UConn Huskies Head Coach Geno Auriemma Continues Domination Of South Florida Bulls
In the world of sports, there are rivalries, there are mismatches, and then there is whatever is happening between the UConn Huskies and USF. The Huskies are now 35-0 all-time against South Florida. Since the first time they met in 2002, Geno Auriemma has never lost to the Bulls. Not once. It doesn’t matter if the roster features Sue Bird, Maya Moore, or the current crop of young stars; the result is inevitable.
On Tuesday night, the Huskies rolled into Tampa and left the Yuengling Center with an 85-51 victory. This win moved UConn to a pristine 8-0 on the season.
Why Auriemma Had Very Little To Complain About
Auriemma is a perfectionist. He is the kind of coach who could find a flaw in a Picasso painting. But even the legendary ball coach had to tip his cap to his squad after this one.
“I didn’t have a whole lot to complain about,” Auriemma said post-game. And really, how could he?
The Huskies jumped out to a 10-0 lead before fans had even settled into their seats. By halftime, it was 48-16. That’s not a basketball game; that’s a statement. The defense was suffocating, holding the Bulls to just 51 points, their second-lowest total of the season, and forcing 20 turnovers. UConn turned those mistakes into 26 points, ruthlessly punishing every slip-up.
Auriemma specifically praised the floor spacing and ball movement, noting that the ball “doesn’t get stuck very often.” When you have shooters camped out on both sides of the floor and a defense scrambling to cover the entire court, the game looks deceptively easy.
UConn’s Depth Wins Out
What makes this year’s Auriemma-led team so dangerous isn’t just star power; it’s depth. Tuesday was a showcase for the rest of the roster.
Sophomore Sarah Strong was a force in the paint, logging her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She was relentless. Then you had Blanca Quinonez dropping 13 points and hitting from deep, while Azzi Fudd and Ashlynn Shade both chipped in 10 points apiece.
When you have four players in double figures and a defense that refuses to give an inch, you get a 34-point blowout on the road.
What This Dominance Means For Auriemma and the Huskies
For South Florida, this was a nightmare. They shot a rough 22% from the field in the first half and didn’t hit a single 3-pointer until it was far too late. But for UConn, this was business as usual.
This game served as a reminder that despite the parity growing in women’s college basketball, the road to the title still goes through Storrs. Auriemma has his team playing unselfish, high-IQ basketball in December, which is a terrifying thought for the rest of the NCAA.
They check every box. They defend, they share the ball, and they have depth. As Rebecca Lobo put it during the broadcast, “There’s not a box they do not check.” The Huskies are undefeated, healthy, and clicking. If you’re an opposing coach looking at the schedule, good luck. You’re going to need it.
