Auriemma on Final Four: It Gets 'Harder and Harder'

STORRS, CT — As his team was making final preparations for heading to Dallas and its 10th Final Four in a row, University of Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma wanted to emphasize one thing.

"We've been fortunate enough be in the Final Four, and this the 10th year in a row, and just seems like it gets harder and harder to believe we are going," Aureimma said in a quick conference call before the Huskies attended a rousing sendoff in front of Gampel Pavilion.

So why is that? UConn, is, after all, an 11-time national champion with a 36-0 record and 111-game winning streak.

"Because it is getting harder and harder to accomplish," Aureimma said. "Teams we have to beat year-in and year-out are getting better. This year, it has certainly been the case with Albany, Syracuse, UCLA and Oregon."

Auriemma added, "It doesn't get any easier from here. We will be facing great, great teams. It's a quick turnaround (from Monday's 90-52 regional final win against Oregon in Bridgeport) and we are anxious to leave today, but once we get settled in tonight, we be like everybody else getting ready for Friday night."

Here is a look at the Final Four schedule:

• Stanford vs. South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
• Mississippi State vs. UConn, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

• National Championship Game (Dallas), 6 p.m., ESPN

Photo Credit: UConn