[81alum]

And what about Stanford? Nada?

At this point the only way we could accept a transfer is if one of our returning players transfers out or one of the stellar incoming class reneges on her commitment.  All the slots are taken. 

So, "nada" will be a good thing, in that regard, if it comes to pass.

[81alum]

And what about Stanford? Nada?

At this point the only way we could accept a transfer is if one of our returning players transfers out or one of the stellar incoming class reneges on her commitment.  All the slots are taken. 

So, "nada" will be a good thing, in that regard, if it comes to pass.

[PalmTree]

The transfer portal just gets downright depressing sometimes. It's weird to see how diminished Notre Dame has been this off season so far - Kate Koval, Olivia Miles, Kylee Watson all transferring leaving Hannah Hidalgo and Niele Ivey to find complimentary parts for her in the portal. 

LSU made a splash with getting Kate Koval today - and that's a brobdingnagian get at a position of need for Kim Mulkey as LSU adjusts to life without Aneesah Morrow. 

Maryland has been active with a reload by signing Yarden Garzon (Indiana) and Gracie Merkle (Penn State) - they'll be a force with Smikle, McDaniel, and Kubek all returning alongside Poffenbarger and McLean. 

Clemson also made a splash by signing Rachael Rose (Wofford) and Demeara Hinds (Wake). Gal Raviv of Quinnipiac is sailing down the coast to Miami. Baylor grabbed Tailah Scott, and the wheel keeps turning. I'm sure that many more splashes will occur before this is all over.

And what about Stanford? Nada?

See posts of the last couple of days on the recruiting thread - hands tied due to being at the new roster limit, unless someone unexpectedly jumps ship

[PalmTree]

The transfer portal just gets downright depressing sometimes. It's weird to see how diminished Notre Dame has been this off season so far - Kate Koval, Olivia Miles, Kylee Watson all transferring leaving Hannah Hidalgo and Niele Ivey to find complimentary parts for her in the portal. 

LSU made a splash with getting Kate Koval today - and that's a brobdingnagian get at a position of need for Kim Mulkey as LSU adjusts to life without Aneesah Morrow. 

Maryland has been active with a reload by signing Yarden Garzon (Indiana) and Gracie Merkle (Penn State) - they'll be a force with Smikle, McDaniel, and Kubek all returning alongside Poffenbarger and McLean. 

Clemson also made a splash by signing Rachael Rose (Wofford) and Demeara Hinds (Wake). Gal Raviv of Quinnipiac is sailing down the coast to Miami. Baylor grabbed Tailah Scott, and the wheel keeps turning. I'm sure that many more splashes will occur before this is all over.

And what about Stanford? Nada?

See posts of the last couple of days on the recruiting thread - hands tied due to being at the new roster limit, unless someone unexpectedly jumps ship

[CompSci87]

We were at 16 counting former walkon Lauren Green, so we had been thinking Lauren would be out next year because of the new roster limit of 15. But then Tess Heal announced she is in the portal. That suggests that either we have room for one more or Lauren will be back after all. Or Tess could stay after all.

[CompSci87]

We were at 16 counting former walkon Lauren Green, so we had been thinking Lauren would be out next year because of the new roster limit of 15. But then Tess Heal announced she is in the portal. That suggests that either we have room for one more or Lauren will be back after all. Or Tess could stay after all.

[Spiny_Norman]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

[Spiny_Norman]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

[BosCard]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

Auriemma is a great coach however he has also had the luxury of having the most talented players on his team.  He has 3 players who were the #1 recruit of their class on his team.  That’s more than every other team in the NCAA combined.

[BosCard]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

Auriemma is a great coach however he has also had the luxury of having the most talented players on his team.  He has 3 players who were the #1 recruit of their class on his team.  That’s more than every other team in the NCAA combined.

[PalmTree]

We were at 16 counting former walkon Lauren Green, so we had been thinking Lauren would be out next year because of the new roster limit of 15. But then Tess Heal announced she is in the portal. That suggests that either we have room for one more or Lauren will be back after all. Or Tess could stay after all.

Much better answer than mine - thanks CS187

[PalmTree]

We were at 16 counting former walkon Lauren Green, so we had been thinking Lauren would be out next year because of the new roster limit of 15. But then Tess Heal announced she is in the portal. That suggests that either we have room for one more or Lauren will be back after all. Or Tess could stay after all.

Much better answer than mine - thanks CS187

[BostonCard]

The transfer portal just gets downright depressing sometimes. It's weird to see how diminished Notre Dame has been this off season so far - Kate Koval, Olivia Miles, Kylee Watson all transferring leaving Hannah Hidalgo and Niele Ivey to find complimentary parts for her in the portal. 

