1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (37-0)

Results: Connecticut 83, Arizona State 64
Player of the Game: Sr. PG Renee Montgomery
Defensive Player of the Game: Jr. C Tina Charles
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 45, Arizona State 19

2009 Trenton Regional Champions!!!














2009 Trenton Regional Most Outstanding Player:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut

2009 Trenton All-Regional Team:
Sr. PG Briann January, Arizona State
RJr. SG Danielle Orsillo, Arizona State
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut

For the 2nd consecutive season UConn's Maya Moore was named an AP First Team All-American, but this season she was the only unanimous pick (receiving 225 total votes from the 45-member panel). However, this time she is joined on the First Team by teammate Renee Montgomery. Today both were named to the 2008-09 Associated Press All America Teams along with teammate Tina Charles who was named to the Second Team. Oklahoma's Courtney Paris became the first player in WCBB history to be named to the AP First Team all four seasons of her career. Guess who is trying to become the second???

2008-09 AP All America Teams:
First Team:
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut*
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Jr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

Second Team:
Sr. SF DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
Sr. SF Marissa Coleman, Maryland
So. C Jantel Lavender, Ohio State
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford

Third Team:
Sr. PF Ashley Walker, California
Sr. C Chante Black, Duke
Jr. SF Alyssa Clark, Middle Tennessee State
Sr. SG Shavonte Zellous, Pittsburgh
Jr. SG Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers

* unanimous pick

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament Elite 8 game vs. 6 Seed Arizona State Sun Devils (26-8).

TV: ESPN & ESPN360.com, 7:00 pm

1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (36-0)

Results: Connecticut 77, California 53
Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Defensive Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: Turnovers: UConn 7, California 16

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game vs. 4 Seed California Golden Bears (27-6).

TV: ESPN & ESPN360.com, 12:00 pm

Welcome to the 21st Century UConnHuskies.com!!!!!

Finally! I have only been asking for this since I graduated UConn in 2004. At first glance, the site gets TWO THUMBS UP from me. Now they just have to keep it nicely updated (hourly) on ALL the ACTION and NEWS from around the nation on ALL the HUSKY TEAMS. Thank You, UConn!!

Great Recruiting News:

Today UConn received yet another verbal commitment from one of the top junior posts, 6'3 PF Michala Johnson out of Chicago, IL. Ranked No. 19 in the ESPN HoopGurlz Super 60, she is joined in the 2010 Class by 6'1 SF Samarie Walker (No. 2) and 6'5 C Stefanie Dolson (No. 13). Johnson visited the campus a week and a half ago and feel in love. Currently, she is recovery from ACL surgery that she had back at the end of this January after partially tearing her ACL in her left knee. She is expected to be back on the court in November for the start of her senior season. Johnson chose Connecticut over California, DePaul, Duke, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma, Penn State, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

Good Luck on a 100% full recovery and Welcome to Storrs, Michala!!!!!

P.S.--UConn currently has a scholarship offer out to 5'11 SG Lauren Englein of Laguna Hills, CA and an offer is expected for the top point guard (No. 4) in the ESPN HoopGurlz Class of 2010, 5'7 PG Bria Hartley of North Babylon, NY.

1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (35-0)

Results: Connecticut 87, Florida 59
Player of the Game: Sr. PG Renee Montgomery
Defensive Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: 1st Half Fouls: UConn 4, Florida 16

Today Connecticut's All American Trio of Montgomery, Charles, and Moore were among the 12 finalists for the 2008-09 State Farm Wade Trophy announced today by the WBCA. Members of the committee will select the winner of the 2008-09 State Farm Wade Trophy from the 10-member 2008-09 Division I State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team and will be announced at the State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team Press Conference and the State Farm Wade Trophy Announcement during the WBCA National Convention on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 10:45 am.

The 12 Finalists are:
Sr. SF DeWanna Bonner, Auburn
Sr. PF Ashley Walker, California
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Sr. SF Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Sr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
So. C Jantel Lavender, Ohio State
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford
Jr. SG Monica Wright, Virginia

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament 2nd Round game vs. 8 Seed Florida Gators (24-7).

TV: ESPN2 & ESPN360.com, 7:00 pm

Today UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was named the 2008-09 Russell Athletic/WBCA NCAA D-I Coach of the Year for the 2nd straight year (and for the 5th time) after leading his Connecticut Huskies team to a perfect 33-0 record entering the 2009 NCAA Tournament as well as being the Number 1 overall seed. All this after graduating four seniors who saw signifcant minutes during their UConn careers, having the #1 H.S. girls prospect back out of her scholarship two months before the season, and losing starter Fr. SG Caroline Doty for the season (halfway through the regular season) to an ACL injury.

