The women’s college basketball Final Four was this past weekend in Phoenix. The highlight was South Carolina defeating defending champion Connecticut on Friday night. That ended a 54 game winning streak. It was a physical game and much closer than the final score.
The lowlight was that as the game was ending and the teams walked to midcourt to shake hands, Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma lost his shit and instead of shaking SC coach Dawn Staley’s hand and moving on, yelled at her. We later learned that he was mad because he felt she slighted her by not shaking his hand for a second time before the game started.
Let’s give Geno the benefit of the doubt and assume that he is correct and was slighted. Apparently it is tradition at the Final Four for coaches to shake hands after lineups are announced. That had shook hands before that, but not after the lineups. Geno said he waited for three minutes.
Even if he is correct, his response AFTER the game was over and he lost was terrible.
There Ought To Be A Law
The seemingly obvious truth here is that Geno was pissed that they lost. He was mad at the refs. He was mad at Coach Staley for “working” the refs. He said so during an in game interview. He was apparently mad that he did not get his hand shook a second time.
There is no way that he reacts this way after the game if his team had won. Do you think he would care enough about the “slight” to make it the focal point after a victory? Hell no! And he had no right to distract from the great SC victory.
There ought to be a law that governs post game handshakes. Say good game or something positive or just shake and keep walking. But if you start something, you are suspended and fined.
I have been a coach. One rule the powers that be always teach us is to tell parents and players that if they are unhappy about something from the game, give it 24 hours and if it still bothers you then, then we can talk. Here, Geno did not even wait until the game was technically over and he was complaining about nonsense. And he was making himself the story.
It is the job of these professionals to model appropriate behavior for the younger generations and those who are watching at home. We are not asking anyone to best friends. Just take your L, say good game, and move on. And if you can not do that, the NCAA (in this case) should suspend you.
And to show that it really matters and to prevent fights that have occurred in other games like the one below, if you step out of line or cause a disruption, it is a minimum five game suspension and a fine.
Let’s get the focus back on to the players. Save your gripes for the press conference or preferably just keep it to yourself. Otherwise you look like a big baby.