Geno Auriemma and UConn did what they had been speculated to do towards Tomekia Reed’s Jackson State program within the first spherical of the NCAA Event — dominate.
Nonetheless, after the 86-64 win over the SWAC champion, the UConn coach had reward for JSU after dealing with it in his personal again yard.
“Going undefeated in your league — I don’t care what league you play in or who you play towards. You play 18 convention video games and also you win all of them, and also you win your convention match — that’s a helluva job, Auriemma mentioned after the sport. “And it’s not prefer it’s the primary time, proper? I imply she’s been doing this for fairly a while there.
Jackson State acquired a no. 14 seed in its area, the second time prior to now three seasons that it was awarded that seed after successful the SWAC Event title. JSU gave LSU all it may deal with again within the 2022 NCAA Event earlier than in the end falling quick. Her group’s play earned her reward from Kim Mulkey, one which many noticed as a backhanded praise.
This time it needed to face a UConn program that is among the pillars of girls’s school basketball. Auriemma, one of many all-time nice coaches, went on to say that coaches like Reed want extra recognition and alternatives.
Whereas Reed was grateful for Auriemma’s feedback, she made it clear that she is proud to symbolize JSU, the SWAC and HBCUs as an entire.
“For me at Jackson State — I not solely needed to place our college on the map — I needed to place HBCUs on the map,” Reed mentioned. We’ve such a particular group that lots of people overlook. We’ve a group that’s not constructed on wins and loses, however constructed on household and love.
However to make sure, the wins are mounting and never simply at JSU.
Reed talked about having a want to win video games towards Energy 5 packages and spoke about being and advocate for HBCUs, noting that she reaches out to different coaches after they get large wins after they beat Energy 5 packages. She referenced wins by Grambling State, Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff towards Energy 5 packages in 2023-2024.
“We had some actually good basketball and that’s what it’s all about,” Reed mentioned of the SWAC. “And we wish the perfect illustration to come back to the NCAA Event in order that we are able to carry an consciousness to what we do, an consciousness to who we’re, and consciousness to our group and proceed to hope that we are able to proceed to develop the greatness inside. “
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