Auriemma: Women's Final Four 'a great swan song' for college basketball's 'greatest' league

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma smiles after beating Kentucky in the women's NCAA regional final basketball game in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, April 1, 2013. Connecticut won 83-53 and advances to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (The Associated Press)

California coach Lindsay Gottlieb spins her whistle during practice for a regional semifinal in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Friday, March 29, 2013, in Spokane, Wash. Cal plays LSU on Saturday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (The Associated Press)

NEW ORLEANS – Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma says the women's NCAA Final Four represents "a great swan song" for the "greatest basketball conference that's ever existed."

The Big East breaks up after this season. Before it does, the women's Final Four will be played in New Orleans with three Big East teams: Auriemma's UConn, along with Notre Dame and Louisville.

Auriemma says that's how he'd want the Big East era to end, even if he'd rather not meet rival Notre Dame again in Sunday's semifinal round.

California, which plays Louisville, is the only team left to spoil the Big East's party in the Big Easy.

Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb says it's a "neat dynamic to be the outsiders," adding her team takes an "additional sense of pride" in representing the West Coast.