NCAA analyst Charlie Creme suggests that the current UConn Huskies squad may actually surpass the talent and efficiency of last year’s national championship-winning team. Despite the seemingly paradoxical nature of improving after losing a generational talent like Paige Bueckers, Creme argues that the team’s evolution has made them a more formidable opponent. He notes that the suggestion itself sounds radical, stating,
“Is there a chance that this UConn team is actually better than the national championship winning team last season? I think it is. And I think when you say it out loud that, oh, a team who lost Paige Bueckers got better, you feel like you should be wearing a straight jacket.”
The justification for this claim lies in the team’s increased depth and individual progression of its remaining stars. Creme highlights the immediate impact of freshman Sarah Strong and the elevated play of Azzi Fudd as primary reasons for this year’s dominance. He suggests that while last year’s team faced significant hurdles, the current roster has maintained a high level of play since the season opener. Creme added,
“”But the fact is they’re deeper. Sarah Strong is that much better and she is a unbelievable talent. Azzi Fudd is a better player. And frankly, they’ve played better. Last year’s UConn team had those bumps. This team just was great from the beginning and they haven’t really let up.”
While acknowledging that head coach Geno Auriemma might disagree, given his high regard for Bueckers, Creme maintains that the statistical evidence and on-court results tell a different story. The primary concern for the Huskies moving forward is not their roster construction, but rather a lack of elite competition within their conference.
WNBA Veteran Candace Parker Addresses Her Tensions with Geno Auriemma
In a recent episode of the Post Moves podcast, WNBA legend Candace Parker addressed the long-standing tension between her and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. Parker, a former Tennessee star who played under Pat Summitt, has been vocal about their mutual dislike, which stems from the historic Tennessee-UConn rivalry and her controversial exclusion from the 2016 Olympic team while Auriemma was the head coach.
Despite their history, Parker emphasized that women in sports should be able to acknowledge personal friction without it being viewed as “beef” or unprofessional drama.
“The best feeling is knowing you don’t like each other. There’s not beef, because we moved past it,” Parker said.
Setting aside her personal feelings, Parker ultimately selected Auriemma over South Carolina’s Dawn Staley when asked to name the greatest coach currently in the game. She pointed to Auriemma’s unmatched championship record and the high standards of the UConn program as the deciding factors. She noted that the “drought” people often criticize UConn for would be considered a period of immense success for almost any team.
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