For Rizzotti, It's About Value
HARTFORD (The Hartford Courant) — For the past six years, Hartford has dutifully reported to the XL Center in December to observe a master lecture on women's basketball from UConn.
Hartford coach Jen Rizzotti, one of the greatest players in the history of the UConn program, once delivered the keynote address at these events.
That's why she is able to deal with this from the opposite side with a positive mind-set.
"It's fun in many respects," Rizzotti said. "The looks on the faces of my freshmen each season are priceless; not after the game, before."
UConn again had its way with the Hawks, winning its sixth straight against them since 2004 with ease, 80-45 Thursday at the XL Center. UConn leads the all-time series, 11-0.
Still, this game will continue in perpetuity because both coaches want it that way. They play because they are friends. They play because they are dominant in their own spheres. They play because they enjoy comparing notes.
They also play because Rizzotti has had a difficult time scheduling major-conference opponents at home. And you can't get more major than the national champions.
"The excitement of playing before a big crowd is fun and the stress is different," Rizzotti said. "We want to represent ourselves well and get better, but we really aren't expected to win, which is something we are expected to do in most of our other games. So there are a lot of fun things and a lot of hard things. There are always benefits to playing teams like UConn."
As much as he enjoys playing Hartford and seeing Rizzotti, the game takes an emotional toll on UConn coach Geno Auriemma.
"They have a good group of kids. I like them. I like their coaches," Auriemma said. "But if Jen said, 'I don't want to play anymore,' I would say fine. That's one less headache for me, worrying about that game. If she says, 'I want to play every year for the rest of the time we're both here,' I'd say fine, too. I'm good either way."
The only reason Rizzotti would consider suspending the series would be if Hartford attracted the quality home games it seeks.
"Our goal is to find teams that will let us come play them first and then come back to play us," Rizzotti said. "That's how we got a decent schedule this year with Louisville, Bowling Green and Temple [playing at Hartford] because we went to play them first.
"We simply can't afford to have a game on our schedule where the opponent will not return. Hartford is judged heavily [by the NCAA selection committee] by how it performs in nonconference games.
"It's not a problem about playing UConn. It's more a problem of who wants to play us in our gym so we can grow our game, so we can grow our fan base."
Hayes Can Take Hit
It's not unusual to see sophomore Tiffany Hayes hit the floor a half dozen times in a game. Her slashing style invites contact. But she always gets up, even if there's pain.
The Hartford game was an example of that.
"She's already a lot bigger and stronger than when she got here," Auriemma said. "Our trainer, Rosemary Ragle, told me she's actually happy [Hayes] falls down a lot because kids that fall a lot don't get hurt. God takes care of children and drunks. He's also taking care of Tiffany, who is neither."
Hayes came into the game with a tender ankle.
"I'll try to work on not falling as much as I possibly can," she said. "But it's kind of hard when you're getting pushed around. I guess I have to give it up in the weight room a little more."
Copyright © 2009, The Hartford Courant
