Fast Five: Geno Auriemma Messaging, Practice, and The Show

Coaching shows are platforms; coaches share ideas and send messages. Coach Auriemma shoots straight at current and future Huskies. 

Coach Auriemma remarked, "if you see me at a game (recruiting) and the average person doesn't know who's going to Connecticut in thirty seconds, that's a problem." 

Great players dominate at lower levels. It's not magic; it's obvious. It's literally child's play. 

To Coach Auriemma, "What has been the biggest takeaway (of coaches) watching your practice?" Coaches discuss the pace, intensity, and sustained accountability. These lessons transfer. When watching the women practice, I noted the tempo of practice, no wasted time. Second, it was the consistency of execution, regardless of the drill or scrimmage against the men. Third, UCONN tracked everything- consecutive scoring in drills, free throw percentage (92% that day), points scored per time allocated to a drill. 

After completing stretching before practice, the players completed two laps around the court. Nobody cut a single corner of the court. Champions don't cut corners. 

Auriemma likens basketball to a jazz band, where individual excellence blends into collaborative excellence, yet "always coming back to the team." 

Like Bill Belichick, he doesn't think he owes you anything. You're at UCONN to compete; he doesn't dance for you. You're dancing in March for yourselves. If you don't want to compete 24/7/365, don't bother going to Storrs. It won't work out. 

The Show never stops.