Lopsided UConn win over South Carolina shows Huskies could be NCAA tournament favorite

On Feb. 6, the UConn Huskies traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and lost to the University of Tennessee for the first time in 17 years. For critics of head coach Geno Auriemma and the Huskies, it was a defeat that pushed UConn further into the shadows of their former selves, a program leading the nation with 11 National Titles all-time — but none since 2016.

After the game, Auriemma brought heat upon himself from fans and media alike after he called out his star guard Paige Bueckers, saying “Paige wants the ball in her hands all the time, then when they trap her, she doesn’t want the ball in her hands. So then we try to get her moving from one thing to another, moving without the ball, and it’s so-so.”

On Sunday, the Huskies were back playing in the national spotlight, this time traveling to Columbia, South Carolina for a matchup against the Gamecocks, the reigning national champions.

The No. 4 Gamecocks and the No. 7 Huskies was as much of a battle of coaching philosophies as it was stars facing off on the court. The past against both the present and the future.

With Auriemma, it’s years of experience leading a program with blunt truth and pushing his team to do better. For head coach Dawn Staley, the side with three national championship trophies in their trophy cabinet, all coming since UConn last hoisted one themselves, the Gamecocks are known for a highly competitive, family, environment where no one player is larger than the group, evidenced by a nation-leading 42 bench points per game.

UConn showed in SEC country that the past is still pretty strong, demolishing South Carolina 87-58.

South Carolina’s home crowd, pushing tickets on the secondary market to over $200 just to get into the door Sunday afternoon, are known for creating a loud, chaotic atmosphere. After boos reigned down on the Huskies as they ran out for introductions, the three-point shots followed suit for UConn.

In the first quarter, UConn built a lead with three-point shooting and lopsided rebounding. From beyond the arc, projected No. 1 WNBA draft pick Paige Bueckers hit a three and added two assists, while guard Ashlynn Shade hit both of her attempts from beyond the arc and scored nine points in the first half, eclipsing her eight points per game season average.

For Freshman forward Sarah Strong, playing against the national champions didn’t create too big of a moment for the first year UConn star. Strong grabbed six rebounds in the first quarter, compared to seven total for the Gamecocks. The freshman also hit a contested three-point shot from the corner, poked the ball away in the backcourt in one-on-defense and dove to the court on a potential turnover from Bueckers, swatting the ball away from South Carolina defenders to give Bueckers an open jumper in the post.

South Carolina is known for not giving up on plays, meeting teams with physicality and making the most of their chances on offense. UConn met their intensity and took it to another level.

UConn quieted the crowd with at least five players hitting a three-point shot and out rebounded South Carolina 48-29 and 15-6 on offensive boards, scoring 11 second chance points to six for the Gamecocks. That’s not normal for a Staley-led side.

For the toughness Auriemma sent his players’ way, the Huskies didn’t fold — they responded.

Shooting guard Azzi Fudd led the Huskies with 28 points and 23 of those came in the second half. It puts Fudd at 26.3 points per game over her last three, going 19-of-30 in that stretch. Fudd is finally playing healthy after injuries kept her and Bueckers off the court together for most of their college careers.

Speaking of Bueckers, the main receiver of Auriemma’s criticism, had a double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, despite having her second worst shooting game of the season, going 3-of-12. Nearly a triple-double with seven rebounds. Strong added a double-double of her own with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Strong was a key reason the Huskies could shoot so well, grabbing attention inside the paint and also helping run the offense from the perimeter. The Huskies shot 46.4 percent from three-point range, hitting 13 shots from deep.

Defensively, UConn held the Gamecocks to 17.6 percent shooting from deep and 37.7 percent overall and despite having only two fewer turnovers than South Carolina, the Huskies scored nine more points off turnovers, outpacing the Gamecocks for 40 minutes.

The Huskies didn’t end the 71-game home winning streak for the Gamecocks as much as they obliterated it. By halftime, UConn grew a 22-point lead, an already season-high deficit for South Carolina and there was still 20 minutes left. Then the Huskies stretched it to 29 points, outscoring the Gamecocks in each of the four quarters.

UConn’s marquee win of the season gives Auriemma’s side a huge boost of confidence with a month until selection Sunday. Should that confidence turn into momentum, the nine-year drought in Storrs could be close to ending.