UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma recently compared the outlook of his team and basketball as a whole to that of a couple of NBA superstars. At a post-game press conference on Sunday, Nov. 16, coach Auriemma was asked about his thoughts on his 2025-26 roster as well as women’s basketball overall.
Basketball nowadays is played with a greater emphasis on three-point shooting, faster paces, and transition plays. Auriemma answered by giving the examples of Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Oklahoma City Thunder sensation Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Well, I would say, not specifically to the WNBA, I just think basketball in general. There is such a lack of understanding of the game that playing transition is easier if you just get people to run and you get them to space the court, and you just trust them to make plays as opposed to come down and execute and have need four passes to score; which takes a lot of teamwork, which is not something that a lot of kids are familiar with these days,” Auriemma said. (2:46)
“So, playing fast, scoring on the move, scoring through concepts rather than plays is way more popular today at most levels of basketball. And that’s why the players that can think and can react and make plays for other people, you know. That’s why somebody like Jokic, or Shai in the NBA, for instance, are so good with the ball, they make everybody around them so good that you don’t even need to run a lot of plays. Just run the floor, space it,” he concluded.
Auriemma is coming off a 32-point victory, 100-68, as the Huskies defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, Connecticut. UConn is defending the national title this year, as they won their 12th national championship in the 2024-25 campaign.
Also Read: “We’re Like OJ, They Are Chasing Us Down”: Geno Auriemma Recalls UConn’s 1st NCAA Title With Rebecca Lobo And More
Geno Auriemma And The UConn Huskies Are Undefeated In Their 2025 NCAA Title Defense Season So Far
As it stands, it seems that Geno Auriemma’s game plan has adapted well to the modern style of basketball, as the 2025-26 UConn Huskies are undefeated with a 4-0 overall record in their non-conference schedule.
Auriemma and the Huskies boast the most NCAA titles in their sport (12), and are on track to win their 13th NCAA championship if they can maintain the momentum.
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