alexrgct
RIP, Alex
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At this point, Geno has left a legacy that seems staggering. Within 10 years, he took a little program in the cow town of Storrs and turned it into a national champion. Now, he's turned it into as premier a dynasty as you'll ever see. Given that, what does the 60-year-old Geno Auriemma have left to acoomplish?
I can see three things that are out there for him:
1. A longer winning streak than UConn's 90-game record
Could it be? Is it even fathomable? Well, UConn's streak stands at 46 now, even more than Baylor most recently had. UConn is destined to be the preseason #1 team, just as they were in 2013-14, and overwhelming favorites to three-peat. Yes, a blemished record and another national championship in 2015 would be fine by me, but an unblemished record is at least a possibility, isn't it? 39-0 in 2014-15 would get UConn to 85 in a row. In fact, it is fathomable. Geno may not have it in the bag, certainly, but it could happen.
2. 11 national championships
As you well know, Geno now has nine, and John Wooden had 10. Certainly, getting to 89 in a row back in 2010 seemed significant because it was a UCLA record being broken, men's program notwithstanding. And indeed, UConn getting to 10 or 11 championships is reminiscent of UCLA's run, i.e., a continuum of great players coming to Westwood and maintaining the dominance of the Bruins. UConn is a clear favorite to get to #10 next year, but 11? It's hard to imagine being "only" one more away. Breanna Stewart comes with two questions: one, could she get to four NCs in her career, and two, does the extraordinary UConn continuum of greatness end with her? Who is there going to be after her?
3. 1,099 victories
Geno is now at 879 total wins. He'll get to 900 by the middle of next season. He'd have 1,000 by the end of his current contract term. And then in 2018, he'd need to have three more seasons to get 1,099, one more than Pat Summitt's 1,098.
This record it absolutely a significant milestone, and it just comes down to how long Geno will coach. If he can keep pumping out 30+ win seasons seven times, he'll be right there.
So, what do you think?
I've got a poll below. What's most likely of the three milestones above? Which do you think would mean the most to him? And are there any other achievements that you think would motivate Geno from here on out?
What an amazing coach and career we've witnessed in any event.
I can see three things that are out there for him:
1. A longer winning streak than UConn's 90-game record
Could it be? Is it even fathomable? Well, UConn's streak stands at 46 now, even more than Baylor most recently had. UConn is destined to be the preseason #1 team, just as they were in 2013-14, and overwhelming favorites to three-peat. Yes, a blemished record and another national championship in 2015 would be fine by me, but an unblemished record is at least a possibility, isn't it? 39-0 in 2014-15 would get UConn to 85 in a row. In fact, it is fathomable. Geno may not have it in the bag, certainly, but it could happen.
2. 11 national championships
As you well know, Geno now has nine, and John Wooden had 10. Certainly, getting to 89 in a row back in 2010 seemed significant because it was a UCLA record being broken, men's program notwithstanding. And indeed, UConn getting to 10 or 11 championships is reminiscent of UCLA's run, i.e., a continuum of great players coming to Westwood and maintaining the dominance of the Bruins. UConn is a clear favorite to get to #10 next year, but 11? It's hard to imagine being "only" one more away. Breanna Stewart comes with two questions: one, could she get to four NCs in her career, and two, does the extraordinary UConn continuum of greatness end with her? Who is there going to be after her?
3. 1,099 victories
Geno is now at 879 total wins. He'll get to 900 by the middle of next season. He'd have 1,000 by the end of his current contract term. And then in 2018, he'd need to have three more seasons to get 1,099, one more than Pat Summitt's 1,098.
This record it absolutely a significant milestone, and it just comes down to how long Geno will coach. If he can keep pumping out 30+ win seasons seven times, he'll be right there.
So, what do you think?
I've got a poll below. What's most likely of the three milestones above? Which do you think would mean the most to him? And are there any other achievements that you think would motivate Geno from here on out?
What an amazing coach and career we've witnessed in any event.