Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503270062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: STORRS, CONN. LENGTH: Medium
Today's NCAA East Region championship game presents a new offering for Connecticut's unbeaten women's basketball team.
Unlike for their first 32 dishes this season, the hungry Huskies have a chance to chow down early today, courtesy of an 11 a.m. start for ESPN.
A couple hours later - at least that's the word here in ``Huskymania'' - No. 1-ranked UConn (32-0) will spit out the bones of Virginia (27-4). Just another Gampel Pavilion appetizer towards the Huskies' main course - the Final Four in Minneapolis next weekend.
``If we play like we're capable, I don't think Virginia can beat us,'' said UConn coach Geno Auriemma on Friday.
``To be honest, I haven't seen a team yet, that when we're playing well, that can beat us.''
UVa coach Debbie Ryan confessed that facing ``the monster in its dragon's den of Storrs'' is an unenviable assignment.
But if Ryan is scared, she's certainly not tipping her hand. When grilled by the horde of UConn media Friday, the bulldog in Ryan came out.
``If you're asking me if I'm afraid to coach against [Auriemma, a Ryan assistant at UVa from 1981-85], no I'm not,'' replied a defiant Ryan to one questioner.
Then, when asked if she thought UConn's inside game, led by 6-foot-4 national player of the year Rebecca Lobo, was overwhelming, Ryan responded: ``It's not overwhelming ... You've got to remember, I've coached Heather and Heidi Burge, some of the top post players in the country.''
OK, so Ryan's not wavering. But what about her players? Aren't they worried about becoming Huskies' dog meat in front of 8,241 fans who bark so loud that the Gampel walls literally throb?
``We're going to give it our best shot,'' said UVa guard Tora Suber, whose basket with 3.7 seconds left Thursday beat Louisiana Tech 63-62 and set up the UConn date.
``They're good, real good. But we can play, too.''
Ryan confessed she hasn't seen anybody who has the inside-outside, 1-2 punch that UConn possesses. If it's not the prolific Lobo, imposing 6-7 post Kara Wolters or versatile Jamelle Elliott inside, it's freshman phenom Nykesha Sales or sharp-shooting junior Jennifer Rizzotti outside.
``I don't see a lot of weaknesses,'' Ryan said. ``They're solid and very well-coached.
``To beat them, No. 1, we've got to be able to rebound. Number two, we've got to have a strong defensive game and somehow try and neutralize their size inside. And No. 3, we've got to score with them, which is probably going to be the toughest thing.''
UVa doesn't have enough offensive firepower to match points with UConn. The Huskies are averaging 90.9 points, approximately 13 more than UVa. UConn has topped 100 points seven times this season, compared to twice for UVa.
``It would be to our advantage to keep the score in the 60s or 70s,'' Ryan said. ``We play pretty good defense, and if we can rebound with them, I think we can keep it in the 60s to 70s.''
Auriemma, never one to mince words, said UVa's only shot to end his club's 36-game home winning streak lies on the defensive end.
``If they can't stop us from scoring, I don't think they have a chance.''
Auriemma tried to downplay the inevitable comparisons between himself and Ryan, his former mentor.
``I don't think the outside stuff has anything to do with the game,'' he said. ``Our bunch of kids are playing somebody with Virginia on their shirts, much like it were Virginia Tech, Kansas or whomever.
``My four years in Charlottesville were as good as any I've spent anywhere. The things I was able to do there has a lot to do with some of the success I've had here. Debbie allowed me to do a lot, either because she wanted to or I had no choice. Hey, I owe her a lot.''
Ryan on Auriemma: ``He's a fighter and a risk-taker. He was very aggressive, and at times, I think I had trouble handling that. I was more of a conservative, and I think that frustrated him at times.''
Can Ryan and UVa possibly frustrate Auriemma and his top-dog Huskies today? Ryan is 2-1 lifetime vs. Auriemma.
``We are out to prove something,'' said UVa junior guard Jenny Boucek. ``Last year up here [a 74-63 UConn win], we didn't play well. We want to show the people around here the `real' Virginia team.''
Huskies fans appear rather unperturbed, however. The sign on campus Friday told the story: ``Virginia: At UConn, UCan't.''
by CNB