'I'll always root for Vermont': UConn's Morgan Valley faces home state in NCAA Tournament
STORRS, Conn. - For 40 minutes Morgan Valley will be Vermont’s enemy in a blend of navy blue, white and gray.
Valley whipped passes into the corner as the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team drained three straight triples during Friday morning’s practice. The former Rice Memorial High School star then cracked a smile as the Huskies broke their huddle and Valley displayed a set of dribble moves on Gampel Pavilion’s floor that helped her earn a scholarship spot and win three straight national championships with UConn.
But Saturday at 3 p.m. on national television, Valley, an assistant coach with second-seeded Connecticut (29-5), will oppose her home state in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Once we start this tournament it's UConn all the way,” Valley said. “I’ll always root for Vermont. I’ll root for the men and I’ll root for the women any chance I get.”
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Valley, who dominated Vermont high school basketball alongside her sister Ashley in the late 90s, has 16 years of coaching experience in various stops including Washington, Arizona and most recently as head coach at Hartford. She returned to UConn as an assistant under coach Geno Auriemma last winter and faces America East champion No. 15 Vermont (25-6).
“It's cool especially being a head coach when I went back and played at Patrick (Gym), it was a really special moment,” Valley said of Hartford’s trip to Burlington in 2020. “It's always fun. I don't know if I've ever been on the team that I coached against them and had an opportunity to, I don't think I've ever beat them.”
UConn, which is looking for its 15th consecutive Final Four appearance, won the Big East tournament and opened as 30.5-point favorites as of Wednesday. Vermont is 0-11 vs. Huskies with the most recent tilt coming in 2009.
“They play really, really hard,” Valley said of Vermont. “They seem to be a very good team and play team basketball, they're looking to move the ball. (Emma) Utterback is the primary scorer, but I feel like everybody touches the ball. I love the fact they have a Vermonter on their team that plays a lot of minutes.”
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Valley started her coaching career as a graduate assistant with UConn in 2004 after appearing in 108 games and totaling 282 points and 263 rebounds over four seasons.
“Everywhere that she's been around the country, she's had a huge impact on their program,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Valley. “When Shea (Ralph) left and we needed a replacement, I couldn't think of anybody better.
“She played here and played here during some iconic times with legendary players. Her view of the game because of her experiences outside of UConn add a lot and I think there's another opportunity in the future for her as a head coach and she's a great human being.”
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Valley, who will be inducted into the Vermont Principals’ Association and Vermont Sports hall of fames later this year, travels back to the place she calls home when she can and had regular updates on the Catamounts’ season from family.
“Throughout my journey, I've learned that there's different ways to do things or different ways to win,” Valley said. “Not good, not bad, just different and you know, being back in it's just so impressive.”
Contact Jacob Rousseau at JRousseau@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @ByJacobRousseau
TV, radio, stream information
Teams: (15) Vermont vs. (2) Connecticut
Site: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut
Date: Saturday, March 18
Tip-off: 3 p.m. eastern (approx.)
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN3
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UConn's Morgan Valley faces Vermont women in NCAA Tournament game
