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UConn looking to double their Final Four pleasure again
The men's team at UConn has already taken care of their end of the bargain and now the women's team is up next.
If the Huskies beat Duke on Tuesday night, it will be the third time that both teams advanced to the Final Four during the same season.
Naturally, the UConn players are thrilled at the success of the men's program.
"We were in the hotel, we were watching the end of (Saturday's Elite Eight game against Arizona) and we were all screaming in the hallway, high-fiving, chest-bumping, it was awesome to see how our men are just shocking the world," Maya Moore said. "I don't even know what they were ranked in the preseason but to come to where they are now, the poise that the young team is playing with, how they don't get rattled. Kemba (Walker) was doing a great job of leading them, sometimes during the games he may be struggling to score but he hits the shot when he needs to hit. Alex (Oriaki) and the inside guys are playing great D. It is really fun to watch, I know we are really excited and it gives us a little extra motivation to play better."
If it happens, it would be the second time in the last three years that both teams advanced to the Final Four. As a point of reference, that feat was only accomplished once in the first 17 years that the NCAA took over control of the women's basketball tournament. UConn made history in 2004 when both teams won national titles, an accomplishment that has not been repeated before or since.
"I am excited for the men," Stefanie Dolson said. "It's just so cool seeing how well they are doing and how much they have improved. It is definitely a motivation for us to play just as well and do well in the tournament.
"Me and Lauren Engeln go as much as we can. It's crazy, just the adrenaline and excitement you get from being there, it is like high school when you have your girls' team and guys' team. You get just as excited for their games as you do for their own. It is a great feeling."
Here's a look at programs with men's and women's basketball teams in the NCAA Division I Final Four the same season.
1983 Georgia
1999 Duke
2002 Oklahoma
2003 Texas
2004 UConn (only school to win both titles)
2005 Michigan State
2006 LSU
2009 UConn
If the Huskies beat Duke on Tuesday night, it will be the third time that both teams advanced to the Final Four during the same season.
Naturally, the UConn players are thrilled at the success of the men's program.
"We were in the hotel, we were watching the end of (Saturday's Elite Eight game against Arizona) and we were all screaming in the hallway, high-fiving, chest-bumping, it was awesome to see how our men are just shocking the world," Maya Moore said. "I don't even know what they were ranked in the preseason but to come to where they are now, the poise that the young team is playing with, how they don't get rattled. Kemba (Walker) was doing a great job of leading them, sometimes during the games he may be struggling to score but he hits the shot when he needs to hit. Alex (Oriaki) and the inside guys are playing great D. It is really fun to watch, I know we are really excited and it gives us a little extra motivation to play better."
If it happens, it would be the second time in the last three years that both teams advanced to the Final Four. As a point of reference, that feat was only accomplished once in the first 17 years that the NCAA took over control of the women's basketball tournament. UConn made history in 2004 when both teams won national titles, an accomplishment that has not been repeated before or since.
"I am excited for the men," Stefanie Dolson said. "It's just so cool seeing how well they are doing and how much they have improved. It is definitely a motivation for us to play just as well and do well in the tournament.
"Me and Lauren Engeln go as much as we can. It's crazy, just the adrenaline and excitement you get from being there, it is like high school when you have your girls' team and guys' team. You get just as excited for their games as you do for their own. It is a great feeling."
Here's a look at programs with men's and women's basketball teams in the NCAA Division I Final Four the same season.
1983 Georgia
1999 Duke
2002 Oklahoma
2003 Texas
2004 UConn (only school to win both titles)
2005 Michigan State
2006 LSU
2009 UConn
Labels: Maya Moore, Stefanie Dolson
posted by Jim Fuller at
6:08 PM
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