Geno Auriemma is used to having striking matches outside the conference to test his UConn Huskies during the regular season.
This did not happen this year, as the Huskies did not play against a team outside the classified Big East because of the coronavirus pandemic. UConn had games scheduled at the start against No. 2 Louisville and after-No. 6 State of Mississippi, but these were eliminated when the Huskies were on pause because of the virus.
A game against Baylor was canceled earlier this month when Lady Bears coach Kim Mulkey tested positive for the coronavirus. UConn has two more chances to play against teams ranked outside the conference with Tennessee and South Carolina on the schedule.
The Huskies are not alone with the games being eliminated, as 10 of the current members of the AP women’s basketball poll have yet to face an unqualified opponent at the conference this season, including the five Pac-12 teams that are in the Top 25.
Another five faced only one classified opponent who is not in their conference. The only clash outside the conference between the top 10 teams this season was a dispute at the start of the season between then-No. 1 South Carolina and eight NC states ranked. Wolfpack solved the problem. On the other hand, on the male side, most of the current top 25 faced at least one ranked opponent outside the conference.
The lack of striking matches outside the conference could cause some excitement for the NCAA women’s basketball selection committee when trying to find out who deserves to be in the NCAA Tournament and where the teams should be placed.
“It won’t be the same this year,” said the selection committee chairman, Nina King, in a telephone interview with the AP. “It is certainly a challenge. … What happens with team selection is not just one of the criteria that we observe. There are many different things. One is not heavier than the other. We will have lively discussions. “
Longtime ESPN and CBS analyst Deb Antonelli was saddened by the sport as so many big games were canceled or postponed.
“It is disappointing that we cannot show the game at the highest level because our game has prospered and grown in many ways,” she said. “The so-called vision test will really put additional pressure on the committee because, whether you like numbers or metrics, having the entire tournament in San Antonio removes the geography, now they can’t hide behind the geography.”
King admitted that it may be more difficult to select 64 teams this year with less data from clashes outside the conference, but she has faith that the committee will do so.
“We are going to have a real S curve this year, but I haven’t thought about it much yet,” she said. “I am focused, as my committee colleagues are watching the teams and seeing how we will make the selections this year.
Auriemma joked that, with the cancellation of several out-of-conference clashes across the country, the committee might have to consider the teams’ reputation even more than usual when making a key.
“Do you know the film ‘Casablanca’ … where do they go, ‘Gather the usual suspects?'” Said Auriemma. “I think this is what will happen. When everything breaks down, just gather the usual suspects. “
With all the games that have been postponed or canceled so far, there is a fear that the teams will not even reach the minimum of 13 games. UConn played only seven games and its next two were postponed.
Teams cannot begin submitting exemptions until February 26 for the NCAA petition to be allowed to play in the tournament if they do not meet the minimum standard. After the deadline, layoffs would only be considered if a conference tournament was canceled and if this was a team’s 13th game. Teams can also count only one of their tournament games to 13.
“It is unprecedented and there is no manual for this one too. We will work until the end, ”said King. “COVID is COVID and we don’t want to penalize a team for being uncontrollable.”
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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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