[jonnyss]

Since the year 2000, LSJU played in three NC games, scoring 47, 48 (vs. Uconn) and 54 points (1 NC). 

LSJU appeared in six other Final 4s since 2000, scoring 58 points (vs. Uconn), 53 (vs. So. Caro), 56 (vs UConn), 47 (vs. Baylor), 62 (vs. Tex A&M), 64 (vs. UConn).

UConn has played in 11 NC games since 2000 and won them all, scoring 71, 82, 73, 70, 76, 53 (vs. LSJU), 93, 79, 63, 82, and 82 points.

Better players, better offensive schemes, or just consistently better gameday performances?

Better players and better coaches (who devise better offensive schemes). I view "better gameday performances" as an effect of better coaches coaching better players. 

Question (without a definitive answer): if Demetre or Bosgana had played for Geno this past year (after being on the UConn team for two or three years before that) would that player have had a significantly better '24-'25 season than she did (6.3ppg for BD, 6.7ppg for EB)? I would guess that she likely would have. Why? Because Geno does a great job of disciplining, conditioning, and building up the confidence, determination, grit, and resilience of his players.

I respectfully disagree.  Demetre / Bosgana would not have had better seasons at UConn because they would not have played.  Hard to score points from the bench.

Your statement that they would not have played seems to me based on the assumption that they would have been the same-caliber players at UConn that they actually proved to be at Stanford. As I acknowledged, I don't think a definitive answer to my question is possible. But it does offer food for thought: does the current head coach and the rest of the coaching squad of the Stanford women's basketball team strongly, ingeniously, and relentlessly push its recruits to develop so that they become all that their potential suggests, to an extent that is comparable with what Geno and his crew do? Although I cannot confidently answer that question, I'm skeptical that they do.

uconn played 8 players more than 10 minutes in the championship. top-5 recruits caroline ducharme and allie ziebell each got 2 minutes in junk time at the end. 

by the way, also on the roster are top-5 recruit ice brady,  and top ten recruit kk arnold. so uconn has 6 top-5 recruits and 7 top-10 recruits. so, yeah, hard to get playing time.

by contrast, we are thrilled to have one top-10 recruit coming in next year.

[jonnyss]

Since the year 2000, LSJU played in three NC games, scoring 47, 48 (vs. Uconn) and 54 points (1 NC). 

LSJU appeared in six other Final 4s since 2000, scoring 58 points (vs. Uconn), 53 (vs. So. Caro), 56 (vs UConn), 47 (vs. Baylor), 62 (vs. Tex A&M), 64 (vs. UConn).

UConn has played in 11 NC games since 2000 and won them all, scoring 71, 82, 73, 70, 76, 53 (vs. LSJU), 93, 79, 63, 82, and 82 points.

Better players, better offensive schemes, or just consistently better gameday performances?

Better players and better coaches (who devise better offensive schemes). I view "better gameday performances" as an effect of better coaches coaching better players. 

Question (without a definitive answer): if Demetre or Bosgana had played for Geno this past year (after being on the UConn team for two or three years before that) would that player have had a significantly better '24-'25 season than she did (6.3ppg for BD, 6.7ppg for EB)? I would guess that she likely would have. Why? Because Geno does a great job of disciplining, conditioning, and building up the confidence, determination, grit, and resilience of his players.

I respectfully disagree.  Demetre / Bosgana would not have had better seasons at UConn because they would not have played.  Hard to score points from the bench.

Your statement that they would not have played seems to me based on the assumption that they would have been the same-caliber players at UConn that they actually proved to be at Stanford. As I acknowledged, I don't think a definitive answer to my question is possible. But it does offer food for thought: does the current head coach and the rest of the coaching squad of the Stanford women's basketball team strongly, ingeniously, and relentlessly push its recruits to develop so that they become all that their potential suggests, to an extent that is comparable with what Geno and his crew do? Although I cannot confidently answer that question, I'm skeptical that they do.

uconn played 8 players more than 10 minutes in the championship. top-5 recruits caroline ducharme and allie ziebell each got 2 minutes in junk time at the end. 

by the way, also on the roster are top-5 recruit ice brady,  and top ten recruit kk arnold. so uconn has 6 top-5 recruits and 7 top-10 recruits. so, yeah, hard to get playing time.

by contrast, we are thrilled to have one top-10 recruit coming in next year.