NEW ORLEANS — Connecticut beat Louisville comfortably back in January and didn’t even have star Breanna Stewart on the floor at the time.
That doesn’t mean the Huskies are brimming with confidence about their chances of winning an eighth NCAA national title tonight against the Cardinals.
After all, Louisville (29-8) has become the master of the upset.
The Cardinals beat Cal 64-57 in the semifinals in the latest game they weren’t supposed to win, rallying from 10 down to do it. Louisville stunned defending national champion Baylor and knocked off perennial power Tennessee just to get to New Orleans.
Next up are the Huskies, who know how little one should read into previous meetings. UConn (34-4) lost to Notre Dame three times this season, only to beat the Irish handily, 83-65, in Sunday night’s other semifinal.
“We’ve got a problem Tuesday night, I think, because I think Louisville really thinks they’re the best team in the country right now,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said.