Syracuse coach Felisha Legette-Jack criticizes NCAA for ‘personal attack’ following defeat to UConn

Leggett-Jack Critiques NCAA Selection Process

Felisha Leggett-Jack has called out the NCAA selection committee, suggesting it’s a “personal attack” against her and the Syracuse women’s basketball team. Following a hefty 98-45 loss to UConn, she expressed her frustrations about having to repeatedly face tough opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

During her comments after the game, she remarked on the challenges of competing against strong teams and emphasized that it’s not fair for young athletes to endure such situations. “I really don’t know what it is,” she mentioned, adding, “Someone hinted there might be a grudge against me? If that’s the case, we should have a discussion.”

This criticism is certainly backed by her experiences, as Leggett-Jack’s teams have consistently faced UConn during her four years in charge, reaching the NCAA Tournament each time.

She noted, “I’ve been part of this industry for 37 years, and I find it unacceptable to be stuck in this particular situation every year. It just feels wrong.” Leggett-Jack pointed out that UConn has eliminated Syracuse from the NCAA Tournament in five of their last seven encounters. Even during her time as head coach at Buffalo, her team fell to UConn in the tournament.

Unlike the men’s tournament, where the top seeds can host matches on their campuses, NCAA practices for women’s teams result in significant travel challenges. Leggett-Jack expressed her frustration, “For us to be sent to Connecticut every year—it feels like a personal affront to my abilities and to our program’s potential.”

She mentioned needing the NCAA to rethink its approach, as it seems financially motivated to keep teams closer to campuses to cut costs on travel. The committee is required to charter flights for teams traveling more than 400 miles during the tournament’s first weekend, easing the limit to 350 miles for regional finals and the Final Four.

As she wrapped up, Leggett-Jack acknowledged her respect for UConn’s contribution to women’s basketball growth, saying, “I just want to thank UConn for elevating the game every year. Our aim is to develop our program to be competitive enough to challenge them head-on when the time comes.”