Improving perfection

SAN ANTONIO

He's brash and successful, cocky yet charismatic. The son of Italian immigrants, there's an edge to his personality honed from growing up in Philadelphia.

Geno Auriemma will tell you he hasn't lost any friends while leading Connecticut on its journey to the top in women's basketball, but readily admits he probably hasn't made any new ones, either.

Now, with his third national championship, Auriemma is ready for his next challenge: improving on perfection.

Connecticut completed a flawless run through the 2001-02 season by beating Oklahoma 82-70 at the Alamodome on Sunday night to win its second national title in three years and third since 1995.

The Huskies finished 39-0 and won most of their games with such ease that Auriemma's only problem was making sure his players didn't get bored. Their average victory margin of 35.4 points was the highest in NCAA history.

Seven years after finishing 35-0, Connecticut has become the only school that has gone unbeaten twice. So what's the hangup?

Graduation, that's what. Seniors Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams accounted for 65 points in the championship game and 34 of 44 rebounds. That's a lot to replace, but Auriemma isn't seeking any sympathy, and wouldn't get any if he was.

This is Connecticut, after all, and no one -- not even six-time national champion Tennessee -- has won more games over the last eight years.

"Do I think I could put together a team like this ever again?" Auriemma said. "If I said no, then I should get out of coaching. The goal of every coach is every year to try to put together a team like this.

"And as soon as these guys leave and I get back from doing what I have to do, I'm going to start trying to put together another team that's better than this one."

He'll start with sophomore Diana Taurasi, a free spirit who plays with a flair that Auriemma finds delightful at times and maddening at others. Still, he says Taurasi has a chance to become the best college player ever.

Because of blowouts, Jessica Moore, Ashley Battle and Maria Conlon got valuable playing time. And his recruiting class is regarded as the best in the nation.

Ann Strother of Littleton, Colo., received the Naismith Award as the nation's top high school player. The Huskies' other recruits all were All-Americans: Willnett Crockett of Harbor City, Calif.; Barbara Turner of Cleveland, Ohio; and Nicole Wolff of Walpole, Mass.

If that's not enough, Connecticut might sign 6-foot-7 Gillian Goring of Waterloo, Iowa, this month.

"It will be challenging, a lot of responsibility on D's shoulders," Auriemma said, referring to Taurasi. "It's going to be harder on D, but D's going to handle it. Can she get us back here? I don't know. I guess that's what will be fun next year about playing."