Why Notre Dame’s victory over UConn women’s basketball may serve as a teaching moment: “They will find a solution.”
Yes, Saturday in Storrs, Notre Dame and rookie Hannah Hidalgo were outstanding and by far the superior team. UConn’s 82-67 defeat, though, revealed so much more.
Without Nika Mühl, UConn’s defense stagnated. Whenever Paige Bueckers had a bad night, nobody came forward. Even though she finished with a double-double, Aaliyah Edwards was unable to receive the ball in crucial situations.
There’s a purpose to UConn coach Geno Auriemma scheduling these challenging, difficult nonconference games in the middle of the Big East season. He wants his group to develop and learn. to compare them with other highly regarded programs.
Perhaps this squad needed a kick in the stomach because their next game is on the road against No. 1 South Carolina in just two weeks. When UConn plays the Gamecocks, not all of its problems will have been resolved. It won’t become larger or more knowledgeable over night. But the Huskies still have three games still to go before then, so they can definitely get better.