NC State were looking to qualify for their first national semi-final since their last defeat of UConn in Elite Eight 14 years ago.
There were horrible, spectacular season-ending injuries. A clutch play was made and the game-winning buzzer shot was missed. Two wild overtime. UConn had him fifth and North Carolina State his third, but the game was at Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena, about two hours south of Storrs.
It was a matchup for ages. An instant classic that set record viewership.
Eight months later, UConn and NC State are scheduled for a rematch in Connecticut. This time, it’s an early-season meeting between the two ranked teams at his XL Center in Hartford on Sunday.
This meeting is an opportunity to look back through the eyes of some of the people who experienced the Elite Eight Game courtside.
Let’s hear the voice from Bridgeport.
What has become classic?
UConn Sports 97.9 on ESPN Bob Joyce: “This is one of my top 5 favorite broadcasts ever involving UConn. With all the drama, all the great plays on both sides of that game, definitely like that classified. Geno (Auriemma) I’ve always said that the Elite Eight Game is one of, if not the hardest games to beat in a tournament. … the passion, desire and drive that both teams had was there. “
of SNY Maria Marino: “It was one of those games that had you sitting on the edge of your seat. It was probably the best game I’ve ever covered live. I enjoyed it a lot.. It was like a glow. It was like an afterglow out of the exhilaration of that game. It feels like “I’m in the best shape of my life right now.” I was almost blown away….it’s one of those games where a lot of fans stood up because they were so angry Please have a seat. “
ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco: “I think it was euphoric. It felt like what makes sport great. There were incredible stakes, incredible teams, unexpected and unforgettable moments.” Yes, and the game was full of them… Incredible game. Eternal game.”
Former Husky and current SNY analyst Meg Carmo: “That match was one of the most exciting and dramatic matches I can remember because, like drama, what that means is the stakes are very high. Paige is back, Dorka got hurt, and in a way that’s highly unlikely, but it made me think, ‘Oh my God, what more could this team get through this year? I was. “I mean, it’s really a sin that one of the teams had to lose that game.”
grievous injury
At 6:20 into the second quarter, Dorka Juhas jumped up for a layup. The shot missed, but as he came off the jump, both of his legs got entangled in defenders and he stuck out his hands in case he fell. Her left wrist was immediately fractured on impact. Juhas out for rest of season I had surgery on March 30th.
Joyce: “I knew it was bad because I heard yelling through the effects mic that something bad had happened. Considering what happened last year, it didn’t surprise anyone. It’s possible they could capsize and die.” But they didn’t. The best part of the whole game was when the game ended. Dorka came out and hugged her first. the person of Paige (Buckers) Then everyone. It was a big group hug around Dorka saying, “Hey, we did this for you.”
Luocco: “I think what I remember most is the reaction from her teammates. I will always remember their reactions and how upset they were.
Kurumo: “When I was a kid it was heartbreaking that she got hurt so badly in such a big moment. Look, she’s an important player, but she’d only been there for a year at that point, and you couldn’t help but think that what they’ve been through in the last year has been a series of injuries and illnesses. , and as if the player was missing and insane.
The Return of “Vintage” Page
This was Bookers’ ninth game after missing 19 games mid-season due to a knee injury. She came back on her February 25th, where she faced St. Johns for 13 minutes. Bueckers returned to the starting lineup two days later when she played one game, but she didn’t play more than 20 minutes until the first round of the NCAA Tournament about a month later. Against North Carolina State, Bookers looked like her true self as she scored 15 of 27 points after regulation.
Joyce: “Paige brought the game to her in the second half. Knocked down some shots to get her going. And the midrange shots that both she and Aji (Fad) were able to hit were , was just mind-boggling. I didn’t think she had found it yet. It was the first game we thought, ‘Okay, this is her best vintage page.’
Marino: “Paige Bookers is the person I remember most from this game. I remember UConn coming out of halftime. No. Every time the ball hits the floor, get closer to her, you just had a feeling she scored a goal and something amazing was about to happen.…I thought she was still in her health. As far as I’m concerned, I was probably surprised in the sense that I knew she wasn’t at the peak of her power…but the Clutch gene intangible, like something like that, compensated for her lack of physical health. .
