04/04/26 01:54:00
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04/04 13:52 CDT Geno Auriemma apologizes after tense endgame exchange with Dawn
Staley in UConn loss
Geno Auriemma apologizes after tense endgame exchange with Dawn Staley in UConn
loss
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
PHOENIX (AP) --- UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions
during a heated exchange with Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskies' loss to
South Carolina in the women's Final Four.
A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South
Carolina's 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches
from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma
walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with
anyone from South Carolina.
"There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina.
It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut," the Hall
of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. "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."
Staley said Saturday morning she was focused on the title game against UCLA on
Sunday and not what happened a night earlier.
"For me, no distractions at this time. I'm concentrating on winning a national
championship, that's it," Staley said. "That's a little disheartening. This is
sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and
ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national
championship."
Staley later said that she would address it at a later point.
After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional
pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday
night.
"I have no idea," the South Carolina coach said after the game. "But I'm going
to let you know this: I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So if I did something
wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his
hand at the beginning of the game. I didn't know. I went down there pregame,
shook everybody on his staff's hand.
"I don't know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get
heated. We move on."
South Carolina advanced to play UCLA in the title game on Sunday. The Gamecocks
are looking for their third championship in five seasons.
UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other the next two years with the
first game in Connecticut.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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