Published: February 6, 2009
Like most people in the 18-25 male demographic, I am not a particularly big fan of women’s basketball.
But, when you live in the state of Connecticut, the sport is virtually unavoidable. The way sunshine is unavoidable in southern California and NASCAR is unavoidable in the deep south.
Geno Auriemma has built a modern day dynasty in the snowy foothills in the north east part of the state, as the University of Connecticut has won five National Championships and competed for virtually every other one since the dawning of time.
Every game is broadcast locally. Message boards blow up if, and when UConn loses; which is almost never more than once or twice a year. The team has taken on a cult like status with the over 60 and under 10 population in Connecticut, a bizarre mix of Jordan’s Chicago Bulls and the Beatles.
And until recently there were few signs of slowing down. Sure the team hasn’t won a National Championship since 2004, which for UConn basketball standards is essentially when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The crowds still showed up hours early to games (because lets be honest, when you’re 65 and living in Connecticut what else do you have to do on a Tuesday night?), clapped politely from their seats, and treated the players with the warm affection usually reserved for the closest of kin.
But times have changed.
Maybe it’s because of the stagnant economy or an increasingly aging fan base, but the crowds aren’t turning out like they used to. Good seats are still available for virtually every game, even match-ups with ranked opponents. UConn women’s basketball fans seem to all have hit autopilot and said, “Wake me up when it’s time for the Final Four.”
A number of explanations can reason away the sudden disinterest, including some listed above. But another question has to be asked: Have the UConn women gotten too good, for their own good?
Let’s look at the numbers. The team is 22-0, and has yet to be truly challenged. They’ve won a staggering eight games by 40 or more points, with every single win coming by double digits.
More importantly, the lady Huskies are beating up their stiffest competition the worst. UConn beat No. 4 Oklahoma by 28 points at home, and No. 2 North Carolina on the road by 30, two games which were supposed to be nationally televised heavyweight match-ups. If the games were prizefights, the referees would have had to stop each bloody beat-down just a few rounds in.
Most recently, UConn faced No. 10 Louisville- a team which gave the Huskies trouble in 2008- and won by cool 28. For a sport that has never been known for its parity, it’s suddenly got it: there’s UConn and everyone else.
What’s made the Huskies streaking even less captivating than usual, is that each of their two biggest rivals are having their worst seasons in some time. Rutgers- which has always played the hardened Big East step-sister to UConn’s golden girl image- is all of a sudden 12-7, just a year after handing the Huskies their only regular season loss, and two years removed from playing for a National Championship. Yes, the teams play twice in 2009, but even the most ardent women’s basketball fans might be remiss to tune in if it’s going to be just another UConn beat down. Seriously, the way things are going, a re-run of Dancing with the Stars would be more entertaining. At least Warren Sapp had a chance to upset Brooke Burke.
The best rivalry in women’s basketball has and always will be UConn-Tennessee. It got even juicier a season ago, when under mysterious circumstances the two teams decided to no longer play during the regular season.
While the sport took an initial hit – as the match-up was one that even casual fans could get excited about – it eventually took women’s basketball to an even higher level. Because the two schools no longer played in the regular season, it was a war of words between players and coaches all year long, with each team claiming its stake as the best. Of course there was only one way to truly find out, and it gave the women’s NCAA Tournament its best plot line in years in 2008, as everyone had to watch to see if the two schools would meet for a National Championship. That didn’t happen as UConn lost to Stanford, but everyone had to tune in to find out.
But now even the mighty empire at Tennessee has taken a step back, as the Lady Volunteers have lost an unspeakable four games this season, after losing five the last two seasons in total, both of which culminated in National Championships.
None of this is UConn’s fault of course, and the team should be commended for showing up every night, and knowing simply going through the motions will be more than enough for a win. But is the Huskies seeming invincibility good for the sport?
So now, without a true rival, and no one on the horizon to truly challenge them, the UConn women’s basketball juggernaut rolls on. Maya Moore, Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles should all receive First Team All-Big East honors. Caroline Doty seemingly had the conference Rookie of the Year award wrapped up, until she went down with a knee injury. Of course fellow freshman Tiffany Hayes stepped up and had 23 points and six 3-pointers against Louisville, proving there’s no stopping the UConn express.
Who knows, maybe Duke, Baylor or Auburn can step up and challenge the Huskies come tournament time. Or maybe when North Carolina or Oklahoma get another chance, they won’t be as shell-shocked and give UConn a good run for its money. Maybe even Tennessee, the “evil-empire,” as Auriemma once referred to Pat Summitt’s gang, can awake the echoes and once again be a thorn in the side of women’s basketball’s best team.
The question isn’t whether one of these scenarios is possible: they all are. But if somebody doesn’t step up to the biggest bullies on the playground, and challenge the Huskies soon, will anyone watch when the games count, come tournament time.
In this case, too good might be no good at all.
Photo Credit: ICON Sports Media
