GREENSBORO, N.C. — UConn’s Geno Auriemma sounded more interested in getting his team ready to contend for a national championship than adding another coaching milestone to a Hall of Fame career.
Even on the night he tied the NCAA Division I record for coaching victories in men’s and women’s basketball.
The 70-year-old Auriemma earned his 1,216th win Friday night as his No. 2 Huskies beat No. 14 North Carolina 69-58. That matched Tara VanDerveer, who retired in April after 38 seasons at Stanford.
“I’m more of how do I put [the players] in position so they can feel like I feel, like I’ve been very fortunate to get a lot of things come my way,” Auriemma said. “And they came hoping to get some of those things. So I just keep the focus on that all the time. And whatever happens on my end happens.”
His record with the Huskies is 1,216-162, good for an 88.2% win percentage to go with 11 national championships — most recently in 2016. He can break the record Wednesday against Fairleigh Dickinson.
“It’s the reason you came to UConn, to play under him,” preseason All-American Paige Bueckers said. “So it’s been a dream come true, and we’re super proud of him. I know he doesn’t talk about himself too much, just a little bit.
“To be a part of…
