Geno Auriemma Calls Writer a 'Dope' and Here's Why

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Sunday and Monday scoffed at the notion that the Huskies’ 140-52 win over St. Francis in the first-round of the NCAA tournament was bad for the sport, called the person who suggested that a "dope" and said it would be better to focus on Monday's game against neighboring Quinnipiac.

A story posted by USA Today shortly after the St. Francis win called the game an "embarrassment" and declared, "Auriemma, in unleashing his superior players, exposed what dilutes his accomplishments — the disparity between the best and the rest in women’s basketball is so significant, they could use a mercy rule. Or a coach who knows how to show mercy."

That prompted Auriemmma to give the "dope" quote on Monday.

"I guarantee he didn’t see the game,” Auriemma said.

Two dynamics played out on Saturday — St. Francis did not abandon its up-tempo style, which backfired, and UConn's starters played between 17 and 29 minutes and no one on UConn playing more than the 29.

Yet UConn still put up 140 points.

UConn shot 64 percent from the floor and St. Francis 22.

Auriemma said he was looking forward to taking on not only Quinnipiac but a coach he respects in Trish Fabbri.

“I’m not in their shoes, but I look at them and I know they will have the personality of their coach and she’s not going to back down and neither are they," he said. "They’re not going to be intimidated by us. If they get beat by us, it’s not going to be because they just showed up and said, ‘OK, what do you want the score to be?’ Regardless if they win or lose, they’re going to play the same way. A lot of teams talk themselves into a loss before they even play, but they’re embracing it ... I want to play this game against these guys."

He continued, "I just think that she’s found the right formula that works at Quinnipiac. It would work anywhere, but it works especially at a school like that, that attracts really good students and good players and she’s been able to establish an identity – this is who we are, we play hard, were competitive, we’re tough. And it doesn’t matter how good you are, if you don’t play well, you’re in trouble.”

Said Fabbri, “We are excited to be here on Sunday getting ready for the second round. We are

looking forward to the competition and the game tomorrow night with UConn. Tomorrow’s a nice
instate match up that a lot of people were looking forward to this. We held up our end of the bargain
and are ready to go.”

Photo/Video Credit: UConn Athletics