STORRS — -
If there is a level beyond perfection, the UConn women's basketball team intends to discover it this season and plant its flag in the surface.
The idea the Huskies may lack motivation after what was accomplished in 2008-09 lacks merit in their minds. They finished 39-0, the third UConn team to win every game. They won every game by at least 10 points, the only team in history to do so. And they won the program's sixth national championship.
That was all very nice. Now what? The Huskies open the 2009-10 season today (2 p.m., CPTV) at Gampel Pavilion against Northeastern. Before the game, the championship won in St. Louis will be commemorated by the unveiling of another banner.
"That's going to be very emotional," Tina Charles said. "But I'm ready to get started again — especially with this team."
This team, with basically all its important components in place, is determined to redefine perfection, for no other reason than to suit its needs.
"The motivation is another championship," senior Kalana Greene said. "We don't feel like life is complete now that we've won one. We still want another one. And our motivation is also about not being constantly compared to last year's team."
The first challenge is internal. The Huskies will be without starting point guard Lorin Dixon, who strained her hamstring in Monday's exhibition against Vanguard.
"Point is and always will be the most important position on any basketball team," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.
It's also likely Dixon will not play Tuesday against Texas in San Antonio, perhaps not even Friday at Holy Cross.
"You know what, we did lose something. We lost Renee Montgomery [the All-American point guard]," Greene said. "And that's just going to make us work even harder to come out and chase the same goal as last year. It won't be as easy. We only have 11 players and right now there is just 10 [without Dixon], but when you know you've worked so hard for something and you attain it, it makes you feel so good."
Sophomores Tiffany Hayes and Caroline Doty will start in the backcourt — Hayes at the point — with Greene and All-Americans Tina Charles and Maya Moore in support.
"Anybody can handle the ball that's played in high school," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Hayes and Doty. "It's just a matter of learning what to do with it."
The bench will be bolstered by seniors Kaili McLaren and Meghan Gardler and freshman guard Kelly Faris, consistent and poised in the preseason.
"I've always said the motivation a team has comes internally from each individual," Auriemma said. "To me, that's the best kind, where each individual feels like they have something to prove. It doesn't get any better than that.
"The worst thing we can do is try to compare ourselves, or listen to others try to compare us to last year's team. That team never tried to live up to the other unbeaten teams we've had. We were just playing and this team would be well-served to do that and see what happens.
"They want to play in the last game of the season in San Antonio and whether they have no losses or 10 it doesn't matter. They understand completely how difficult it's going to be, with this schedule and no senior in the backcourt."
The idea the Huskies may lack motivation after what was accomplished in 2008-09 lacks merit in their minds. They finished 39-0, the third UConn team to win every game. They won every game by at least 10 points, the only team in history to do so. And they won the program's sixth national championship.
That was all very nice. Now what? The Huskies open the 2009-10 season today (2 p.m., CPTV) at Gampel Pavilion against Northeastern. Before the game, the championship won in St. Louis will be commemorated by the unveiling of another banner.
"That's going to be very emotional," Tina Charles said. "But I'm ready to get started again — especially with this team."
This team, with basically all its important components in place, is determined to redefine perfection, for no other reason than to suit its needs.
"The motivation is another championship," senior Kalana Greene said. "We don't feel like life is complete now that we've won one. We still want another one. And our motivation is also about not being constantly compared to last year's team."
The first challenge is internal. The Huskies will be without starting point guard Lorin Dixon, who strained her hamstring in Monday's exhibition against Vanguard.
"Point is and always will be the most important position on any basketball team," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.
It's also likely Dixon will not play Tuesday against Texas in San Antonio, perhaps not even Friday at Holy Cross.
"You know what, we did lose something. We lost Renee Montgomery [the All-American point guard]," Greene said. "And that's just going to make us work even harder to come out and chase the same goal as last year. It won't be as easy. We only have 11 players and right now there is just 10 [without Dixon], but when you know you've worked so hard for something and you attain it, it makes you feel so good."
Sophomores Tiffany Hayes and Caroline Doty will start in the backcourt — Hayes at the point — with Greene and All-Americans Tina Charles and Maya Moore in support.
"Anybody can handle the ball that's played in high school," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Hayes and Doty. "It's just a matter of learning what to do with it."
The bench will be bolstered by seniors Kaili McLaren and Meghan Gardler and freshman guard Kelly Faris, consistent and poised in the preseason.
"I've always said the motivation a team has comes internally from each individual," Auriemma said. "To me, that's the best kind, where each individual feels like they have something to prove. It doesn't get any better than that.
"The worst thing we can do is try to compare ourselves, or listen to others try to compare us to last year's team. That team never tried to live up to the other unbeaten teams we've had. We were just playing and this team would be well-served to do that and see what happens.
"They want to play in the last game of the season in San Antonio and whether they have no losses or 10 it doesn't matter. They understand completely how difficult it's going to be, with this schedule and no senior in the backcourt."