Geno Auriemma says UConn women's basketball will play at Lady Vols

[ctdogpound]

Not sure if this was already posted...

Geno Auriemma says UConn women's basketball will play at Lady Vols

Geno Auriemma was at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction to escort former UConn star Maya Moore-Irons, but the longtime coach also unexpectedly broke some big news.

The historic series between Lady Vols basketball and UConn took a one-year hiatus last season, but Auriemma told Knox News after the ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre on Saturday the Huskies and Tennessee will play in Knoxville during the 2024-25 season...

 

[diggerfoot]

Three thoughts on this:

1. Now in a league with Texas, and Staley and Mulkey as coaches, the storied Tennessee program may actually need help staying relevant.

2. Maintaining the old UConn rivalry might help them stay relevant.

3. I would not be surprised if a bit of nostalgia motivates Auriemma to help them stay relevant.

 

[Puppy Love]

Not thrilled with this news. Because of the venomous nastiness of some of their fans, I’d rather play just about any other team.

 

[visitingcock]

Three thoughts on this:

1. Now in a league with Texas, and Staley and Mulkey as coaches, the storied Tennessee program may actually need help staying relevant.

2. Maintaining the old UConn rivalry might help them stay relevant.

3. I would not be surprised if a bit of nostalgia motivates Auriemma to help them stay relevant.

1. And if Oklahoma gets Beers, . . .

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Not thrilled with this news. Because of the venomous nastiness of some of their fans, I’d rather play just about any other team.

If we're honest...every fanbase has fanatics. It's ugly for sure. Best medicine to tamper that enthusiasm is to give em an old whipping preferably on their own court. Flying with an upset stomach is just cruel.

 

[Bald Husky]

Well, I guess Paige will get the chance to play at Tennessee and remind them of her superior skills. Still, I'm bummed since we should be playing them at home as our last encounter was at Tennessee. Coupled with playing SC on the road again, my question is, who will we be actually playing at home for non-conf games? ND will be away, North Carolina will be away, Louisville is in NY, and I haven't heard if we renewed the series with Texas, NCState, and Maryland. I just re-ordered my XL season tickets, but who are we going to play? Hope Geno can pull a couple of good ones out of his hat.

 

[Skeets]

If we're honest...every fanbase has fanatics. It's ugly for sure. Best medicine to tamper that enthusiasm is to give em an old whipping preferably on their own court. Flying with an upset stomach is just cruel.

I disagree. BY'ers are very nice people. Nan would not have it any other way, so behave yourselves

 

[HopJim]

Not thrilled with this news. Because of the venomous nastiness of some of their fans, I’d rather play just about any other team.

If you don't like Tenn, the best way to show it is to give them a hard thumping on the court. Likely Geno saw this as a great way to get a lot of positive publicity.

 

[Jim]

To me, this is all about $$$ and recruiting. I am not sure how the revenue from non-conference games gets split, but the nostalgia/old rivalry aspect will bring in TV/cable eyeballs (and $$$). And UConn needs to play games in the southeast to stay in the hunt for talented recruits from that area. Again, I am not familiar with particular recruiting targets, but when you look at the 2025 - 2027 top recruits there are a number from TN and GA that Geno might want to influence by keeping the UConn brand visible in that region.

 

[Blakeon18]

I agree with Jim's point about Geno wanting to show interest in several elite underclass students living
in LadyVol land...playing down there so those kids can see UConn in person...a good way to do that.

I hope these home/home games with LadyVol are scheduled for relatively late in the regular season...as are
our games with South Carolina....say in late January or better yet...February. That would be better for our
development than stuffing all elite OOC teams pre-XMas...imo.

 

[JellyBean]

I love this move and I hope that we can continue this series for a few more years. The Lady Vols are still the Lady Vols. They are a historic program. Hence when they were 19-12 last season, they were still ranked and getting votes. They are still a major player in women's basketball. So, I am happy that Coach G and the Lady Vols are looking to continue this historic matchup. We ain't dinosaurs yet. Sure, we got some programs that are on the rise. But UConn and Tennessee are still the measuring stick of all women's basketball.

 

[HuskyNan]

Recruit Lauren Hassell (6-3, class os 2027) lives in Tennessee

 

[Bald Husky]

If you don't like Tenn, the best way to show it is to give them a hard thumping on the court. Likely Geno saw this as a great way to get a lot of positive publicity.

This could be true, since it is at Tennessee it means the game will be broadcast by ESPN instead of FS1. Actually, if the game is on a weekend, it may be on ABC. More people to see Paige and our introduction to being a NC threat again.

