STORRS, Conn. -- Geno Auriemma, you've got mail.
Auriemma's e-mail inbox has been full of comments, questions and
criticisms since his top-ranked Connecticut team lost for the first
time in 30 games.
The Huskies (13-1) lost 92-76 to No. 3 Notre Dame on Monday --
Connecticut's worst loss in seven years. The Huskies will likely be
knocked from the No. 1 spot they've held since the 1999 preseason
in the AP poll.
After a win, the Huskies coach said he gets a couple of "keep
up the good work" e-mails. But since Monday, Auriemma has had
plenty of reading material.
"It shows people have a tremendous passion for what's going
on," Auriemma said Wednesday.
The missives criticized Auriemma on everything from his sideline
demeanor, lineup decisions to his "tacky" wristwatch. Auriemma
said the only thing that bothered him was the shot about his watch.
"It's a Big East championship watch. I've got 10 of them," he
said Wednesday. "When you win as much as we won and we lose,
people can't wait to get their shots in. We just take it in stride
and we have fun with it."
The defending national champs prepared for Thursday's game
against Old Dominion (8-4) with two hours of practice. They want to
fix what wasn't working for them Monday -- teamwork
UConn shot 36 percent from the floor, rushed shots, lagged on
defense and was soundly beaten by Ruth Riley and Notre Dame -- a
cohesive team on top of its game.
"We weren't helping each other out. We were like five
individuals playing," said senior Shea Ralph, who welled with
tears as she answered questions.
"I hate that it has to be such a hard lesson," Ralph said.
Ralph, last season's Final Four MVP, sat out most of the second
half against Notre Dame, and Auriemma was criticized by fans and
letter-writers. Ralph, who had just two points in the game, said
she agreed with the move.
"He can only give me so much time before he goes to someone
else," Ralph said. "It's not like I'm the only person on the team
he can turn to. If I'm not getting it done and it means I'm on the
bench to win that game, then put (me) on the bench because I want
to win that game."
Auriemma said he takes the blame for not preparing the team for
Notre Dame.
"I have not figured out how to sustain from a day-to-day basis
our guys' mindset so we play and practice the same way for a long
period of time, and it caught up to us against a really good team
on the road," Auriemma said.
Auriemma said there was one phone call he fielded after the
loss, and got a real earful.
It was his mother, Marsiella, who last year sprinkled holy water
on the team before the national championship game.
She was worried.
"What's wrong with the girls? They looked terrible. I never see
them like that. I think there's something wrong," she told him.
"What do you think is wrong," Auriemma asked.
"I don't know. You've got to find out," she said.
"OK," he said. "Whatever you say."
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