Spring Break
Huskies return to Final Four seeking revenge on Stanford
Brittany Perotti
Issue date: 4/3/09 Section: Sports
For the second time in as many years, the No.1 women's basketball team takes on No. 2-seeded Stanford in the Final Four game played Sunday at approximately 9:30 p.m.
The Huskies' determination to return to the semifinals began after the buzzer went off last year in Tampa, Fla. As the team sat in the locker room, head coach Geno Auriemma told his players not to make excuses about the injuries of Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene as the reason for losing, Greene said.
"Not playing in the Final Four last year because of an injury was, you know, it was tough," Greene said. "But we're not going to be ranting and raving or celebrating because we got to the Final Four this year."
"You know, I think last year, we forgot to take care of business once we got to Tampa," Greene said.
The loss came as a shock to many UConn fans and media. The players sat in their lockers, tears welling in their eyes, as they spoke to the press.
With that memory fresh in their mind, they returned more determined than ever.
"The focus is completely different," Greene said. "You know, if you make it to the national championship game and you lose by one, you still... we still wouldn't have reached our goal."
"We're excited; we're not taking anything for granted, but we ultimately want to get our goal of winning a national championship and that's what Connecticut's about," Greene said.
This year, Greene will get to help her teammates instead of watching from the sidelines. Tina Charles, too, enters the game with a different mentality.
"I believe the past two years, I probably would have taken it more personal when I can't help my team win, I can't score, I can't get rebounds or blocked shots," Charles said. "But, you know, I still have to have that energy from the bench."
In fact, Auriemma said several times in Trenton that Charles has grown up from what he has seen in the past few games and was able to stay in the game mentally rather than giving up.
The Huskies' determination to return to the semifinals began after the buzzer went off last year in Tampa, Fla. As the team sat in the locker room, head coach Geno Auriemma told his players not to make excuses about the injuries of Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene as the reason for losing, Greene said.
"Not playing in the Final Four last year because of an injury was, you know, it was tough," Greene said. "But we're not going to be ranting and raving or celebrating because we got to the Final Four this year."
"You know, I think last year, we forgot to take care of business once we got to Tampa," Greene said.
The loss came as a shock to many UConn fans and media. The players sat in their lockers, tears welling in their eyes, as they spoke to the press.
With that memory fresh in their mind, they returned more determined than ever.
"The focus is completely different," Greene said. "You know, if you make it to the national championship game and you lose by one, you still... we still wouldn't have reached our goal."
"We're excited; we're not taking anything for granted, but we ultimately want to get our goal of winning a national championship and that's what Connecticut's about," Greene said.
This year, Greene will get to help her teammates instead of watching from the sidelines. Tina Charles, too, enters the game with a different mentality.
"I believe the past two years, I probably would have taken it more personal when I can't help my team win, I can't score, I can't get rebounds or blocked shots," Charles said. "But, you know, I still have to have that energy from the bench."
In fact, Auriemma said several times in Trenton that Charles has grown up from what he has seen in the past few games and was able to stay in the game mentally rather than giving up.
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