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Syracuse coach criticizes NCAA after blowout loss to UConn in tournament

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Key Points
  • Syracuse coach criticizes NCAA after blowout loss to UConn
  • UConn's historic tournament dominance and Syracuse's recurring matchup struggles
  • NCAA tournament structure and bracket placement policies

Multiple reports indicate Legette-Jack voiced frustration over the matchup, questioning why Syracuse keeps facing UConn. UConn advanced to the Sweet 16 for the 32nd consecutive time with the victory, while Syracuse has lost to UConn in five of its last seven NCAA tournament appearances. The NCAA tournament structure allows the top 16 seeds to host games on their campuses before regional rounds, and the NCAA has a policy to place teams in brackets closer to their campus to save money on travel.

UConn's broader tournament journey includes recent setbacks: South Carolina defeated UConn 62-48 in the women's NCAA tournament, ending UConn's 54-game winning streak, and South Carolina advanced to the women's NCAA championship game, while UConn entered the Final Four undefeated for the ninth time in school history and lost in the national semifinals for the third straight time. In the Syracuse game, Azzi Fudd scored 34 points for UConn, and Geno Auriemma suggested Azzi Fudd trim her fingernails after a rough performance. Legette-Jack further expressed her concerns, questioning if there is a personal bias against her and noting that teams can be placed on different lines in brackets.

For us to do what we've done, to continuously have to come to UConn, and every single school that I go to, from Buffalo to [here] - it's unfair to the young people.

Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse head coach

The NCAA has not responded to her criticism about bracket placements.

I don't know what it is. Somebody said, is there something that they might have against me? If that's the case, then we need to communicate about that.

Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse head coach

After being in this business for 37 years, and to have to come and be in this particular bracket every fricking year is unacceptable. It's wrong. It's - somebody - and if you're on the committee and you've been around for more than a year or two or five to 10, 15 years, you understand what that looks like.

Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse head coach

I have been on those committees to see how it's done, how you can put people on different lines. Put us on a 10-line, whatever. But for us to continue to come to Connecticut year after year after year is, to me, it's a personal attack, because I just think that we are way better than what we performed today.

Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse head coach

But I think what you're going to notice, (is) that everybody that comes through Geno and UConn is going to get the wrath of what they can bring.

Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse head coach
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