STORRS, Conn. — Connecticut’s Maya Moore says watching Ball State beat Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA tournament was a humbling experience.
“We realize what can happen,” Moore said. “If we’re playing our best, we shouldn’t be able to be beaten. But we can lose games if we don’t come and play.”
Top-ranked Connecticut (34-0) faces eighth seeded Florida (24-7) Tuesday in the second round of the Trenton Regional. UConn will be seeking its 16th consecutive trip to the regional semifinals.
Florida has been there twice, the last time in 1998.
But the Gators are a confident bunch, having also beaten Tennessee this season, along with ranked teams Florida State, Arizona State and Pittsburgh. They beat Temple 70-57 in round one.
“When you think of Tennessee women’s basketball, you think of one of the greatest women’s programs ever,” Florida coach Amanda Butler said. “So I do think there is a little bit of a mental advantage when you have conquered one of those giants.”
Connecticut looms as a larger behemoth, having beaten all comers this season by double digits. The Huskies are prohibitive favorites to win the program’s sixth national title.
Florida is 5-1 against teams that have lost to UConn this season. Those Gator wins came by an average of 12 points. The Huskies beat the same teams by an average of 29 points. UConn routed Vermont 104-65 in the first round Sunday. Florida beat the Catamounts 85-76 in December.
Gator forward Steffi Sorensen said none of that matters now.
“No one is flawless,” she said. “People are beatable, and the pressure is on UConn because everyone’s expecting them to win, and for us we really have nothing to lose.”
The game will feature two of the nation’s best guards. UConn senior Renee Montgomery will be making her 136th consecutive start, and is averaging just under 16 points and just over five assists per game.
Florida’s Sha Brooks has started 122 consecutive games, is averaging just over 16 points and just under five assists.
“They are undoubtedly the floor leader for both of their teams, and both of their teams go as they go,” Butler said. “They’re the ones who have the first opportunity to defend the ball usually as well, and so they are responsible for setting the tones for their teams. I think when you look at what Connecticut has accomplished this year and what Florida has accomplished this year, you have to look at the tone setters.”
UConn also has Moore, who is averaging 19 points and nine rebounds, and center Tina Charles, who averages 16 points and eight rebounds, and scored 32 against Vermont.
The Gators’ Marshae Dotson averages just under 14 points and seven rebounds.
The programs have met just once, a 71-48 blowout in December 1991 when Butler was a sophomore guard, and UConn was coming off its first Final Four season.
Butler said it was clear then that UConn was an up-and-coming program. This time around, it’s Florida that is viewed as the program on the rise. Their 24th win tied a school record for a season, and they hope to break that by beating another of the nation’s elite.
Auriemma said while he hopes that doesn’t happen, the Ball State win shows that UConn can’t expect a 30-point victory.
“I think it’s a reminder that we’re not entitled to this, and our fans aren’t either,” he said. “No one is entitled to this.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 38
tnman1025 writes:
Just curious, but why is this story on THIS site? I know this is the women's basketball section, but it's a KNOXVILLE based newspaper. I'm sure that d.o.u.c.h.e Mike will be all over this story and I'm also sure he will spout off something stupid, but this stuff just doesn't need to clutter up our site.
P.S. I really don't care if others don't agree with me, but it's my opinion.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
careful now; you keep expressing opinions and people will be all over you, trying to pick fights, looking for your home address....you gotta be PC, ya know??
tnman1025 writes:
lol, good point, just get tired of hearing about other teams I could really care less about. I'm sure alot of people here would agree to that.
mississippi writes:
Oh i guess you didn't here, KNS is working secretly for Ucant Auriemma. i say we start a new Lady Vols site and caqll it The Pat Way
tnman1025 writes:
thanks for the back up sweeten, I knew I wasn't alone, ha ha.
mississippi writes:
Yes it is and yes it will get it just rewards
murrayvol writes:
What I can't believe is AP posted this story at all. It's a non starter.
There's not a team in the field (get ready to pay your own way Courtney Paris) that can get within a 5 iron of UConn. Maya Moore and their bench could win this tournament.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Oh Mikey...even the great Maya and Geno are smart enough to acknowledge that they are not invincible. Here's what I tell the kids that I coach. "Any team can beat any team on any given day." They hate that saying, but even at ages 9 though 12, they know it's true.
UCANT better hope that the same refs that did the Florida game when we played there aren't reffing this one...
uconnfan1 writes:
every UCONN fan has the up most respect for pat but,we're going all the way.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
You obviously don't read the posts on here very often. You have a lovely fan named Mike who just loves to come on here and bash Pat every chance he gets.
However, I do believe you are correct...it hurt, because I do bleed orange, but I had to go with UCONN when I filled out my bracket.
