Geno Auriemma to miss second straight game due to illness

Geno Auriemma is out, but vows to return shortly.

It’s different when Connecticut is not a shoo-in for the No. 1 ranking this season. But a Husky squad without head coach Geno Auriemma on the sideline is also very different. He missed Sunday’s (Feb. 24) contest against Tulsa due to a stomach virus, the first game he has missed in 22 years, and will sit out Tuesday’s game against Wichita State as well.

Based on his doctor’s recommendation, Auriemma will take more time to fully recuperate from the virus.

This will be just the ninth game Auriemma will miss at UConn in his 34 years at the helm. In 1989, he missed one regular season game and three conference tournament games because of a suspension. In 1997, he missed three more conference tournament games due to a family emergency.

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This put associate head coach Chris Dailey in charge—who remains a perfect 8-0 following Sunday’s (Feb. 24) win over Tulsa on the road.

Although dynamics definitely change without your head coach there, UConn was still right at home under Dailey’s lead, handling Tulsa by 19 points.

Napheesa Collier ended the night with 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies, who moved to 15-2 overall and 13-0 in the American Athletic Conference. Megan Walker led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“We listen to her just as much as we listen to Coach, so it wasn’t too weird, but it was different not having him here,” Collier said.

“It is different being even one seat over making all those decisions,” Dailey said about taking over Auriemma’s duties. “I said this the last time I had to do it, you always have a lot more respect for the person making those decisions all the time when you’ve had to do it.”

Against Wichita State, Dailey will more than likely remain perfect as a head coach and UConn will more than likely remain perfect in ACC action. It might be different from the bench, but still much is the same.

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