Connecticut, Tennessee Make For Dream Matchup

Connecticut is finally getting to play in the national championship game, against the biggest name in women’s basketball no less, and all coach Geno Auriemma wanted to think about was dinner.

Given the alternative, which is trying to figure out how his team is going to beat three-time NCAA champion Tennessee today, maybe he was doing the right thing.

“I’m going to go to dinner, I’m going to enjoy myself and think about them later,” said Auriemma, whose top-ranked Huskies routed Stanford 87-60 on Saturday, shortly after No. 3 Tennessee ripped Georgia 73-51.

Connecticut beat Tennessee 77-66 in Storrs, Conn., on Jan. 16. Now they’ll end the women’s season with the year’s most anticipated rematch.

“I think right now it’s very fitting,” Tennessee coach Pat Summitt said. “I think Connecticut is playing their best basketball and I think Tennessee is playing their best basketball.

“I think you folks with the media, as well as all the fans throughout the country, you got what you probably wanted from the very beginning.”

UConn (34-0) isn’t as deep as Tennessee (34-2) up front, but its starting trio of 6-7 Kara Wolters, 6-4 Rebecca Lobo and 6-foot Jamelle Elliott has been awesome this season.