"BAD CALL" WASN'T SO BAD, AFTER ALL

 GENO AURIEMMA has always been a smart guy, dating back to his days as assistant to Virginia women’s basketball coach DEBBIE RYAN. After he left in 1985 to take over the University of Connecticut program and build it into a national powerhouse, Ryan wasn’t surprised, adding to her rundown of obvious reasons … “I have to admit … I was intimidated by him.”

She wasn’t the only one … as the suddenly-rejuvenated 

Huskies, who had one winning season – ONE!! -- before 

Auriemma’s arrival, ran roughshod over rivals. At one stretch 

his teams won 89 games IN A ROW. They’ve been to 21 final 

fours. From 1995 through 2016, they claimed 11 NCAA 

championships, leaving such rivals as Tennessee – which had 

always been the team to beat under Hall of Fame coach PAT 

SUMMIT – in their wake.

No question … UConn under Auriemma has been most 

responsible for making the woman’s game relevant … and such 

standouts as Iowa’s CAITLIN CLARK, not to mention a 

bunch of players developed into All-Americans by him 

(DIANA TAURASI, SUE BIRD, REBECCA LOBO … the 

list goes on and on) possible. He’s already in two major halls of 

fame.

A victim of his own success, the native of Italy who came to 

this country as a seven-year-old with his family and settled in 

Norristown, N.J., hasn’t been as dominant in recent seasons. 

Friday, UConn lost to Iowa 81-79 in the national semifinals 

after leading by as many as 12 points in the first half when 

Clark was 0 for 6 from three-point range … and had seven 

points after averaging 32.6 for the seasons. With the dead-eye 

Hawkeye regaining her touch in the second half, Iowa opened a 

nine-point advantage … but we should have known this one 

wouldn’t be decided until the final seconds … awash in 

controversy … when Connecticut’s AALIYAH EDWARDS

 was called for an illegal pick … with 3.9 seconds to go … and 

a one-point Iowa lead.

The Huskies never had possession again … although they did 

have a golden opportunity when Clark missed the second of 

two free throws … but the Hawkeyes wound up with 

possession …  3 … 2 … 1. Game over. Let the gnashing of 

teeth, the beatdown of the game officials, cries of we wuz 

robbed … and all kinds of stupid, illogical reasoning begin.

If only Auriemma,70, had stood tall … and tell the world what 

he knew in his heart to be true … he would have only added to 

the Legend of Geno. Indeed from his immediate reaction … to 

what from now on will be known as The Call … you were left 

with the impression that, while he couldn’t believe it, he wasn’t 

going to point a finger at the game official.

Actually, Auriemma didn’t have to … not when SCOTT VAN 

PELTwas in the house for ESPN … joined by ANDREA 

CARTER, linchpin of a four-person pregame, halftime and 

postgame group. First, Van Pelt began his late SportsCenter gig 

with: “Heavyweight showdown that comes down to the final 

seconds … and a call that will certainly be the subject of a great 

deal of debate.”

Oh, really? Check it out … the replay, that is. Edwards steps 

out to block ABBIE MARSHALL from staying with UConn 

All-American PAIGE BUECKERS … who suddenly had a 

step or two on her. (The Huskies ran the same play earlier … 

when Edwards faked a screen on Marshall then cut for the 

basket and took a pass for an easy two. This time the play was 

designed for Bueckers to attempt the potential winning shot 

from directly in front of the Connecticut bench.)

The Huskies’ biggest starter at 6-3, 174, Edwards slides both 

feet to her left then, arms folded, pops Marshall, going wide 

and trying to avoid her, in the face and chest with a left forearm 

and elbow. Marshall doesn’t go down but continues on, 

embellishing the hit 

somewhat … although she didn’t have to … as the nearest 

official quickly blew her whistle, indicating the foul was on 

Edwards. 

“That was really, REALLY a tough call … with 3.9 on the clock 

… in a one-point game,” said Van Pelt.  “… to make that call. 

You see Geno’s reaction.”

There is a camera-closeup of Coach Auriemma, bending over, 

talking to himself … as if to say, I CAN’T BELIEVE SHE 

[EDWARDS] DID THAT … WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?” 

Had he blamed the official, he undoubtedly would have gone 

straight for her to unleash his frustration. The game was over, 

for all intents and purposes.

“So Iowa survives,” Van Pelt said, adding, “… all the credit in 

the world to ... UConn for coming back to make a one-point 

game of it.”

At this point, you don’t think he had a rooting interest, do 

you? There were other examples … like, with second-half 

highlights rolling … “UCONN WILL NOT GO AWAY … 

Little bit of contact … no call there. Clark makes the bucket. 

(Clark drives, pulls up while colliding with her defender who 

puts a little extra into falling back.)

We also watch Bueckers hug the Iowa player who, off balance, 

throws the ball away … leading to a three-point field goal that 

cuts the deficit to one. What … “no call there,” SVP?

Carter joins Van Pelt … who says, “I hate, hate, HATE … I 

don’t care what school it is … to start the conversation 

talking about the officials but … that call, in that moment … 

I’m saying you CAN’T make it.”

Carter: “I agree. I hated the call. You’ve got to give Marshall 

credit for trying to fight over the screen [Over? Seriously?] 

which  drew the referee’s attention ... but to me, that final play  

is not about Iowa’s defense, it’s about The Call … Maybe there 

was a slight lean … maybe Edwards’ leg was slightly out … 

[You’ve got to be kidding!] but be honest ... the calls were 

even. There were missed calls [for both teams]. That call took 

away an opportunity for players to make plays. That call … to 

be honest, and I don’t know if I can say this on TV … that call 

sucked, SVP.”

SVP: “Yeah, you can say that. As a fan you can live with the 

result if … a player gets a chance to make the play … As a fan 

of the game … you just want to see the opportunity for UConn, 

who roars back … [and] if the ball doesn’t go, it doesn’t go … 

[Pause] … That, as you said, sucks.”

In fairness to Van P … sorry, SVP … it’s entirely possible he 

was overdoing Connecticut on orders from the people who 

write his check. Otherwise, how to explain Lobo working the 

game as analyst and Bird and Taurasi joining the post-game 

SportsCenter later … ESPN has gone off the rails in recent 

years, tying politics to sports … and this could be a response to 

criticism the media has been too kind to Clark at the expense of 

other women basketball players, past and present. We’ll get a 

better idea about that during Sunday’s final. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile … there was no mention of all the layups Iowa 

missed especially in the first half.

Of course, the officiating was suspect … downright 

inconsistent. So what else is new?

“Let me get out of my own way and stop complaining about the 

officiating,” said SVP, who then couldn’t help himself, adding: 

‘You saw the heart of a champion in UConn, the fight and 

resolve. And you saw the excellence of Iowa as well …

We could have sworn Iowa won and plays for the championship 

for the second straight season. The Huskies … and Geno … go 

home … but what do I know? I’m just a kid.

Until next time ...