Connecticut’s path to another perfect season could include a renewal of the most heated rivalry in women’s college basketball.
The undefeated Huskies earned the No. 1 overall seed in the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday and will open Sunday against Southern University (23-8) in Norfolk, Va.
Coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies (33-0) have won an NCAA-record 72 consecutive games, but none of them have come against coach Pat Summitt’s Tennessee Lady Vols (30-2).
The teams broke off their annual matchup in 2007 in a testy split. They would meet in the semifinals in San Antonio if both survive the regionals.
“I’m not surprised that they would line us up with Connecticut if we both come out,” said Summitt, whose team earned a record 20th No. 1 seed. “They want to see that matchup.”
Ten teams have entered the NCAA Tournament unbeaten and only five have emerged victorious. UConn and Auriemma have done it three times, including last season.
Stanford (31-1) and Nebraska (30-1) earned the other No. 1 seeds. The Cardinal, the last team to beat Connecticut, received its first No. 1 seed since 1998. Tennessee earned its No. 1 seed a year after getting bounced from the tournament in the first round. Nebraska has its first No. 1 seed in school history after winning its first 30 games this season. The Cornhuskers lost their only game of the season in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.
“We evaluated Nebraska’s resume and even though they lost in the Big 12 Tournament, we felt it was important to keep them on that first line,” selection committee chair Jane Meyer said.
“To put Nebraska on the map in the women’s basketball world with teams like UConn — never would you imagine little old Nebraska would be up there,” Huskers senior forward Cory Montgomery said.
As the top seed in the Kansas City, Mo., regional, Nebraska will open against Northern Iowa (17-15) on Sunday in Minneapolis.
Footnote.
Phyllis Mangina resigned as Seton Hall’s coach after 25 seasons. Mangina posted a 352-368 record at her alma mater, leading it to NCAA Tournament berths in 1994 and 1995 and three trips to the WNIT. The Pirates were 9-20 this season.
