The sports world, and the world beyond, have witnessed momentous developments since November 16, 2008.  The first “person of color” was inaugurated as President of the United States.  The U.S. economy plummeted into its worst recession since the Great Depression.  General Motors declared bankruptcy. President Obama intensified the war effort in Afghanistan.  Michael Jackson died.  The passengers on the airplane that landed in the Hudson River lived.   The Detroit Lions broke their 19-game losing streak.  Tiger Woods’ world went the way of the economy, but with no government bailout.  Bobbie Bowden retired.  The Saints won the Super Bowl.

One thing has not happened since November 16, 2008: the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team has not lost a game.  Last night, the top-ranked Huskies defeated sixth-ranked Notre Dame 59-44 in the semi-finals of the Big East tournament to record their 71st straight victory, breaking their previous record of 70 wins during 2001-2003.  The longest winning streak in basketball history is UCLA’s run of 88 games under legendary John Wooden in the early 1970s. 

More impressive than the streak alone is UConn’s total domination of women’s basketball over the past two seasons.  Not only have the Huskies not lost in 71 games, they’ve barely had to sweat.  They have won every game by a double-digit margin, and have trailed in the second half only three times.  Their average margin of victory this season is 35 points.  (Not a misprint.)  Not that their schedule is a breeze.  In their 13 wins over teams ranked in the top ten this season, their margin of victory is 26 points.  UConn did have a scare against second-ranked Stanford in December, winning by a mere 12 points. 

If the Huskies were to win the NCAA tournament, they would rack up their fifth national championship in ten years, and sixth overall.  The other perennial women’s basketball powerhouse, Tennessee, has won eight championships, most recently in 2007 and 2008.  Since 1995, only four teams other than UConn or Tennessee have been crowned champion.   The best players seem to gravitate to those programs like collision fanatics to NASCAR events.  If this trend continues, the NCAA might have to consider enacting parity rules like the NFL. 

The Huskies took last night’s game in stride.  There were no celebrations for win 71.  They are focused on bigger things than the streak.  Center Tina Charles said:  “It’s big because its our second win in the postseason.”  Guard Kalana Greene commented:  “After the season we can look back and see what we’ve done.  You don’t want to celebrate about wins.  We don’t plan on our season being over anytime soon.”

UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who carries a coaching book written by John Wooden in his briefcase, tried to put the streak in perspective.  He noted that the Huskies scored only 25 points in the first half against Notre Dame, and did not look unbeatable.  “There are so many things that can go wrong.  You’re one injury away from it all falling apart.  It’s going to end.  I just want it to end the right way. I don’t want a kid injured.  I don’t want it because somebody fouled out.  I want to have our best guys out there the last three minutes and somebody beats us.  I’ll be the first to shake their hand.”

Auriemma was asked to compare this team to the 2002 team led by Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, which produced four of the first six picks in the WNBA draft.  “I think that group would beat this group,” he said.  “But that’s not important because they’ll never have to play each other.”  That would be one pick-up basketball game if someone could organize it. 

Auriemma conceded that the Huskies’ streak might have sparked more interest in women’s basketball.  There seems to be a bit of an “inside the Beltway” mentality around Storrs, where the campus is located.  “At UConn, we have a way of getting the whole country to talk about women’s basketball.  It’s been like that for a long time.”  Apparently, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt was not available to comment on UConn’s current supremacy.  The teams discontinued regular season competition in 2007.  

Some question whether UConn’s dominance is healthy for women’s basketball.  “It’s not their fault, but it’s not a great thing for the sport,” said Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer.  “How can anybody enjoy a game that is really not much of a competition?”   ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke disagrees.  “Did anyone ask John Wooden when he was in the midst of the 88-game streak, ‘Is this good for men’s college basketball?’ It didn’t happen.  If they are beating your ass on a nightly basis, then get better.”

An ESPN poll indicated that 19% of fans have less interest in the sport because of the streak, 12% have more interest, and 68% have the same level of interest.  I wonder whether the 35-point winning margin has had any impact on television revenue.  If I were a sponsor, I’d want to make sure my commercial appeared in the first half (preferably during the first TV time-out). 

I haven’t watched much women’s basketball this season, but I might tune in to watch the UConn juggernaut take on West Virginia tonight in the Big East championship game.  The Huskies, their fans, and much of the basketball world seem to think they’re unbeatable.  I’m not sure.  What really matters is what the Lady Mountaineers think.  Besides, if it turns into a blowout, I can always switch to the second episode of “Being John Daly."

Note: Jack Ross grew up in Roanoke, Virginia.  After attending Yale University, where he was a sports writer for the Yale Daily News, and the University of Virginia School of Law, he practiced law in Washington, D.C.   Jack previously wrote about sports and other topics for NRVToday.  His most notable athletic achievements are leading the North Cross Raiders to the VIC football championship game, completing the Marine Corps marathon, and playing Pebble Beach.   Jack’s favorite sporting events are those involving his sons, who participate in football, squash, and track at the Potomac School in McClean, Virginia, and Duke University.   He currently resides in Massachusetts