History Shows This Oregon-UConn Matchup Is The Type Huskies Don't Lose
It's a message Geno Auriemma and his staff impart on players nearly every day.
There is no room for glancing beyond the next opponent, whether it's just another conference game in the winter or an NCAA Tournament game in March. At UConn, players treat each and every game the same.
"Going out and going through the motions and losing to somebody that has no business beating you, that makes you like everybody else, so why did you come here?" Auriemma said. "I must say that every day."
The result? UConn simply doesn't lose to teams it is supposed to beat. As impressive as the 110-game winning streak may be, consider this: UConn has won 309 of the past 310 games against unranked opponents.
That's worth remembering as UConn gears up for a regional final against a team that nearly missed the NCAA Tournament. The Oregon Ducks (23-13) lost the last three regular season games and needed two wins in the Pac-12 Tournament — including an upset victory over 11th-ranked Washington — to secure a spot in the field of 64.
The tournament has been a run of upsets for the No. 10 seed. First, Oregon beat No. 7 seed Temple. Next, a stunning win over No. 2 seed and ninth-ranked Duke.
And on Saturday, Oregon beat No. 3 seed Maryland. The Terrapins, ranked fourth in the most recent Associated Press poll, figured to pose a serious threat to UConn (35-0) in the regional final.
It's a message Geno Auriemma and his staff impart on players nearly every day.
There is no room for glancing beyond the next opponent, whether it's just another conference game in the winter or an NCAA Tournament game in March. At UConn, players treat each and every game the same.