Dick Patrick on Renee: Montgomery on point for undefeated Connecticut

Renee Montgomery has been a four-year starter at point guard for Connecticut but hasn't always been an extension of coach Geno Auriemma.

Her freshman year she talked mostly to then-assistant Tonya Cardoza, now the Temple coach, and didn't always grasp Auriemma's instructions. "He knew what it took to be a point guard, and I was not there," Montgomery says.

UConn's shining light

While her Connecticut teammates warmed up before practice Saturday, Tina Charles played keepaway with guard Renee Montgomery. Later during a layup drill, Charles smiled broadly as she bobbed her head to the beat of the UConn band, nearly missing her turn at the front of the line.

Charles has fun playing basketball. Maybe too much so at times, coach Geno Auriemma noted. He's used an assortment of motivational tactics to try to stoke her considerable ability.