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UConn basketball head coach Geno Auriemma set the NCAA in motion.
The 72-year-old coach took issue with the NCAA for not consulting with players or coaches before making changes to the tournament’s format.
The NCAA switched from a four-site regional to a two-site regional in 2023, which Auriemma said has created problems for shooting times and quality of play.
“I just don’t understand some of the decisions that are made about our game when we’re trying to play the god—- game,” Auriemma said at a news conference Saturday.
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UConn head coach Geno Auriemma watches a play late in the second half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in Fort Worth, Texas, March 27, 2026. (LM Otero/AP photo)
“Does anybody making these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, ‘Hey, is this working? Are you doing this in the regular season? Is this normal?'”
Auriemma opened his news conference by listing some of the dismal 3-point shooting numbers from teams in Friday’s Sweet 16 games: 4 for 20 (UConn), 4 for 22 (North Carolina), 1 for 17 (Notre Dame), 5 for 18 (Vanderbilt), 4 for 16 (UCLA 26) and 7ke.
The legendary coach lamented the timing and duration of UConn’s shooting spree.
“Do you know what time our shooting round was yesterday?” Auriemma said. “Six twenty (a.m. ET), I think, for half an hour. This morning I just watched Notre Dame go, so they had media this morning. Their practice time is tonight at 5:30. … Do you know what time our practice time is? 6:30 tonight.”
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UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in Fort Worth, Texas, March 27, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
With eight teams sharing an arena, there is less practice time to go around for each team. Auriemma also suggested that the equipment used causes a decrease in the quality of the game.
“I think they’re bringing in new baskets, new basketballs right out of the box,” Auriemma said.
“Make people dribble the ball off their feet. You made people miss layups all over the place. You bounce the ball and it goes to the ceiling. There’s just no idea how basketball is played.”
The 12-time national championship-winning head coach said the teams may have had a bad shooting day, but all of their shooting numbers were well below what they averaged throughout the season.
“How many arenas are we going to sell out with those bulls—?” Auriemma said.
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UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in Fort Worth, Texas, March 27, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
The NCAA’s intent in switching to a two-regional format was to increase attendance, and it told ESPN that it has drawn the highest numbers in tournament history since its implementation. Lynn Holzman, the NCAA’s vice president of women’s basketball, told ESPN that the positives outweigh the negatives.
Auriemma said he has no answers to the right solution, only questions.
The revered head coach will look to lead his top-seeded, undefeated team (37-0) to an Elite 8 victory against No. 6 Notre Dame on Sunday at 7 p.m. 1 p.m. ET.
