Geno Auriemma and UConn did what they were supposed to do against Tomekia Reed’s Jackson State program in the first round of the NCAA Tournament – dominate.
However, after the 86-64 win over the SWAC champion, the UConn coach had praise for JSU after facing it in his own back yard.
“Going undefeated in your league – I don’t care what league you play in or who you play against. You play 18 conference games and you win them all, and you win your conference tournament – that’s a helluva job, Auriemma said after the game. “And it’s not like it’s the first time, right? I mean she’s been doing this for quite some time there.
Again as a No. 14 seed
Jackson State received a no. 14 seed in its region, the second time in the past three seasons that it was awarded that seed after winning the SWAC Tournament title. JSU gave LSU all it could handle back in the 2022 NCAA Tournament before ultimately falling short. Her team’s play earned her praise from Kim Mulkey, one that many saw as a backhanded compliment.
This time it had to face a UConn program that is one of the pillars of women’s college basketball. Auriemma, one of the all-time great coaches, went on to say that coaches like Reed need more recognition and opportunities.
While Reed was grateful for Auriemma’s comments, she made it clear that she is proud to represent JSU, the SWAC and HBCUs as a whole.
Put HBCUs on the map
“For me at Jackson State – I not only wanted to put our university on the map – I wanted to put HBCUs on the map,” Reed said. We have such a special community that a lot of people overlook. We have a community that’s not built on wins and losses, but built on family and love.
But to be sure, the wins are mounting and not just at JSU.
Reed talked about having a desire to win games against Power Five programs and spoke about being an advocate for HBCUs, noting that she reaches out to other coaches when they get big wins over Power Five programs. She referenced wins by Grambling State, Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff against Power Five programs in 2023-2024.
“We had some really good basketball and that’s what it’s all about,” Reed said of the SWAC. “And we want the best representation to come to the NCAA Tournament so that we can bring an awareness to what we do, an awareness to who we are, and awareness to our community and continue to hope that we can continue to grow the greatness within. “