88 and Counting

The University of Connecticut's women's basketball team goes for an unprecedented 89th consecutive victory tonight against #20 Florida State. The longest winning streak by any division 1 college basketball team, men's or women's, was held solely by the UCLA Bruins men's team (1971-1974) until this past weekend, but now UCONN's women look to set a new standard. UCONN held the previous women's record of 70 consecutive wins as well before shattering that last season en route to a 2nd straight National Championship. UCONN's women have not lost a game since the 2008 Final Four when Stanford beat them. Since that time, they've beaten 29 ranked teams on their way to their 88 straight wins.

Now some people have tried to draw comparisons between the UCLA team and this UCONN team, and I think that's a mistake. Is 88 straight wins in men's basketball more impressive than 88 straight wins in women's basketball? Who cares? 88 straight wins is 88 straight wins no matter how you look at it. That's an absolutely amazing stretch, I don't care who you are. But at the end of the day, even if UCONN's women win 189 straight games, it still shouldn't take away from what the UCLA men accomplished. When all is said and done, UCLA will hold the men's record for most consecutive wins in Division 1 basketball. UCONN will hold the women's record for most consecutive wins in Division 1 basketball. Instead of trying to debate the merits of one versus the other, appreciate what the Bruins did before, and appreciate what the Lady Huskies are doing now.

And if you really want to talk about winning streaks, let's talk Squash. Between 1981 and 1986 Jahangir Khan won 555 straight matches. KHANNNNNNNNNN!!!