Geno Auriemma explains how UConn can finish off Duke, advance to Elite Eight

Geno Auriemma was pleased with UConn’s lead over Duke, but with the way the third quarter ended. UConn led 42-27 going into the final frame.

The Huskies were playing tremendous defense but the offense was hit and miss. Heck, the first quarter was only a 10-6 lead for UConn.

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Auriemma explained what could be done to stay on the right track and finish off the game on a positive note to advance.

“Well, I think we got our signals crossed a couple of times,” Auriemma said to ESPN’s Angel Gray. “And you know, we had a nice little run there, you know, a nice little roll. We had a rhythm there. And I think we just got confused a little bit and you know, when we’re getting a little bit tired too, and also, this time out, at the end of the quarter comes out real good time.

“We just got to get our bearings back again, but I like the way we’re attacking. I love the way we’re playing defense. We just got to just got to finish it off now.”

Coming into the game, Auriemma stressed that his team’s mindset was in the right place.

“All right. Well, you wait a long time to play in these games,” Auriemma said. “You hope you have the right mindset like you need to have to win this time of the year. Everyone that’s in this tournament, I think they’re excited about the opportunity to play because it’s one more step towards everyone’s goal. Everyone’s goal is to win a national championship.

“Everyone who is playing still is obviously a tough matchup for everybody. We’ve done the best that we can with what we have. Here we are. Looking forward to tomorrow.”

Despite having common opponents, Auriemma knew this was a fresh matchup.

“I think their style of play is very, very different than our style of play,” Auriemma said. “We may have played the same opponents, but that doesn’t mean that the opponents played them the same way they played us.

“All you can do is go by what their strengths and weaknesses are. They show up over a period of three or four months. Obviously they beat a really, really good Ohio State team on the road. They’re a much younger, much different team than the team we played here last year. We’re a little bit different team, as well.”