"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 CA...