Notre Dame, Connecticut matchup draws attention

By Kyle Charters
Senior Writer

ST. LOUIS — Although some have described tonight’s semifinal matchup between No. 1 seeds Notre Dame and Connecticut as the "actual" national championship game, the teams involved say that’s nonsense.

"That’s disrespectful to those other two teams," said Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, whose Huskies (32-2) play the Fighting Irish (32-2) at 9:30 tonight in the Savvis Center in St. Louis in the semifinals of the NCAA Championship.

"If we react like that’s the national championship game Friday night, then whoever does win that game is going to lose on Sunday," said Auriemma. "Then everybody’s going to have egg on their faces. I think there’s four really good teams here and I think all four of them that are here are capable of winning the national championship. The national championship game is Sunday night; that’s the way we look at it. The semifinals are Friday."

Unlike the Notre Dame-Connecticut matchup, the other semifinal game pairs two teams who weren’t the No. 1 seeds in their regions. Third-seeded Purdue (30-6) faces fifth-seeded Southwest Missouri State (29-5) at 7 tonight.

"Obviously, Notre Dame and Connecticut are the two teams that everyone expected to be here," said Purdue’s Kelly Komara. "But I think the most exciting game is going to be our game. Not a lot of people expected Purdue and Southwest Missouri State."

Irish coach Muffet McGraw said the one reason everyone seems to be paying attention to Notre Dame and Connecticut is because tonight’s semifinal will be the third game between the two Big East schools.

The Irish beat the Huskies 92-76 on Jan. 15 in South Bend, Ind. It was Notre Dame’s first win over Connecticut in 12 meetings. In the rematch on March 6, the Huskies won the Big East Tournament title, 78-76, on a last-second shot by guard Sue Bird.

"I think everybody knows that level of play in that game and they are thinking they would like to see that sort of game in a final," said McGraw. "That’s not to say it won’t happen (in the final) regardless of who wins the other game."

Irish guard Niele Ivey doesn’t consider her matchup with Connecticut to be the national championship game.

"I know we are just excited seeing two Big East teams getting a chance to be in the Final Four," said Ivey. "I know personally with (Southwest Missouri State’s) Jackie Stiles and Purdue’s Katie Douglas, there are just so many good players in this tournament. I think it’s just great to see so many great teams in here."

Komara, though, doesn’t mind if nobody notices the Boilers.

"Everybody is concentrating on Notre Dame-UConn," she said, "and that’s fine. Because come Sunday, if we’re out there playing, they’ve got to beat us."

Final Four Coverage:

ND-Purdue matchup offers team balance

Boilers hope to overcome December Irish loss with maturity

Two state teams battle for title in St. Louis

What happened in December matchup?

Rebounding pushes Purdue to title game

Stopping Lady Bears' leader was top priority

Notre Dame 90, Connecticut 75

Purdue vs. Notre Dame for NCAA championship

Friday Coverage:

Hoosier teams prepare for Final Four

Boilers battle Bears tonight

Notre Dame, Connecticut matchup draws attention

Keady agrees to contract extension through 2005

Tennis team looks to beat Illinois

Boilers hope to overthrow IU tennis team

Outdoor track teams prepare for Purdue Open

Boilers travel to MSU for series

Softball to open Big Ten season

Boilers hope experience pays off this weekend

Final Four ticket demand exceeds school’s supply

Golfer earns Big Ten honor

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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