The UConn ladies’s basketball staff will spend this week getting ready for a problem.
The Huskies must get previous Caitlin Clark and the top-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in the event that they need to attain the NCAA Division I ladies’s basketball match title sport. UConn’s longtime head basketball coach Geno Auriemma is totally conscious of the difficulties that include dealing with a staff led by Clark, the NCAA’s all-time main scorer.
Auriemma saved an in depth eye on Iowa’s Elite Eight matchup with the LSU Tigers. Clark completed the sport with 41 factors and 12 assists to assist the Hawkeyes clinch a spot within the Final Four.
Auriemma determined to bathe Clark with reward within the days main as much as the extremely anticipated UConn-Iowa sport, with the hope that the Iowa star is not going to singlehandedly knock the Huskies out of the match.
Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies speaks with Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes following the Sweet Sixteen spherical of the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament on the Alamodome on March 27, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Although Auriemma now famously didn’t recruit Clark when she was in highschool, the legendary ladies’s faculty basketball coach appeared to be doing the whole lot he may to forestall her from having any additional motivation for Friday’s Final Four sport.
UCONN’S PAIGE BUECKERS ‘BEST PLAYER IN AMERICA,’ COACH GENO AURIEMMA SAYS
“It’s pretty remarkable,” Auriemma mentioned after UConn defeated USC to clinch a spot within the match semifinals. “Next weekend should be just as much fun as this weekend. Yeah, I hope Caitlin Clark had a personal agenda against LSU. I know there’s nothing personal between me and her. I don’t need to be seeing her drop 50 on us next weekend, you know?”
Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates through the second half towards the LSU Tigers within the Elite Eight spherical of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on April 1, 2024, in Albany, New York. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Although Auriemma not too long ago declared that Paige Bueckers was the “best player in America,” he jokingly reversed course and bestowed the dignity on Clark.
“I love her. I think she’s the best player. Forget I ever said Paige is the best player in the country. I think she’s the best player of all time. I don’t know whoever said, that I said, that Paige is the best player in the country.”
Auriemma did direct a few of his reward towards Bueckers and USC’s JuJu Watkins. Bueckers completed UConn’s Elite Eight sport with 28 factors. The UConn ladies’s basketball program has now superior to 23 Final Fours.
Paige Bueckers of the Connecticut Huskies through the second half towards the USC Trojans within the Elite Eight spherical of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on April 1, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
“Well, Paige always wants to be superhuman,” Auriemma mentioned. “You can’t aspire to be that, but she tries her damnedest to be superhuman. Today she was playing against somebody who plays like they’re superhuman. I think that was probably the toughest matchup that any of those guards had throughout the entire season – maybe since they’ve gotten to Connecticut. I think JuJu is probably as difficult a matchup as there is, or has been, for our players.”
Iowa is a two and half level favourite over UConn.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports activities protection on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle e-newsletter.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/uconns-geno-auriemma-hopes-iowas-caitlin-clark-wont-drop-50-on-us-in-final-four
