PHOENIX — UConn coach Geno Auriemma apologized to the South Carolina employees Saturday for his emotional outburst at Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley within the closing seconds of their nationwide semifinal on the girls’s Final Four.
“There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,” Auriemma stated in an announcement issued by the varsity. “It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
In the waning seconds of UConn’s 62-48 loss to South Carolina, Auriemma approached Staley for a postgame handshake then angrily got in her face earlier than Staley began firing again.
The two had been separated, however Staley saved shouting towards the UConn bench earlier than strolling away. Auriemma walked off to the tunnel alone.
In his postgame information convention, Auriemma stated he was annoyed that he waited three minutes for a pregame handshake with Staley and stated he didn’t remorse feedback he made to ESPN’s Holly Rowe through the broadcast by which he lamented the shortage of fouls in opposition to South Carolina and stated Staley “rants and raves” on the officers and “calls the referees some names you don’t want to hear.”
Staley stated Saturday that she was targeted on the title sport in opposition to UCLA on Sunday and never what occurred an evening earlier.
“Nothing, nothing can derail us, or me, from staying with the task at hand,” Staley stated. “There are a lot of distractions that are placed in your life. You’re either going to address them and let it overcome or you stick with the task at hand.”
She later stated that she would deal with the incident with Auriemma at a later level.
The UConn coach’s assertion apologized to the South Carolina workforce and employees however didn’t point out Staley by identify. She famous Friday night time that she did not need the scenario to overshadow the accomplishment of her workforce — reaching a fourth championship sport up to now 5 tournaments and 6 consecutive Final Fours. Despite her want, that has grow to be the most important storyline of the weekend.
“Yeah, that’s a little disheartening,” Staley stated. “At the same time, this is sports. Sometimes things like this happen. That’s why I’m just going to continue to focus on our team and their ability to advance in this tournament, hopefully win another national championship.”
The two-time AP Coach of the Year credited senior level guard Raven Johnson for calming her down within the warmth of the second. As Staley was being circled and restrained by her employees, Johnson slid up from the again and calmly gave her coach a high-five.
“It’s just so classic Raven,” Staley stated. “I mean, she makes me laugh even in the most difficult situations because she’s so innocent. Like, she really is a really kindhearted young lady. Sometimes you need people around you to put things in perspective.
“It really was a chilled for her to do this. Just to break the ice of what was taking place in actual time.”
Johnson chuckled and said she didn’t really know why she gave the high-five. The goal was just to calm her coach down.
A former point guard, Staley is known to be tough on those who play the position, and that duo has been together in the spotlight for four years. Johnson has never missed a Final Four during her career as the two have formed a close bond.
“I actually simply noticed her screaming,” Johnson said. “Something she would not often do. I ran over to her fast. Like, I do not play about Coach Staley in any respect. We’ve been by loads collectively. She fights for every one in every of us exterior of basketball.
“When she’s in situations like this, I’m always going to have her back.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
