UConn's Geno Auriemma questions NCAA tournament setup, prep - ESPN

FORT WORTH — UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma once again ripped the NCAA for its choices surrounding the women's basketball tournament, saying on Saturday, «I just don't understand some of the decisions that are made about our game when we're trying to grow the goddamn game.»

Auriemma, a 12-time national champion and the sport's winningest coach, opened his news conference the day prior to his team's Elite Eight matchup against Notre Dame reiterating his frustration with the tournament's two-site regional format. And after first bringing it up Friday following the Huskies' 63-42 win over No. 4 seed North Carolina, he echoed his consternation that the NCAA brings in unused equipment for regionals that hasn't been broken in.

«Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, 'Hey, does this work? Do you guys do this during the regular season? Is this normal?'» Auriemma said.

The coach has criticized the tournament's move from a four-site regional format to a two-site one since it debuted in 2023. The NCAA told ESPN's Michael Voepel this month that that system is guaranteed for at least five more seasons.

Having eight teams share one arena, Auriemma has pointed out, means each program ends up getting less practice time in the arena and on the game court. The Huskies' shootaround yesterday, for example, was not held at Dickies Arena.

«Know what time our shootaround was yesterday?» Auriemma said. «6:20, I think, for half an hour. This morning I just saw Notre Dame leaving, so they had media this morning. Their practice time is tonight at 5:30.… You know what time our practice time is? 6:30 tonight.»

Duke coach Kara Lawson also said she would like to see a longer shootaround for teams.

«I