UConn coach Geno Auriemma has led the Huskies for 41 seasons, working with players of many different personalities. This season, he acknowledged facing a unique challenge in adapting to how freshman Blanca Quiñonez approaches the game, which differs from his own coaching style.
The 71-year-old Hall of Fame coach, a three-time Olympic champion, was asked after Sunday’s 32-point win over Ohio State how he handles the unpredictable Ecuadorian forward, who approaches the game in a different way.
How Does UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Handle the ‘Unpredictable’ Approach of Blanca Quiñonez?
Auriemma addressed the situation and said that he would get the hang of it as the season wore on. However, he pointed out that amid Quiñonez’s impressive, highlight-reel shots or passes, there’s a side of him that wanted the 6’2″ player to play within his system and avoid costly mistakes.
“What really is a challenge is the look on her face like: ‘What is your problem?’ Like I’m supposed to be understanding that this is how I play,” the veteran coach said. “So it’s going to be a little bit of a battle. Like I know this is how you play, but this is how I coach.”
Blessed with long arms and a strong frame, Quiñonez is essentially a “hybrid” player who can be deployed on either the frontcourt or backcourt. She’s parallel with Sarah Strong and Caroline Ducharme on the depth chart, though she’s still trying to adjust to the UConn scheme of things.
In a previous interview, Auriemma pointed out that the forward’s skills enable her to execute difficult plays that only an experienced player can do, but he wants her to play the right way first before considering the style she should incorporate into her passes or shots.
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“She’s fun to watch because she’s unpredictable,” Auriemma said. “She has a lot of skills and can do a lot of things, and sometimes she tries to do them all at the same time. But she’s fun to watch. She does some things every day that really only somebody that’s played against really experienced players knows.”
The longtime UConn mentor said he sees some similarities with Quiñonez and former Huskies small forward Svetlana Abrosimova, who was instrumental in helping the team win its second championship in 2000.
Auriemma admitted that Abrosimova, who had averages of 14.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game in four seasons with UConn, could be difficult to understand at times, but when the language is basketball and winning the game, she’ll bring her full effort on the floor and play her best all the time.
Quiñonez produced 18 points, four rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block in 23 minutes to help UConn beat Ohio State 100-68. She shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line, and made all her two free throws. It was an improvement from her previous outing against Loyola Chicago, where she came up with five points, one rebound, three assists, and two steals.
No. 1-ranked UConn will face No. 14 Michigan on Nov. 21 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Wolverines remain unbeaten and inflicted No. 18 Notre Dame a 93-54 beatdown on Saturday.