Madness Drama: Geno vs. Dawn, Mara's Emergence, Hurley's Magic, BIG's Void

My March Madness brackets had Arizona winning on the men's side and UConn on the women's, so both my picks lost in the semi-finals.

UCLA, the most talented team in the country with potentially five first-round WNBA draft picks, crushed South Carolina in the women's final.

Tonight's men's championship matchup features a Michigan team that vanquished Arizona in the semis, versus a UConn team going for its third men's title in the last four years.

Along with the usual buzzer beaters, upsets, and brilliant performances, this year's tournament had some pithy off the court drama.

After South Carolina's shocking win over UConn in the women's semi-final, UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who has won 12 national championships and whose undefeated team was the prohibitive favorite to win another title this year, confronted Gamecocks' coach Dawn Staley and then walked off the court without shaking the hands of any South Carolina coach or player.

He claimed afterward that Staley hadn't shaken his hand before the game when pre-game introductions were made. It turns out Staley had shaken his hand a half hour earlier, but was either distracted or unaware she was required by Auriemma's "protocol" to shake it again after the intros.

But that wasn't what was really bothering him.

In an interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe at the end of the third quarter, Geno complained about the officiating--six fouls were called on UConn in the quarter and none on South Carolina--and criticized the language Staley used in working the officials. He also falsely accused her players of ripping the jersey off his star, Sarah Strong.

I got to know Dawn Staley during the two years she played in the ABL, the league I co-founded in 1996. We've had dinner together. She's an intense competitor, a good person, a straight shooter, and a great coach. 

Auriemm, by contrast, never had any time for us when we asked for his help and advice when launching the ABL. He was too big for an upstart league.

Today, he's struggling with the fact that a woman has surpassed him as the best coach in the game and has built a program equal to his.

His behavior Friday was regrettable, petty, and classless.

Instead of congratulating the coaches and players that just kicked his butt, he stormed off the court in a hissy fit because of a perceived slight that took place before the game.

In sports, you have to know how to win, and you have to know how to lose.

Geno showed the world he doesn't know how to lose.

Less than 48 hours later, after her team had been demolished in the championship game by UCLA, Staley showed how to lose with class.

With 6.9 seconds remaining, she rose from her bench seat and started toward Bruin coach Cori Close. When she reached Close, she extended congratulations and then the two wrapped each other in an embrace. Afterwards, she made this comment about her colleague:

"Cori is one of those people who really works at making our game better. Not just UCLA, but our entire game. Although we didn't win, I can swallow it because we lost to a really good human being and a good team that represents women's basketball well. The game finally paid her back."

That's how you do it, Geno.

Marvelous Mara: We thought Arizona would win the NCAA basketball championship, but we didn't account for Michigan center Aday Mara (above).

Mara led the Wolverines to a surprising 91-73 semi-final win (it wasn't that close) by scoring 26 points on 11-16 shooting, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking two shots. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year this season, averaging nearly three blocks per game, along with 12 points, seven rebounds and a 67% shooting percentage.

Mara transferred to Michigan after two disappointing seasons at UCLA, where he barely averaged 10 minutes of playing time per game, averaging five points and three rebounds.

Amazing what a change of scenery, and a change in coaches, can produce. Michigan's Dusty May is a positive, enthusiastic coach. UCLA's Mick Cronin is a sour puss, chronic complainer, always blaming his players and calling them out, never accepting any responsibility for his team's failings.

Hurley's Magic: Most of the experts are picking Michigan in tonight's championship game, but don't bet against UConn coach Dan Hurley.

Hurley is in rarified air. His Huskies have now appeared in three of the last four men's NCAA Championship games, winning it in 2023 and '24, and maybe tonight.

Saturday’s semi-final win over Illinois gave him a stunning 18-1 record over his past 19 NCAA Tournament games. His 80% all-time winning percentage in March Madness (20-5) is now the second-best ever, behind only John Wooden, who won 10 national championships at UCLA.

BIG Void: If Michigan does win tonight, it'll end a drought for the Big Ten that stretches back 26 years.

The BIG had four teams in this year's Elite Eight, but the conference hasn't won the men's national championship since Tom Izzo's Michigan State team won it all in 2000.

This year's final marks the ninth BIG team to appear in the finals this millennium. In that time, the ACC and Big East have each won eight championships, the SEC has four and the Big 12 three.

Pope's Message: We'll close with the Easter message from Pope Leo, the first American pontiff:

"Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars and marked by a hatred and indifference that make us feel powerless in the face of evil.

“Let those who have weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace. Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue. Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them."