Advertisement

UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma on men's game: 'It's a joke.'

UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma on men's game: 'It's a joke.'

Geno Auriemma generally isn't one to sugarcoat his opinions. Like him or not, he calls it like he sees it.

He did just that during a conference call Wednesday while discussing his team's game in the women's Final Four with Maryland on Sunday. Auriemma shared his thoughts on the state of the men's game, a much talked-about topic throughout the season because of the dip in scoring this year.

[DraftKings: Free $25,000 March Madness Fantasy Basketball Contest]

"I think the game is a joke. It really is," Auriemma said. "I don't coach it. I don't play it, so I don't understand all the ins and outs of it. But as a spectator, forget that I'm a coach, as a spectator, watching it, it's a joke. There's only like ten teams, you know, out of 25, that actually play the kind of game of basketball that you'd like to watch.

"And the bottom line is that nobody can score, and they'll tell you it's because of great defense, great scouting, a lot of team work, nonsense, nonsense. College men's basketball is so far behind the times it's unbelievable. I mean women's basketball is behind the times. Men's basketball is even further behind the times."

Numerous coaches have advocated going to a 30-second shot clock in the men's game, which currently uses a 35-second shot clock. The women already use a 30-second shot clock.

Auriemma has won nine national titles coaching the Huskies and he makes $2 million annually. He said he is fine with men's coach Kevin Ollie making $3 million. Ollie led the Huskies to the national title on the men's side last season but his program didn't make it back to the NCAA tournament this season.

"That's where the market is," Auriemma said in a USAToday story. "Kevin is probably exactly where he needs to be. Or maybe less than he needs to be, who knows? It's what the market will bear for those guys, and I'm all for it. Sometimes there is talk about a cap, but that's not workable. This is America. Anyone should be able to make all they can."

- - - - - - -

[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at kyle.ringo@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!