Return of his players turns Geno emotional

STORRS Through it all, Diana Taurasi remains No.

1 for UConn womens basketball coach Geno Auriemma.

As uncomfortable as Auriemma was with all the attention he received in the last week while becoming the winningest coach in college basketball history, he admitted after securing win No.

1,217 Wednesday night that it was incredibly touching to have former 63 players return to campus to honor him and associate head coach Chris Dailey.

Icons Sue Bird, Rebecca Lobo and Maya Moore were all handed a microphone by emcee Meghan Pattyson Culmo during the postgame ceremony at Gampel Pavilion to speak about their coaches on behalf of all the players.

Auriemma smiled and laughed at times and also nervously paced as they talked.

But when Diana Taurasi spoke, Auriemma couldnt help but shed a few tears.

You told me all the things I didnt want to hear to make me a better person, a better teammate, a better basketball player, Taurasi said.

All those little things day by day, week by week, month by month, you start building this confidence you can be a better person every single day.

As I see everyone here, whether we played on the same team, decades apart, we always put this jersey on to represent you, because we know how much you love this team, the game of basketball and your family.

...

Banners, Hall of Famers, MVPs, national champions, Players of the Year, we always come back because of you, Coach.

We come back because of you.

Dont you ever forget that.

We love you.

During postgame interviews, Auriemma was asked if any one moment from the celebration would stick out with him.

It is not a moment, he said.

It is what Sue started to say, what Maya continued to say, what Rebecca added, it all piled up.

Then when Dee was talking about why tonight was the way it was and the relationship I have with her, that probably for me was the most emotional moment listening to her describe or speak for the rest of the team.

Anytime Dee talks about her time here with me and this program, it is very emotional for me.

Auriemma has long said Taurasi is the all-time greatest player in womens basketball history, and that if he had one game to win he would want her having the ball at the end of the game because of her combination of confidence, talent and clutch play.

He always loved that Taurasi challenged him and matched his sarcasm.

Miss A, I always remember those conversations in your driveway, Taurasi said Wednesday night, including Auriemmas wife Kathy into her speech, where I would say, I am done with this man, and you would say, Me too, Dee, me too.' Breanna Stewart won four national championships to Taurasis three, and Moore scored more points than anyone.

But there is something special about Tarausi that stand out and caused Auriemma to get emotional.

I just remember what we went through together, how much she meant to so many people here, what she meant to me, to my family, to my mom, Auriemma said.

She is just one of those unique people that comes into your life, and you are better off from having her in your life.

People on the outside see the competitive snarky Dee that will cut your heart out.

But there is something about her that makes me feel better to know that she is in my world and I am in hers..

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