1 Seed Connecticut Huskies (34-0)

Results: Connecticut 104, Vermont 65
Player of the Game: Jr. C Tina Charles
Defensive Player of the Game: So. SF Maya Moore
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: A/TO: UConn 27/7, Vermont 16/13

Game notes (pdf) for today's NCAA Tournament 1st Round game vs. 16 Seed Vermont Catamounts (21-11).

TV: ESPN2 & ESPN360.com, 12:00 pm

Finalists...

Today both UConn Sr. PG Renee Montgomery and So. SF Maya Moore are among the four finalists for the 2008-09 Naismith National Player of the Year Trophy. Louisville’s Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry and Oklahoma’s Sr. C Courtney Paris are the other finalists.

Also, UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was named one of four finalists for the 2008-09 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award. He is joined by Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale, Auburn’s Nell Fortner and South Dakota State’s Aaron Johnston. Auriemma is looking to win the award for the second straight season and for the sixth time in his 24-year tenure with the Huskies.

The winners of both awards will be announced on April 6, 2009, during the WBCA awards luncheon at the 2009 Final Four in St. Louis.

Attention all you DieHard Huskies fans:

There will be FREE open practice sessions for all four teams playing in Storrs on Saturday, March 21st starting with UConn at 12:00 pm in Gampel Pavilion. These are hour long practices available for the public to view free of charge. Go support those Huskies (and Owls)!!!!

The following is the practice schedule:
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – 1 Connecticut
1:05 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. – 16 Vermont
2:10 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. – 8 Florida
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – 9 Temple

The UConn Huskies are in Dogged Pursuit of Perfection....Again!!!

The 2009 Women's NCAA Tournament #1 Seeds:

1. Connecticut
(Trenton)
2. Maryland
(Raleigh)
3. Oklahoma
(Oklahoma City)
4. Duke
(Berkeley)

The Overall #1 Seeded UConn Huskies will face 16th seeded Vermont Catamounts on Sun., March 22nd at 12:00 pm on ESPN2 in Storrs, CT.

Just for Fun:

Today UConn's All Everything Maya Moore was named the unanimous 2008-09 ESPN.com National Player of the Year in WCBB and UConn's All American Trio of Renee Montgomery, Tina Charles, and Moore were named to the 10 member All America teams.



The ESPN voters said of Moore:

"And even if it's an unofficial stat, Maya Moore leads the nation in gasps induced," writes ESPN.com columnist Graham Hays. "Moore is the most complete offensive player in the college game, and yet by dint of her defense and work ethic, she could dominate a game without taking a shot -- not that Geno Auriemma would ever let that happen."

"No player does more things great at the most important times as smoothly as Maya Moore. She creates and finishes on equally high levels. Same for the way she shoots and rebounds or defends at the rim and on the perimeter. If she was able to concentrate on one particular area of her game, she'd instantly be the best at it." -- ESPN Bracketologist Charlie Creme

""Moore's sophomore season proved her ability to elevate an already pretty airtight game," ESPN.com columnist Mechelle Voepel writes. "This year, her defense has become even more energized and dynamic, her ability to run the court is sharper, and her leadership skills -- which complement, not compete with, senior Renee Montgomery -- more valuable. The Huskies shook off the decision of prized recruit Elena Delle Donne not to come to UConn. They dealt with the loss of another freshman, Caroline Doty, to a knee injury. They seamlessly replaced the important, if understated, contributions of last season's senior class. And they have answered any and all challenges thus far. Maya Moore's leadership and steady personality are essential to UConn handling all of that."

2008-09 ESPN.com National Player of the Year:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut*

2008-09 ESPN.com All American First Team:
Sr. PF DeWanna Bonner, Auburn*
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut*
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut*
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville*
Sr. C Courtney Paris, Oklahoma

2008-09 ESPN.com All American Second Team:
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
Sr. SF Marissa Coleman, Maryland
Sr. PG Kristi Toliver, Maryland
Jr. SG Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers
Jr. C Jayne Appel, Stanford

2008-09 ESPN.com All American Honorable Mention:
Sr. PF Ashley Walker, California
Sr. PG Kristi Cirone, Illinois State
So. C Jantel Lavender, Ohio State

Moron Alert:

Today only two of UConn's All American Trio were named finalists for the 2008-09 John R. Wooden Award today that decides the John R. Wooden All American Team and National Player of the Year. UConn's Tina Charles was left OFF the list of 19 candidates which included her teammates Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore. Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college (men's) basketball (for the women its the Wade Trophy). It is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The 2009 Award ceremony, which will include the presentation of the Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners will be hosted by the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 10th.

