Storrs — It's not just the women's basketball community that might chuckle at Geno Auriemma's angst. It's anybody who pays attention to sports, really, now that the UConn women and their 99-game winning streak have become national news.

But, yes, the coach isn't as enamored with his top-ranked team has he was in December when the Huskies beat Texas, Notre Dame and Maryland. And that's not particularly comforting to him heading to Monday night's game with No. 6 South Carolina at Gampel Pavilion (9 p.m., ESPN2), during which UConn could win its 100th straight game.

"There's some things about our team right now that I don't like as much as I did when we played Texas, Notre Dame or Maryland in December," Auriemma said. "As the season goes on and you get to now, the middle of February, I think a lot of cracks start to show. I don't know that anybody else can see them, but I can see them.

"We're not where I want us to be at this point in the season. A game like Monday night comes at the perfect time for us. Maybe it's exactly the game we need at exactly the right time. A team that we know if we don't play our 'A' game, we could lose. It's good we have that kind of game right around now."

UConn has defeated South Carolina (21-2) twice during the 99-game streak, including a victory in Columbia, S.C. last season. Except UConn's leading scorers — Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Mo Jefferson — have all graduated to the WNBA. That leaves the 2017 group to deal with a formidable frontcourt of 6-foot-5 A'ja Wilson (17 points per game) and 6-4 Alaina Coates (11.5 rebounds).

"Losing some of the perimeter players they lost obviously changes them because you can't necessarily replace that kind of experience and Tiffany Mitchell's talent," Auriemma said. "But adding the players they did changes them. They can be a little more offensive minded from more spots than they were last year.

"Their two big guys have had another year to play together. They're a problem for everybody they play. You can say you can do this against them or you can do that against them, but those two are really hard to play against. I wasn't worried about it last year with Stewie and Tuck, but I am now."

• Auriemma will appear on "Good Morning America" Monday morning. In addition, the ESPN family of networks will air games from UConn's past throughout the day.

m.dimauro@theday.com