Gotta go watch my alma mater hopefully beat the Comodorks. Can't cheer on the Vols anymore this year, so I'll go for Kansas State or anybody playing UCONN (sorry uconnfan1, that's just the way it is)!
tnman1025 writes:
uconnfan, I know for a fact that that statement is not true. There is one true jacka.s.s named Mike_from_Connecticut who just rails on everything regarding Lady Vol basketball, that includes Summitt. Hell, I think he even had the nerve to bash her on the night she won her 1,000th game. That d.ouche is the antithesis of everything I hate about UCONN. I have always felt that your team reflects your coach and I have also always felt Geno was as arrogant as they come. Therefore, the UCONN team comes off as arrogant to me. Due to that fact, some of the fans draw from that arrogance, aka Mike aka p.r.i.c.k. Again, you can hate me for it, but that's my opinion.
Seriouslyorange writes:
The proper name for the ucant coach is Geno Ur-an enema. As in up yours. GO VOLS
pammyvol1000 writes:
proud.. now that's funny, I don't care who you are.
98reax writes:
I have reason to believe kns/gvx has a mikey on staff. They share spoonerisms and sundries.
pammyvol1000 writes:
tnman.. we should dig up some of Mike's old post. He really crossed the line when he called Kelly Cain a gorilla. I think I let him have it that night. I usually just read and move on past his comments.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Maya Moore played right down the road from me in Ga. She is a very talented player and from what I have heard and seen a very classy lady. She is very poplular here in Ga although she chose not to play here. Kelly Cain is also from Atlanta and a classy lady. I hope Kelly can get healthy next year be back at her level of playing.
bpvol#216873 writes:
The only reason Mike comes on this board is to stir it up.......
He knows the more obnoxious his posts are, the more attention he gets.
Don't waste your time.
CTOWNICON writes:
Did the Courant not have room in their paper up there in Uconn to post this article. Who cares about that trashy team and their trashy coach. KNS is worse than ESPN. Lady vols have gotten more coverage with this loss than throughout the whole tournament. Even the coverage of the game sucked.
Seriouslyorange writes:
It is hard to recruit against Ur-an-enema at ucant. They are right down the road from ESPN and do things like give Maya and her mother a guided tour and Lord knows what elseto seal the deal. Since when can a sports conglomerate give a recruit a personal guided tour to their place when everyone knows how influential Espn is and especially when no love is lost between UT and ESPN. JMO but I think thats why they got Maya and its very suspect. Also that is probably why Miss Pat told ur-an-enema to take the home and home and stick it. IMO if the world needed an enema, the tube would go right in Stors Ct.
BillVol writes:
How are Mama Moore's handbag sales going? Her internet business must be thriving to suppport her living in Storrs.
uconnfan1 writes:
well i don't feel that way.i watch UT everytime they play.i liked to see UCONN and UT play because it's a big deal to beat UT.pat has always had a good team.the thing is everyone wants to beat UT.geno is an azz and a jerk sometimes but,he does that to get the team to play hard.i don't care who it is UCONN or UT you can't be afraid to lose.i love UCONN when they lose or win because that's my team just like UT fans should be.
kbart4033#247331 writes:
Unfortunately, Pat and staff have managed to recruit the
slowest athletes at every position that I have ever seen.
Not a one of them could make UConn's top 8. I am not sure
we could take this group and add Maya Moore-- who I think ranks right there with Parker--and get a Final Four team.
BIGEJ writes:
I will say this ONLY because they are an SEC team....here goes....Go Gators; would rather have an SEC team win than Beno. Always and forever a Vol alum and fan.......GO VOLS!!!
rocky_topper writes:
we really don't give a rat's a** about fuconn! why even have a story on them on this site? pathetic!!!!!
rocky_topper writes:
wow, you must know alot of people to know all of the uconn fans well enough to speak for them.
obviously, you don't visit the courant site and watch their posts....maybe you should be there instead of here!
98reax writes:
Florida will not be the team that knocks off UConn. The game will not be close. The gators will be swallowed up quickly. Husky bench could play 75% of the game, but GA will pound them because that's the way he rolls.
I hope the game goes totally opposite of what I just predicted.
This game video will be good material for the Lady Vols to study while they camp at Outer Mongullie this summer. They will be working the scouting report for next season's rematch with the gators.
In all due respect for the Lady Vols and the coaches, I feel for them right now. It has to be tough watching these teams play on while you sit thinking, "that could have been us. Rutgers just beat Auburn by 29 points. Heck, we came from behind 19 points and beat Rutgers at their house. How could this be? Vandy is still playing. We beat Vandy. We could be headed to California, and on to St. Louis."
reachkim00 writes:
I'm really glad to see the posters here today supporting our Lady Vols, even tho the headliner is about Uwho? The slammers yesterday really showed their stupidity as I'm sure they ONLY come out of their holes at the chance to do so. Let's all as true fans always show our 100% support for these ladies without negativity and hatefulness, after all CLASS is what the Lady Vol program defines. I for one am a VERY proud Lady Vol fan tru and thru, and I know you are too.
GO LADY VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
98reax writes:
I never would have known there were so many recruiting experts out there. I would have thought one would have to work really long, hard hours to get info, watch video, log thousands of miles to watch high school games and AAU games, and sacrifice a big, big chunk of one's own personal life to become the recruiting expert that many posters claim to be.
