Huskies expect to remain undefeated against Friars

For some teams, going from a game against a ranked adversary to a match against an opponent who has lost four of its last five games is a letdown. In some ways, it's anti-climatic. Others take each game in stride.

Maybe that is the reason why the No.1 women's basketball team holds a 25-0 record, including four wins against ranked opponents, as it heads into tonight's game at Providence (9-15, 3-8 Big East) at 7 p.m.

"It just says we're focused," Renee Montgomery said after Sunday's win against No. 19 Pittsburgh. "You know, a lot of people are expecting us to get lackadaisical, be content with where we're at and how we're playing, and we're just continually trying to get better and I think that shows."

On Monday, Tiffany Hayes was announced Big East Freshman of the Week for her efforts against St. John's and Pittsburgh. This is the second time she was awarded the honor.

So where does the team go from here?

In the face of questions about what the Huskies have to compare themselves, to coach Geno Auriemma said that it was more about the way the game is supposed to be played, rather than a focus on a specific opponent.

To him, the team needed to be ready to play at the best of its ability each night, regardless of the other team's record.

"If you compare yourself to somebody else - what if they're lousy?," he said Sunday. "So what'd you compare yourself to? So you compare yourself to the game and how the game's supposed to be played, then the only way you can win is to play perfect … so that's the goal, it's always been like that. The game demands that you do this. Forget what the other guy's doing."

The coaching staff perpetually aims to maintain the focus that Auriemma has credited with UConn's success thus far.

Perhaps now, as the Huskies face the Friars, that focus will become more integral than at any point during the regular season,.

As of late, Providence has struggled to build momentum and piece together back-to-back wins. In fact, the Friars' last consecutive wins came in December.

The team is lead by guard Chelsea Marandola, who leads the team with 11.4 points a game and an 84.4 free throw percentage, just a season after sitting out due to injury.

Emily Cournoyer, who has 42 blocks, and Mi-Khida Hankins are also averaging double digits in points this season. Hankins was also selected to last year's Big East All-Freshman team.

All the while, the Huskies are continuing to challenge themselves to be a great team. Though Auriemma said that there are a few players on the team who do "live for big games," he stressed that from his standpoint, UConn does nothing differently based on the significance of the game.

In addition, despite their success on paper, Auriemma said he would like to see Maya Moore and Tina Charles drive to the basket more often.

"We can mask a lot of things, but our starters have to play great, like they did today - all five starters were in double figures - 'cause I don't think we have enough offense coming off the bench," Auriemma said. "So if we face a team where our starters struggle, I think we're going to struggle. That's why I'm not sitting here telling you I'll see you in St. Louis.

"You can never have a bad night if you want to be a great team," he said. "You can't have a bad night. You can't have lack of energy one night, lack of focus or let a kid get 27 on you. And that's hard to do."

Auriemma also pointed to preventing opponents from setting up defense, being good in transition and pushing the temp as an easier way to attack teams.

Renee Montgomery, named a Husky of Honor on Sunday, does just that, he said.

"Renee loves to get herself in the lane and she loves the contact that comes from it," he said. "She's got a variety of shots around the basket … and she's gotten pretty good this year at while you're running back on defense, she's coming at you pretty hard."

In the end, though, Auriemma said that he could not pinpoint anything specific that the team tries to do from a strategic end.

It was more about execution.

"We're trying to win because we're really good, not because the other guys are lousy.

"I don't know what the answer is to why we do what we do," he said. "You know, we're a pretty good team. We play hard. We play hard, we compete."