New Haven Register’s Dave Solomon says it would be folly to compare Auriemma’s streak with that of John Wooden, the UCLA coach whose Bruins team won a record 88 straight games in the 1970s. "We’re talking women’s basketball, a game that continues to struggle for identity nationally, and Auriemma is under no illusion that the record streak of UConn at 71 — or 78 at the end of the season, or at 89 straight, 11 games into 2010-11, has remotely the same impact as when the Wizard of Westwood was building his legend," Solomon writes. "He’s plenty proud, with every right to be, because it helps shine the light on women’s basketball. But you can’t compare what UConn is doing to what UCLA did with Bill Walton, Henry Bibby and Jamaal Wilkes in the early 70s … because it’s incomparable."
almost 2 years ago
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True, it's not the same
But that reality shouldn’t take away the amazing accomplishments of the UConn women’s team. Despite not being the greatest of all time (obviously), this winning streak is extremely impressive nonetheless.
If/when UConn goes undefeated and pushes into the 80 win territory, I for one will applaud them. I’ve seen a few of their games and they are so much better than anybody else. I think they played the #2 and #3 ranked teams this year and obliterated each.
Women’s basketball is definitely not men’s. But given how we are all fairly excited (or at least content) with our lady Bruins team, I think it’s only right to acknowledge when another school is dominant at their sport. It’s kind of like saying Pat Summit is worthless, just because she’s not as great as Coach Wooden.
exactly
They should be treated for what they are – dominant in their sport. If the UConn women played in a different sport – NCAA Men’s basketball – they would not be undefeated. Unbeaten streaks in different sports are inherently incomparable. UCLA had the most dominant run of any College Men’s Basketball team. UConn have the most dominant run of any College Women’s Basketball team.
Would
88 straight be possible in today’s game by anyone? And no, not with the current team, since three games doesn’t cut it. ;-)
Nope
Absolutely impossible. You can take any coach you want, let him choose any 12 college players he wants and they still wouldn’t win 88 straight. The depth of competition is too great now. Ignoring the fact that a lot of the top players would leave after the first season, there’s just too many good players out there nowadays that there are a lot of really good teams out there. I think the best example of it is this year’s Syracuse team. Not a single one of their five starters was ranked in the top 100 coming out of high school so what does that say about the number of quality players out there now.
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by Ryan Rosenblatt on Mar 9, 2010 4:00 PM PST up reply actions
Shoot ...
when was the last time a team went unbeaten for just one season?
I think it was Indiana’s 75-76 team.
It's hard to imagine it happening...
to have that much talent would almost certainly mean that you would have players leaving early for the NBA and would need to re-stock and do it again with Freshman in years two and three. I don’t see that happening.
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