TUESDAY,APRIL2.2002
SPORTS
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
Connecticut women's coach plans to improve on perfection
The Associated Press
SAN ANTONIO — He's brash and successful, cockey yet charismatic. The son of Italian immigrants, there's an edge to his personality honed from growing up in Philadelphia.
Now, with his third national championship, Auriemma is ready for his next challenge: improving on perfection.
Connecticut completed a flawless run through the 2001-02 season by beating Oklahoma 82-70 at the Alamodome on Sunday night to win its second national title in three years and third since 1995.
Geno Auriemma will tell you he hasn't lost any friends while leading Connecticut on its journey to the top in women's basketball, but readily admits he probably hasn't made any new ones, either.
The Huskies finished 39-0 and won most of their games with such ease that Aurienma's only problem was making sure his players
Seven years after finishing 35-0. Connecticut has become the only school that has gone unbeaten twice. So what's the hangup?
didn't get bored. Their average victory margin of 35.4 points was the highest in NCAA history.
This is Connecticut, after all, and no one — not even six-time national champion Tennessee — has won more games during the past eight years.
Graduation, that's what. Seniors Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams accounted for 65 points in the championship game and 34 of 44 rebounds. That's a lot to replace, but Auriemma isn't seeking any sympathy, and wouldn't get any if he was.
"Do I think I could put together a team like this ever again?" Auriemma said. "If I said no, then I should get out of coaching. The goal of every coach is every year to try to put together a team like this.
"And as soon as these guys leave and I get back from doing what I have to do, I'm going to start trying to put together another team that's better than this one."
He'll start with sophomore Diana Taurasi, a free spirit who plays with a flair that Auriemma finds delightful at times and maddening at others. Still, he says Taurasi has a chance to become the best college player ever.
Because of all the blowouts reserves Jessica Moore, Ashley Battle and Maria Conlon all got valuable playing time. And his recruiting class is regarded as the best in the nation.
Ann Strother of Littleton, Colo., received the Naismith Award as the nation's top high school player. The Huskies' other recruits all were high school All-Americans: Willnett Crockett of Harbor City, Calif.; Barbara Turner of Cleveland, Ohio; and Nicole Wolff of Walpole, Mass.
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska women's basketball coach Paul Sanderford gets a $3,075 country club membership courtesy of the university.
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts
and gifts of more than $100.
Coaches report outside income
The Associated Press
That tidbit is among the information contained in reports Sanderford and Nebraska coaching colleagues Frank Solich and Barry Collier filed with the state of Nebraska.
The exact dollar amount received is not required to be reported on the form with the state Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
For the first time, coaches of football and men's and women's basketball at Nebraska were required to file a statement of financial interests with the state. The deadline was yesterday.
The 21 income sources listed by Solich included a dozen TV sponsorships with the likes of Valentino's Pizza restaurants and Furniture Mart of Omaha.
Solich also reported income from two radio shows and four speaking engagements.
The reports show all sources of outside income of more than $1,000, including stocks, bonds
Men's basketball coach Collier reported eight sources of income outside his $210,000 base salary from the university.
Those included speaking and advertising engagements and his radio talk show.
All three coaches had contracts with Adidas and Wilson Sporting Goods and all three advertised for Pacific Realty in Omaha.
Solich reported the most sources of income outside his base salary of $283,500.
Those included advertising and a radio show plus income from running a summer basketball camp.
Sanderford, who earns $146,200 as head women's basketball coach, reported seven sources of income other than his salary.
The coaches were required to report following a law change passed last year in the Legislature adding them to the list of public officials and employees who must file the forms. Others covered by the law include Gov. Mike Johanns and members of the Legislature.
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Coach James Naismith, father of basketball
Coach F.C. "Phog" Allen
Legendary player Wilt Chamberlain
Coach Roy Williams
.