The UConn Huskies are a perfect 31-0, but coach Geno Auriemma isn't celebrating. Ahead of the Big East tournament, the legendary coach issued a stern reality check.

Securing a staggering 85-49 against the St. John's Red Storm, they are headed to take on Georgetown next. But that “undefeated” tag doesn’t really mean much to the Huskies’ coach.

“I don't ride around with a bumper sticker saying we're undefeated,” Auriemma said on March 6, as per Journalist Mike Anthony. “I just try to make sure we're better every game, and we're good enough when March comes to be ready for whatever comes.”

During his tenure, Auriemma coached many such undefeated seasons, secured 12 national titles, guiding stars like Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Paige Bueckers, and more.

If the 71-year-old coach can maintian the streak for 9 more games, his team will hit 40-0 and win the 13^th title. And with the team he has put together, that seems within reach.

Geno Auriemma Envisioned the Perfect Team

The Huskies have been injury-ridden in the past seasons. And after Paige Bueckers transitioned into the WNBA, it was necessary to analyse how to seamlessly put back the team that can win a title. But the coach highlighted that it came out better than his expectations.

“I was going into the season thinking there are so many things I want to find out,” he said. “How will the new guys blend in? How can we fit them in seamlessly?... And it went way better than I thought, way better than I could have envisioned.”

However, the coach knows that Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd had been the Huskies’ cornerstones. Geno credits his players for the team's success.

“We've been very fortunate. You don't get all this by coaching bad players”, he said. “And that's certainly the case with Azzi and Sarah. They're exactly what you need them to be when you need them to be that… I would say these two are as good as you could hope for.”

Will Geno's coaching and his players' athleticism be enough to secure UConn's 13th title this season? Give your prediction in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi