Sports

UConn Women Go For All-Time Wins Record Tonight

In search of the team's 89th straight win, the Huskies "competitive greatness" creates a resounding buzz across the local and national sports landscape.

Some see it as the high point in a long crusade to keep women's sports highlighted on the athletic map. Some see it as history. Some are just enjoying the games.

But one thing is for certain-when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team takes on Florida State Tuesday night in search of its 89th straight win, the eyes of the sports world will be on the Huskies.

''I know I'll be watching it,'' says UNLV women's basketball coach Kathy Olivier.

"The TV will be on here,'' says Billy Saxon, who owns Holiday Restaurant in Ellington.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford and will be televised nationally by ESPN. By beating Ohio State by 30 points Sunday in New York, the Huskies tied the current Division I winning streak set by the UCLA men from 1971 to '74.

UConn's attempt to break the streak-coached by Hall of Famer John Wooden-has sparked a debate about men versus women and era against era, especialy considering Title IX was enactd in the middle of UCLA's streak.. UConn coach Geno Auriemma says there is a bottom line to it all.

''Whether you agree or disagree with time, the era, the competitive balance…you can put any spin on it and make it better, the same or less, it is just a matter of how you choose to look at it,'' Auriemma says. ''One thing that is non-negotiable is the one thing we have in common -- we settle for nothing less than the absolute best that we can give you every single night and day and there are very few people that do that. They did it and we're doing it. Everything else to me is meaningless.''

Gail Goodrich, one of UCLA's first stars in the 1960s, did represent the university as Auriemma's guest in New York.

''Those people who played on those teams…they understand we're a team and we do what teams do. We go out there and we play hard, we play together and accomplish what we set out to do,'' Auriemma says.

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero agrees.

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"UCLA would like to congratulate the Connecticut women's basketball program on its fantastic winning streak," Guerro says. "Coach Auriemma and his student-athletes are to be lauded for establishing a level of excellence that will long be remembered. The ability to maintain a consistent quality of play, night in and night out, over such a long period of time is something that can be appreciated by sports fans everywhere.''

Auriemma did acknowledge in his post-game news conference on Sunday that the underlying issue of a women's team breaking a record set by a men's team makes UConn's story a little more intriguing. 

''It's great for women's basketball,'' says Olivier, an All-American at UNLV who coached at UCLA before returning to her alma mater to coach. ''Obviously, this game is getting lot of attention and anytime we get the attention we're happy.''

Olivier says that some circles in the women's game wish it were a woman who coached UConn. But she also quickly adds the game is what matters most.

''This is a real dynasty and real dynasties get attention,'' she says. ''Do I wish it were us? Heck yeah. But the attention is good for the women's game.''

Vernon Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway thought about the irony for her. She did her academic work after she had children and says if she tried to go to Trinity College in Hartford right away for her undergraduate degree, it would have been a men-only institution. She received her sixth-year and doctorates from UConn.

''What UConn has done is phenomenal,'' she says. ''Whether it is men-against-men or women-against-women,  the achievement is fantastic. I hope the sports world holds the UConn streak the same way it did to the UCLA team. The achievement is equal.''
 
Olivier says the buzz UCoon has created in its market can be felt on the Vegas Strip, around the corner from the UNLV campus.

''People will be watching,'' she says. 

Laurie Rosner, Rockville Bank's senior vice president for marketing and administrative services officer says as a company, ''Rockville Bank roots for the Huskies.''

Find out what's happening in Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mike Correnti, who manages the Time Out sports bar in Manchester, admits that people heading out to watch a women's basketball game is a little ''weird,'' in a good way.

''The game will be on,'' he says . ''And people will come here because  they know the game will be on.''

Over at Holiday in Ellington restaurant, Saxon knows people will ask to watch the game.

''I want to watch it because it is history,'' he says. ''I usually don't watch basketball, but I'll watch it because it is part of history.''

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell took a similar approach at the Monday news conference introducing new UConn president Susan Herbst, the university's first female chief executive, by saying, ''UConn is making history on and off the court with its women.''

Guerrero put a divine stamp on the whole thing from the UCLA perspective. 

"While these two streaks may have occurred in different eras, I think it would bring a smile to Coach Wooden's face to see the competitive greatness of this Connecticut team," he says.

Where to Watch

UConn vs. Florida State,  7 p.m. at the XL Center in Hartford. Televised nationally by ESPN. 

Can't get to the game in person? Windsor fans can watch it together on a big screen at one of the local bars in town:

Union Street Tavern, 20 Union Street, 860-683-2899

Tunxis Bar & Grill, 3 Tunxis Street, 860-688-6429

Buffalo Wild Wings, 703 Poquonock Avenue., 860-688-9464

Chili's Grill & Bar, 1035 Kennedy Road, 860-687-1388




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