“So people get rewarded for being in the right conference. Just by being born a certain way, they get rewarded. And teams that are trying to really work really hard to build this competitive schedule don’t get enough rewards,” Auriemma said in his postgame interview.
TOUGH QUESTIONS FOR JACKSON STATE AND HBCU CONFERENCE COMMISSIONERS & ATHLETIC DIRECTORS:
- How does the disparity in seeding and opportunities for schools in smaller conferences, as mentioned by Coach Geno Auriemma, impact their ability to gain recognition and compete nationally?
- How might the lack of respect and opportunities for programs in smaller conferences impact women’s college basketball’s overall diversity and competitiveness, and what steps could be taken to address these issues?
- What are the potential long-term effects on programs from smaller conferences when they are inadequately rewarded for their efforts to build competitive schedules and compete nationally, as Coach Geno Auriemma mentioned?
- How does Geno Auriemma’s support for Coach Reid and his call for greater recognition of coaches and programs from smaller conferences contribute to the ongoing evolution of women’s college basketball, and what impact might it have on the sport in the future?