P.S.--If Tina isn't one of the Top 19 female college basketball players in the country then the NBA's All Everything LeBron James (aka King James) must not really be an MVP candidate this year...that's how stupid this omission is...get with it voters and stop looking just at Statistics!!!

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (33-0, 19-0 BE)

Results: Connecticut 75, Louisville 36
Player of the Game: So. SF Maya Moore
Defensive Player of the Game: RJr. SF Kalana Greene
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: 1st Half FG's: UConn 17-29, Louisville 7-28

2009 Big East Tournament Champions!!!



2009 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut

2009 Big East All Tournament Team:
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut
RJr. SF Kalana Greene, Connecticut
Sr. PF Candyce Bingham, Louisville
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
Sr. SG Shavonte Zellous, Pittsburgh

Game notes (pdf) for today's BE Tournament Championship game vs. 5/5 (2 Seed) Louisville Cardinals (29-3, 16-2 BE).

TV: ESPN & ESPN360.com, 7:00 pm

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (32-0, 18-0 BE)

Results: Connecticut 72, Villanova 42
Player of the Game: So. SF Maya Moore
Defensive Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: Pts. in the Paint: UConn 46, Villanova 4

Game notes (pdf) for today's BE Tournament Semifinal game vs. ARV (4 Seed) Villanova Wildcats (19-12, 11-6 BE).

TV: ESPNU, 6:00 pm

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (31-0, 17-0 BE)

Results: Connecticut 79, South Florida 42
Player of the Game: RJr. SF Kalana Greene
Defensive Player of the Game: So. SF Maya Moore
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: Rebounds: UConn 51, South Florida 19

Game notes (pdf) for today's BE Tournament Quarterfinal game vs. (8 Seed) South Florida Bulls (22-9, 9-8 BE).

TV: ESPNU, 2:15 pm (Geno Show, CPTV 12:30 pm)

Reminder:

Last Geno Show of the season...tomorrow on CPTV at 12:30 pm

Big East Webisodes:

Maya Moore, Connecticut

2008-09 Big East Player of the Year

Geno Auriemma, Connecticut

2008-09 Big East Co-Coach of the Year

The second half of the 2008-09 Big East Awards (aka the major awards) were announced today at a news conference. The nations #1 and undefeated team defended two of their three crowns as UConn So SF Maya Moore was named the 2008-09 Big East Player of the Year and UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma was named the 2008-09 Big East Coach of the Year.

2008-09 Big East Player of the Year:
So. SF Maya Moore, Connecticut
2008-09 Big East Freshman of the Year:
Fr. PF Da'Shena Stevens, St. John's
2008-09 Big East Co-Coaches of the Year:
Geno Auriemma, Connecticut and Harry Perretta, Villanova
2008-09 Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year:
Sr. PF Jill Stevens, Cincinnati

The first half of the 2008-09 Big East Awards were announced today through press release (the major awards will be announced tomorrow at a 5pm news conference at the Big East Tournament). As usual, the team that fails to be recognized during the season because they are held to a higher standard cleans up during the postseason awards.

2008-09 Big East Defensive Player of the Year:
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
2008-09 Big East Sixth Man Award:
Jr. SG China Threatt, DePaul
2008-09 Big East Most Improved Player Award:
Sr. SF Laura Kurz, Villanova and So. SG Sarah Miles, West Virginia
2008-09 Big East Sportsmanship Award:
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut

2008-09 All Big East First Team:
Jr. C Tina Charles, Connecticut*
Sr. PG Renee Montgomery, Connecticut*
So SF Maya Moore, Connecticut*
Sr. PF Candyce Bingham, Louisville
Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry, Louisville
RJr. SF Lindsay Schrader, Notre Dame
Sr. SG Shavonte Zellous, Pittsburgh*
Jr. SG Epiphanny Prince, Rutgers*
*Sr. PG Shantia Grace, South Florida
Sr. PG Chandrea Jones, Syracuse
Sr. SF Laura Kurz, Villanova*

2008-09 All Big East Second Team:
Jr. SG Kahla Roudebush, Cincinnati
Jr. SG Deirdre Naughton, DePaul
Sr. PF Natasha Williams, DePaul
So. PG Angel Robinson, Marquette
Jr. SG Ashley Barlow, Notre Dame
Sr. SF Xenia Stewart, Pittsburgh
Sr. SG Monique McLean, St. John’s
Sr. PF Noteisha Womack, Seton Hall
Sr. SG Takisha Granberry, West Virginia
So. SG Liz Repella, West Virginia

