UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma has voiced his concerns regarding the NCAA’s choices surrounding the women’s basketball tournament. Auriemma opened his news conference the day before his team’s Elite Eight matchup against Notre Dame by reiterating his frustration with the tournament’s two-site regional format.
Auriemma’s Critique of the Two-Site Regional Format
Auriemma has criticised the tournament’s move from a four-site regional format to a two-site one since the new system debuted in 2023. The NCAA told ESPN’s Michael Voepel this month that the two-site setup 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’ Friday shootaround, for example, was not held at Dickies Arena.
Limited Practice Time and Equipment Concerns
Auriemma questioned whether decision-makers consult coaches and players about the practicality of the tournament setup. He also echoed his consternation that the NCAA brings in 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.
Auriemma highlighted the limited practice time, saying, “Know what time our shootaround was yesterday? 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.”
Support for Longer Shootaround Times
Duke coach Kara Lawson also said she would like to see a longer shootaround for teams.
“I think you should only get a half-hour the day before the game [at the arena] and you should get an hour the day of the game of the shootaround because that’s a normal shootaround for us,” Lawson said. “So on your game day, everybody kind of gets their normal thing.
“… I mean, two regionals, I think the arena thing is the thing that’s hard. It’s not that we’re in the same city. It’s that we don’t get long enough practice or shootaround times in the venue for your most important games of the season.”
NCAA’s Stance on the Two-Regional Format
The NCAA’s intention in moving to a two-regional format was to create a better atmosphere with increased attendance. It has said the system has drawn the highest attendance numbers in tournament history. NCAA vice president for women’s basketball Lynn Holzman told ESPN the NCAA views the positives of the format as outweighing the negatives, at least for now.
Auriemma referenced attendance totaling 18,000 across both regionals Friday, though neither game in Fort Worth — the regional with the closest proximity to the Huskies as the No. 1 overall seed — neared a sellout, nor did the ones i