 

[visitingcock]

I agree with Jim's point about Geno wanting to show interest in several elite underclass students living
in LadyVol land...playing down there so those kids can see UConn in person...a good way to do that.

I hope these home/home games with LadyVol are scheduled for relatively late in the regular season...as are
our games with South Carolina....say in late January or better yet...February. That would be better for our
development than stuffing all elite OOC teams pre-XMas...imo.

It’s going to become more difficult to play such games late in the season because of P/4 larger schedules due to expansion.

I hope our “ rivalry” continues to be played in
Jan/ Feb.

 

[Zonepress]

I disagree. BY'ers are very nice people. Nan would not have it any other way, so behave yourselves

It’s going to become more difficult to play such games late in the season because of P/4 larger schedules due to expansion.

I hope our “ rivalry” continues to be played in
Jan/ Feb.

Spot on
It’s going to be very difficult for UConn to schedule 8 to 10 strong out of conference opponents each year
Well, the big east has been great for the men it’s a complete disaster for the women
Even with the diminish team this past year none of the games were competitive

 

[LwrcasefaN]

Everyone wants to play UCONN, especially now since we're "rebuilding/injury ridden" so maybe folks will slip us into their busy schedule. For the faint at heart... I'm kidding.

 

[Urshurak]

Not sure of the state of TN roster next year. I know with KH gone, there has been some comings and goings.

Barring injuries, I can’t see TN keeping up with UConn in this first game. Could be embarrassing in fact for TN.

 

[PJCLaw]

Well, I guess Paige will get the chance to play at Tennessee and remind them of her superior skills. Still, I'm bummed since we should be playing them at home as our last encounter was at Tennessee. Coupled with playing SC on the road again, my question is, who will we be actually playing at home for non-conf games? ND will be away, North Carolina will be away, Louisville is in NY, and I haven't heard if we renewed the series with Texas, NCState, and Maryland. I just re-ordered my XL season tickets, but who are we going to play? Hope Geno can pull a couple of good ones out of his hat.

I believe she already has.

 

[Skeets]

Spot on
It’s going to be very difficult for UConn to schedule 8 to 10 strong out of conference opponents each year
Well, the big east has been great for the men it’s a complete disaster for the women
Even with the diminish team this past year none of the games were competitive

The BE is a meat grinder for both the men's and the women's teams. The difference is it's a meat grinder for the UConn men's team and it's a meat grinder for the women's opponents.

The rest of the BE needs to address this with more emphasis on the women's programs. It happened a little bit in the old BE before it fell apart.

 

[Zonepress]

The BE is a meat grinder for both the men's and the women's teams. The difference is it's a meat grinder for the UConn men's team and it's a meat grinder for the women's opponents.

The rest of the BE needs to address this with more emphasis on the women's programs. It happened a little bit in the old BE before it fell apart.

I believe the window for the Big East to improve women’s basketball has come and gone
The big football schools who really had very little interest in women’s basketball in the past have changed their tune
There is now significant dollars at many of the football schools for women players
The interest level for big E schools with the exception of Villanova Marquette and some degree Creighton is minuscule
I think the Villanova in Marquette situation with players, leaving from the two best teams to go to power for schools pretty much tells you all you need to know

 

[LAWDAWG]

Not thrilled with this news. Because of the venomous nastiness of some of their fans, I’d rather play just about any other team.

That’s why kicking their arse is so rewarding.

 

[itsasport]

I was really disappointed when the UConn/Tenn games ended because it had become one of those magical rivalries. I Did not think that anything would replace it.

But, I think that the UConn South Carolina rivalry will become even bigger. and longer-term.

It is astounding how the huge audience for women's college basketball appeared out of nowhere in this year's final four. I think that it is because the quantity of exceptional players and the quality of the coaching has expanded exponentially in the past couple of years.

 

[stwainfan]

I think it is good to play the game. I have liked what Caldwell has done so far. She has a impressive record in her career so far.

 

[Ozimoto]

I hope the interest in women's basketball from last season is sustained, but I'm not confident that will be the case. If next season proves to be competitive, there is a chance. However, it is going to be difficult to replace the Caitlyn Clark story from last season. Until proven otherwise, the eyeballs on that story are what drove the game's popularity last year. What will be the compelling reason to watch in 2024-2025?

 

[Bayareahusky]

I think it is good to play the game. I have liked what Caldwell has done so far. She has a impressive record in her career so far.

i like what your AD has done he seems to be a good picker