Geno Auriemma Critiques NCAA Tournament Changes

Geno Auriemma, head coach of the UW women’s basketball team, expressed strong disapproval of the NCAA’s recent tournament format changes. The 72-year-old coach was notably upset about the lack of consultation with players and coaches before shifting from a four-site to a two-site regional system for the 2023 tournament.

Auriemma pointed out that this new system has led to complications regarding shootaround times and has negatively impacted the quality of play. “I don’t understand some of the decisions that are made regarding our game as we try to grow God’s Game,” he mentioned during a press conference.

He went on to highlight concerning statistics from the Sweet 16 games, noting that several teams had subpar three-point shooting percentages.

“Do you know what time the gunfight was yesterday? 6:20 a.m. ET; I think it’s about 30 minutes,” Auriemma said, criticizing the scheduling. Each team in the arena shares practice time, which he feels has reduced available time on the court for teams.

Auriemma also raised concerns about the quality of the equipment used. “I think they’re bringing in a new basket, a new basketball right out of the box,” he explained, describing how players struggled with basic skills like dribbling and shooting.

Despite the challenges, Auriemma acknowledged that his team probably isn’t shooting as well as usual, but noted that their performance was significantly below their season averages. “How many arenas are you going to fill with that bull?” he asked rhetorically.

The NCAA’s motivation behind the two-region system was aimed at boosting attendance, and it seems they have achieved some success with record numbers. However, Auriemma emphasized that there remain many unanswered questions about the changes.

This respected coach, who has secured 12 national championships, will aim to guide his top-seeded, undefeated team (37-0) to victory against No. 6 Notre Dame in the Elite Eight on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.