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STORRS, Conn. -- With its road win over second-ranked Notre Dame on Wednesday, UConn has opened the 2016-17 season at 8-0 to extend its current winning streak to 83 games.
The 72-61 victory over the Fighting Irish marked the second time this season the Huskies -- ranked third in the AP Top 25 preseason poll -- beat the nation's No. 2 team.
Prior to the Nov. 17 matchup with then-No. 2 Baylor, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said: "I'm somewhat realistic about what my expectation level is. I'm realistic about what we can do, and I think the previous couple of years we would sit here and tell you that we were the favorite to win the national championship. That's not the case this year. I know it, and I think everyone on our team knows it."
But let's be realistic: It's time to talk about the Huskies being the favorites -- again.
We've seen this movie before. When Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams and Asjha Jones graduated after winning the 2002 national championship with a perfect 39-0 record, many thought the Huskies would be down on their luck the next year.
The AP preseason poll ranked the 2003 Huskies fourth; the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll had UConn third. The Huskies weren't supposed to extend a 39-game winning streak to 70. They weren't supposed to go 37-1. They definitely weren't supposed to win their second consecutive NCAA championship.
How this season's UConn squad looks like 2003 Huskies
The 72-61 victory over the Fighting Irish marked the second time this season the Huskies -- ranked third in the AP Top 25 preseason poll -- beat the nation's No. 2 team.
Prior to the Nov. 17 matchup with then-No. 2 Baylor, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said: "I'm somewhat realistic about what my expectation level is. I'm realistic about what we can do, and I think the previous couple of years we would sit here and tell you that we were the favorite to win the national championship. That's not the case this year. I know it, and I think everyone on our team knows it."
But let's be realistic: It's time to talk about the Huskies being the favorites -- again.
We've seen this movie before. When Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tamika Williams and Asjha Jones graduated after winning the 2002 national championship with a perfect 39-0 record, many thought the Huskies would be down on their luck the next year.
The AP preseason poll ranked the 2003 Huskies fourth; the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll had UConn third. The Huskies weren't supposed to extend a 39-game winning streak to 70. They weren't supposed to go 37-1. They definitely weren't supposed to win their second consecutive NCAA championship.
How this season's UConn squad looks like 2003 Huskies