Luocco: “You saw her stand up in that moment and own a clutch like she does…just because she didn’t seem to move like she does in other games.” And I think that was amazing.At the Big East tournament, she looked like a very distant version of herself and her past. We weren’t sure if we could do it, but there’s one thing we know about that young man: the woman is a complete gamer. I think I saw them get her there… that’s what she does.”
Kurumo: “It was a big sigh and a sigh of relief. ‘OK, she’s here. Looks like she’s back.’ It was amazing what she was able to do.It was amazing to me what she was able to do.It shows how special she is.
Double overtime stress
The teams were tied with 30 seconds left in regulation, but neither could make the most of it. Olivia Nelson-Ododa missed her two free throws and NC State’s Diamond Johnson missed her 3-pointer, sending the game into overtime. Overtime periods were played back and forth, including her 3-pointer off of North Carolina State’s Jacquia Brown-Turner with 0.8 seconds remaining, forcing a second overtime period. The game marked her first two overtime games in her round of the Women’s Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
Joyce: “From the second half onwards, whether North Carolina State led or UConn led, the margin wasn’t really that far away. So it’s always going to be a great game in the beginning and of course all the drama During overtime…there was the making of “Hmm, these botched free throws are coming back and I’m going to bite them.” And fortunately, their defense was strengthened and they didn’t allow dribbles to break through. And forced potential winners to take really bad shots. “
MarinoWhen I saw Paige play, I thought UConn had it in the bag. They were mostly dealt with by Paige. Likewise, they kept going and they kept fighting.
Luocco: “I don’t think we were surprised by the results. … 3. Run, angle, lack of space, even a left-handed shot right in front of the bench from the right corner of the corner that drew from Jakia Brown-Turner. , she just did it, so that you’ll forever remember that feeling.
afterglow
Marino said he saw the match in a replay a few days later. Joyce listened to broadcasts of his games over the summer and learned from his own recordings. Roucoo said he drank a glass of champagne after rewatching the highlights and returning home to recharge the energy excitement the game had brought.
Marino: “I couldn’t get enough of it. I couldn’t stop talking about it. I wanted to relive it in a few days, but so many people wanted me to.” So many people talked about it as if it was a game . . . I love games like that. I love games that come down to wires So, both teams are playing great and you never know what’s going to happen… any basketball game you can get.”
Luocco: “You’re at this ridiculous height, but you’re exhausted. It takes a lot of concentration and physical strength to play a game like that. It takes a lot of energy and it’s just too much fun. I don’t want to do it, it’s like I can’t go to bed when it’s over… I think I immediately appreciated how unusual it was and how much fun it was. all.”
Kurumo: “There are a lot of emotions. I was so happy to be in this group because I had a rough year up until that point. It’s always the hardest game to reach the Final Four. So with Geno, all year long, All the work and stress was taken care of by the staff but, like last year, it was one of the most complicated seasons in all of the injuries and insanity.I haven’t seen anything like this in the last 35 years. …for this group, I was so happy.They honestly ignored all the negative things that happened to them throughout the year.It was a lot.They overcame a lot. They stuck together. A season to watch.”
impact
According to ESPN, the game was the most watched female Elite Eight matchup in 16 years after averaging 2.04 million viewers. Excluding the Final Four, it was her fifth-most-watched game of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on ESPN.
While driving home from Bridgeport, Marino heard a call on a New York sports radio show talking about the game. It was the first time she heard a caller talking about women’s basketball on her New York Sports radio show.
Marino: “When you have a game like this, it’s just amazing because more people come together and discover the respect women’s basketball deserves. Smooth silky.’ And I make it so vivid.” Remember…a game like that has the power to capture the hearts and minds of people who probably didn’t know or didn’t know about women’s sports.
Maggie.Vanoni@hearstmediact.com @maggie_vanoni
