Cleaveland: High expectations in basketball capital of the world

STORRS Expectations for the UConn mens and womens basketball teams have never been higher going into a season than they are this year.

Mens coach Dan Hurley said there is a legitimacy to UConn taking claim to be the basketball capital of the world with emphasis on world.

When people look at UConn basketball and what we do in mens and womens basketball, we want to be able to say it is one of the best basketball organizations in the world regardless of pro ball, college ball, European or international ball, he said.

It is a world class university, an awesome state, and it is also maybe the best basketball organization in the world when you look at our culture, level of play and all of that.

There was incredible pride in the past when UConn became the only Division I program to have both its mens and womens teams win a national championship the same season in 2004 and again in 2014.

This year marks the first time, however, that both teams are legitimately regarded in the preseason among the top two or three teams in their sports.

The women are ranked No.

2 in the AP preseason poll while the men are No.

3.

The closesness of the two teams has varied over the years, womens coach Geno Auriemma said.

Some years they were really tight, and some years not so much.

But the constant familiarity you have breeds a little bit of competition.

The more one of us wins, I think we all win.

It affects everybody_ Hurley said the long-standing success of the womens program provided incentive for the men to quickly turn things around when he arrived six years ago.

When we first got here and they were at the top of the sport, it is uncomfortable for you when you cant measure up to the level and you share a building, Hurley said.

You bump into each other in the hallway and in the weight room, and you are a little embarrassed that you dont have your (stuff) together and they do.

I think it is very healthy.

Not that it motivated you any more, but I think it is another log on the fire of motivation.

Both teams go into this season believing they can win a national championship because each program has maneuvered the new transfer and NIL rules incredibly well, balancing player development and recruiting with delving into the transfer portal just enough to stay relevant.

When you have a strong foundation like exists in this building on both sides, you can withstand a lot of things that maybe other programs cannot, Auriemma said.

You probably dont have to get caught up in some of the stuff the other coaches have to deal with because maybe they dont have the ability to provide you with all the things we can provide for you if you come to school here.

We are in a different situation from most schools.

Staying there is going to be the biggest challenge.

Although the men lost four of last years five starters to the NBA, they are considered among the favorites to win it all this year because of the ability of Hurley and his staff to develop talent.

The men were 37-3 last year and became the first mens team in 17 years to win back-to-back national championships.

They now have six national titles overall and could become the first team since UCLA in 1973 to three-peat.

The Huskies will count on a handful of returning experienced players, led by starter Alex Karaban and rotational players Samson Johnson, Hassan Diarra, Jaylin Stewart and Solo Ball to serve as the foundation.

To complement them, Hurley brought in key transfers Aidan Mahaney and Tarris Reed Jr.

along with a talented freshman class led by Liam McNeeley.

They work exceptionally hard at what they do, Auriemma said of Hurley and his staff.

They are relentless in their approach to teaching the game and making sure that every single person in his part of the building completely buys in and understands exactly what it is he wants.

They are very dynamic when it comes to that.

They are very forceful, and they have the right type of kids in that program.

The women were 33-6 last season and lost in the national semifinals to Iowa, 71-69.

It marked the 15th time in 16 years the Huskies advanced to the Final Four, making them the most dominant program in their sport.

Although they have won a record 11 national championships, they have not won one since 2016 when Breanna Stewart & Co.

led them to their fourth straight title.

During their eight-year drought (including the COVID season), they advanced to one championship game and lost in five national semifinals.

The Huskies will look to end the reign of back-to-back national champion South Carolina, and they appear to have a roster talented enough to do so.

They return All-American Paige Bueckers along with Azzi Fudd and last years talented freshmen starters KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade.

Thyeve added an outstanding transfer in guard Kaitlyn Chen and the countrys No.

1 recruit, 6-foot-2 wing Sarah Strong, to complement a host of solid role players.

Auriemma said there is also an urgency to win another title.

There has always been that, he said.

Maybe not in 2017 or 2018, because who is supposed to be entitled to six or seven in a row? Nobody is entitled to three or four in a row.

So you can explain those couple of years.

But then as the years have added up and gotten to seven, eight (without a title), yeah, now there is a sense of urgency.

Not for me.

I have more than anybody deserves to have.

It would be great for some of these guys to experience that once in their life.

So that part of it is kind of urgent.

Reach Roger Cleaveland at [email protected]..

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