many of the readers of this blog understand how he was and is feeling. I miss my mom so much. It's never easy to lose someone who you were so close to.

*************************************************

Look who came to practice!!

TINA CHARLES!!

Tina Charles is here practicing with UConn women’s basketball pic.twitter.com/JEcAppYqbd
— Lila Bromberg (@lilabbromberg) January 14, 2023

Tina Charles running drills with UConn today pic.twitter.com/4OOCaJJFBc
— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) January 14, 2023

And my favorite all time UConn men's player!!

Ray Allen!!

Today is the day for special guests: Ray Allen is also at UConn’s practice this afternoon. Ray came in and immediately gave Geno a big side hug pic.twitter.com/YiEdSPg3ZA
— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) January 14, 2023

***********************************************

Geno - Georgetown Pregame Availability

Nika - Georgetown Pregame Availability

Lou - Georgetown Pregame Availability

***********************************************

Here is a great article from three years ago.

The Making of Champions On and Off the Court

35 years ago, Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey came to UConn, where they continue to grow an unmatched list of coaching statistics. Their most impressive stat may just be the number of current and former players making a difference not just in the world of basketball, but in the world at large.

“They still need you to guide them. They still need you to push them. They still need you to look out for them,” says Auriemma. “They want to learn how to be successful in the real world, and the people that can teach them is us.”

***********************************************

GAMES

UPSETS IN RED

No. 3 Ohio State 76 Nebraska 67

No. 12 Iowa 108 Penn State 67

No. 17 Michigan 70 Michigan State 55

No. 18 Okahoma 80 No. 23 Kansas 74

No. 20 Gonzaga Portland Late Game

No. 25 Villanova 64 St. John's 61

**************************************************

Straight from the Dog

Crazy finish in the No. 25 Villinova vs St. John's game.

The Red Storm controlled the game for three quarters, going into the fourth quarter with a 54-39 lead. They actually increased that lead in the fouth quarter and were up 59-43 with 5:28 left in the game. Yes, the two teams only scored 5 for St. John's and 4 for Villanova in the first 4:32 of the quarter.

Then something happened. Villanova went on a tear, Outscoring St. John's 21-2 to close out the game to win 64-61. Wow.

Maddy Siegrist had 14 of those points including the first 11 and Maddie Burke hit consecutive three pointers.

A bad loss for St. John's. One that will weigh on them for a few games.

**************************************************

This was in the Courant artlcie I linked in the UConn Link section.

“You don’t understand, I’ve coached for 35, 40 years thinking that if we don’t win the national championship I’m going to get fired, that’s not a healthy way to live."

We should all take some perspective from that.