Back in the day I used to spend days watching AAU games. There's some great hoops. There's lots of mundane, bordering on boring games. There may be a superstar amidst that group of teenage hair-slinging madness, but watching is a JOB. It's almost like there's a brand new shiny bass boat tied up over there across the lake and it's yours for the taking. There's just one problem; You have to swim through this snake and shark-infested harbor to get to it.
Recruiting is not that glorious, but it seems there are experts out there. Those who think they have the never-fail proceedure down pat, should give the coach a call or another one of her kagillion emails. I understand she is always open for advice.
BigRMan writes:
I have always admired the UT LV program. It has been one of integrity that reflected positively on the coach, and the university. That is why to fall so far so quickly brings cause for concern. The fact that the whole aura of Lady Vol basketball has been above reproach in this day of fallen idols, and tarnished images speaks well for Coach Summitt, it's architect. A plain fact is however, that parody is eveolving in women's college basketball. We can see it at Baylor, Duke, Texas, Oklahome, we will see it at UCLA, due to Nikki, and of course the program in New England that UT doesn't play anymore. I don't want to experience, as an LV fan, another year next year similar to this one. I'm not convinced that the personnel there can return next year and remedy the situation. When you have the success rate CPS has other programs are "stealing" your top assistants to clone their program after yours. With the recent loss of Ms Caldwell and M. De Moss, I'm not sure that type of quality was ever fully replaced. I don't know how personal CPS gets hands on in recruiting, but if she is leaving more of it to the assistants, she may want to get more involved. Something has to change because if the program is allowed to flounder beyond a one year hiatus from prominence, the long range affects could have far-reaching reprocussions. Moore has 2 more years at UCON, and the 6'8" girl Brittany Griner has already committed to Baylor. Baylor is already loaded. The prospects for a swift return to glory (not Johnson) do not appear bright with this crew. THese next several years will test Coach Summitt's resolve to continue in a profession that continues to become ever more competitive and draining. As a quick fix, I'd explore the JUCO ranks for transfers: another Bobbit or Aguste could be there. Coach Summitt is in her mid 50's, maybe the grind is taking its' toll. If anyone can find a solution to the Lady Vol dilemma, I'd bet she still could. Let's hope the coach can rekindle a fire that will return this program to a relavent force in next year's NCAA tourney. GO LADY VOLS!
uconnfan1 writes:
i don't care what other people think.i have my own mind.
gohawks1 writes:
FL vs UCONN. It's a win-win situation... somebody must lose.
ladyvolmaniac writes:
agree with BigRman.....cept' Coach Pat may be worn out right now but she'll be just fine and back to her fighting self......just ask the raccoons that are probably not testing her waters..or rather her back deck!!!!!
BigRMan writes:
To Mikey:The media wants Coach Summitt to wear a microphone you moron. In terms of her thinking she's bigger than the game, your sucking wind where the Sun doesn't shine, as usual Mikey They can't wire Auriema for sound, the microphone would be off more than it's on due to profanity. Geno won't own up to half the things he says. He'd be too embarrased to do so. We will never know what derogatory remark he made to Cappie Pondexter several years ago. She's to classy to admit, and he's too trashy. I feel sorry for such a strong, classy lady like Vivian Stringer that she has to be confronted by him at least twice per year. It amazes me how a world class beauty like Swin Cash could have endured the profanity for 4 years. But I guess it was just preparation for Laimbeer. The next big rivalry in women's basketball will be Maryland & Duke. Brenda Freese & Joanne McCaulley will see to that. Duke and Maryland already hate each other. I miss the UT-UCON game also. However Geno broke so many recruiting standards, he made Vito Corleone look like a choir boy. By the way Mikey, send away for that Proactive stuff it'll clear your face right up. That jock itch you complain of, may not be jock itch-You might need shots from the clinic to get rid of that. Those are the kind of crabs you don't need.
RTB writes:
Judging from the ABSENCE of UConn posters here lately, they must be concentrating on other future opponents' sites (not Tennessee's). It's nice while it lasts.
The ladies from this year's team who stick with Tennessee for next year will earn my admiration. All surely know their game will be analyzed and criticized. There is some pain, some healing and lots and lots of work to do. But that is what is necessary to compete at this level.
BigRMan writes:
Hey Dirtbag: Her buyout is more than you, your family or your family's ancestors & descendants will ever earn in all your lifetimes combined: Pat Summitt is priceless and has earned the right to call her own shots as to how long she coaches and when she's had enough-Dig it!
kingwoodtx_vol writes:
I hope that CPS makes all of the players come to her house and watch every remaining game in the Women's Tournament. Make them watch what they are missing for the first time in NCAA history (wow, how many teams can say that in any other sport! NONE).
There is no doubt in my mind that this team had the potential to make it to the Sweet 16 this year. Sure, injuries hurt. Sure transfers hurt. But this team should have been able to beat Ball State and Iowa State. The fact that they didn't can not be put on CPS, it is on the shoulders of each player on the team.
orngbluded writes:
I hope somebody learns from there mistakes because the lady vols sure couldnt learn from it.uconn has nothing to worry about they will not have a close game all tourny.
98reax writes:
I just found out Geno and mikey are one and the same.
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