The Big East will take no action following Saturday’s altercation between Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma and Syracuse junior Nicole Michael, the league announced Tuesday through a press release.

After talking to both Syracuse Director of Athletics Daryl Gross and UConn Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway, league commissioner Mike Tranghese decided no punishment would be needed.

‘Having been assured by both Connecticut Athletic Director Jeff Hathaway and Syracuse Athletic Director Daryl Gross that there will be no reoccurrence of the events following the Connecticut and Syracuse game – and that both are committed to our principles of sportsmanship – the Big East conference has determined that there is no need for any formal conference action.’

The press release stems from Saturday’s incident between Auriemma and Michael in which words were exchanged and Auriemma stumbled after passing Michael as the two made their way off the court, after UConn defeated Syracuse, 107-53, Saturday afternoon.

Auriemma said after the game he stumbled and he thinks he stepped on a player’s foot. The game had been marked by physical play, including a technical foul assessed to Syracuse’s Juanita Ward for elbowing a UConn player.

SU head coach Quentin Hillsman will address the media today for the first time since reviewing the tape of the incident.

Tranghese wrote: ‘Daryl and Jeff have also assured me that Geno and Nicole are prepared to move forward and to conclude the season without further incidents.’

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on January 20, 2009 at 12:00 pm