2008-09 All Big East Honorable Mention:
Sr. SG Karee Houlette, Georgetown
Sr. PG Krystal Ellis, Marquette
Sr. C Kia Vaughn, Rutgers
Jr. PF Nicole Michael, Syracuse

2008-09 All Big East Freshmen Team:
Fr. PG Shanasa Sanders, Cincinnati
Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes, Connecticut
Fr. PF Keisha Hampton, DePaul
Fr. SF Monique Reid, Louisville
Fr. PF Jessica Pachko, Marquette
Fr. SG Natalie Novosel, Notre Dame
Fr. PF Erica Solomon, Notre Dame
Fr. C Shawnice Wilson, Pittsburgh
Fr. PF Da’Shena Stevens, St. John's*
Fr. PF Kandice Green, Seton Hall

*unanimous selection

More Awards...

Today UConn Senior All American PG Renee Montgomery received the 2008-09 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award which is awarded to the National Player of the Year in WCBB under 5'8 (UConn's Jennifer Rizzotti won the award in 1996). The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is named in honor of James Naismith's daughter-in-law. To earn the award, the recipient must demonstrate leadership, character, loyalty, all-around basketball ability and excellence in the classroom. Montgomery will be formally recognized at the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens at Noon (CT) on Tuesday, April 7th at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in St. Louis, Mo.

Congratulations Renee for all your hardwork and dedication on and off the court...you make us UConn fans very proud to call you our own!!!!

With the regular season just wrapped up last night, I have decided to share my thoughts on who should win the 2008-09 Big East Player of the Year award. To me there are three legitimate candidates (as everyone has already discussed). Now it is time to chose a winner between UConn's Sr. PG Renee Montgomery and So. SF Maya Moore and Louisville's Sr. SF Angel McCoughtry. Now if the season was in the balance tonight then hands down the winner would be Montgomery. Her performance tonight at Rutgers was outstanding (especially coming of that disaster shooting on Senior Day). But the Big East regular season title was already decided, so tonight was more for bragging rights so this game doesn't count. So now we look to the 5 key games that won Connecticut its 17th Big East Regular season crown. I am not solely looking at numbers, but that is what I will put down for the sake of tangibles (but intangibles will be a factor).

Game 1, UConn vs. Syracuse (Doty injury & last year won in final minutes)
RM: 14p, 3r, 11a, 2t, 0s, 0b, 37m
MM: 40p, 13r, 2a, 0t, 2s, 0b, 36m
UConn wins 107-54.....POTG (Definitely) Moore

Game 2, UConn vs. Louisville (Game of the BE Season...title on the line)
RM: 11p, 0r, 6a, 3t, 3s, 0b, 35m
MM: 26p, 11r, 4a, 0t, 3s, 1b, 37m
AM: 24p, 13r, 1a, 3t, 4s, 2b, 37m
UConn wins 93-65.....POTG Moore

Game 3, UConn vs. Rutgers (one word...Rutgers)
RM: 15p, 3r, 6a, 2t, 1s, 2b, 39m
MM: 24p, 10r, 3a, 2t, 3s, 1b, 39m
UConn wins 75-56.....POTG Moore

Game 4, Louisville vs. West Virginia
AM: 27p (10-26), 9r, 2a, 5t, 6s, 0b, 4pf, 34m
West Virginia wins 79-70 (before this game UofL only sat one game behind UConn with a lot of BE games to play (7 for UofL and 8 for UConn) and this pretty much blew there shot of catching the Huskies for the title)

Game 5, UConn vs. Notre Dame (only team to lead UConn in 2nd half this season)
RM: 20p, 4, 8a, 2t, 5s, 0b, 39m
MM: 18p, 8r, 4a, 0t, 1s, 1b, 38m
UConn wins 76-66.....POTG Montgomery

So while Montgomery stepped up huge (as did Moore) in the 2nd half against ND, UConn then had a 2 game lead on UofL, so a loss only would have made the Rutgers finale a night to clinch the BE title outright over UofL. So to sum up this argument my choice for BE POTY is Maya Moore. She plays her heart out every possession, plays big in big games, plays with great show/sportsmanship, is consistant night in/night out, defends, rebounds, takes and makes great shots, and without her UConn would not have its 17th BE RS crown.

1/1 Connecticut Huskies (30-0, 16-0 BE)

Results: Connecticut 69, Rutgers 59
Player of the Game: Sr. PG Renee Montgomery
Defensive Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Freshman Player of the Game: Fr. SG Tiffany Hayes
Stat of the Game: FGs: UConn 22-40, Rutgers 22-61

Game notes (pdf) for today's game at Rutgers Scarlett Knights (18-10, 9-6 BE).

TV: ESPN2 & ESPN360.com, 7:30 pm