I guess one upshot of UConn winning it all is that they largely did it with their own recruits.  The big three (Bueckers, Fudd, and Strong) were all UConn recruits out of high school, and of their five starters, only Chen was a transfer, and she was a grad transfer from Princeton (where she couldn't compete as a fifth year).

BC

[BostonCard]

The transfer portal just gets downright depressing sometimes. It's weird to see how diminished Notre Dame has been this off season so far - Kate Koval, Olivia Miles, Kylee Watson all transferring leaving Hannah Hidalgo and Niele Ivey to find complimentary parts for her in the portal. 

I guess one upshot of UConn winning it all is that they largely did it with their own recruits.  The big three (Bueckers, Fudd, and Strong) were all UConn recruits out of high school, and of their five starters, only Chen was a transfer, and she was a grad transfer from Princeton (where she couldn't compete as a fifth year).

BC

[Lorcan]

It still marvels me that we haven't figured out how to tap into an Ivy to Stanford pipeline. Kaitlyn Davis, Kaitlyn Chen, Makenzie Forbes, et al. could've been interesting gets.

[Lorcan]

It still marvels me that we haven't figured out how to tap into an Ivy to Stanford pipeline. Kaitlyn Davis, Kaitlyn Chen, Makenzie Forbes, et al. could've been interesting gets.

[MV72018]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

Auriemma is a great coach however he has also had the luxury of having the most talented players on his team.  He has 3 players who were the #1 recruit of their class on his team.  That’s more than every other team in the NCAA combined.

He had that luxury because he succeeded in recruiting them.

[MV72018]

Yeah, no doubt who the best team in the nation is right now. They may not have been earlier in the year but they sure are now.
They just might be next year too even without Bueckers. Sarah Strong is one of the best players in the nation as a freshman.

You have to give all the props to Auriemma. John Wooden won 10 NCs. Geno now has won 12 and counting. He gets great players and pushes them and pushes them to be great. Then he pushes them to be even greater. And they deliver, both individually and as a team. I also don't think Geno gets the credit he is due for being perhaps the best coach of defense ever. His best teams play 40 minutes of intense, pressure, man-to-man defense that prevent the offense from doing what it wants to do. It's very disruptive as we saw all tournament.

I do think we need to recognize that Auriemma has only been successful winning NCs when he has had a transcendent team leader. 11 of the 12 NCs included teams featuring Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart and now Paige Bueckers.

Auriemma is a great coach however he has also had the luxury of having the most talented players on his team.  He has 3 players who were the #1 recruit of their class on his team.  That’s more than every other team in the NCAA combined.

He had that luxury because he succeeded in recruiting them.

[Nobadeer]

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?

[Nobadeer]

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?

[liveoak]

It still marvels me that we haven't figured out how to tap into an Ivy to Stanford pipeline. Kaitlyn Davis, Kaitlyn Chen, Makenzie Forbes, et al. could've been interesting gets.

I know there are people on this board that will disagree with me on this,  but I would advocate for some kind of special program for fifth-year postgraduate transfers. It could be a variation on the MLA program (if that still exists) or post-undergrad study or something else. This would be for students with a strong academic background as undergrads (presumably Ivy would count or high grade at another school). I do not believe this will destroy Stanford's reputation as an elite university....

[liveoak]

It still marvels me that we haven't figured out how to tap into an Ivy to Stanford pipeline. Kaitlyn Davis, Kaitlyn Chen, Makenzie Forbes, et al. could've been interesting gets.

I know there are people on this board that will disagree with me on this,  but I would advocate for some kind of special program for fifth-year postgraduate transfers. It could be a variation on the MLA program (if that still exists) or post-undergrad study or something else. This would be for students with a strong academic background as undergrads (presumably Ivy would count or high grade at another school). I do not believe this will destroy Stanford's reputation as an elite university....

[BobK]

Stanford has such a problem Liveoak. Several football players in it It’s been talked about on the Rivals site
In the words of an outstanding former athlete “I want a Masters not just taking
Classes “.
Maybe someone else knows more

[BobK]

Stanford has such a problem Liveoak. Several football players in it It’s been talked about on the Rivals site
In the words of an outstanding former athlete “I want a Masters not just taking
Classes “.
Maybe someone else knows more

[Lorcan]

Olivia Miles and Kylee Watson off to greener pastures at TCU - Campbell just reloading at TCU for another run next year. Maddie Scherr - also formerly of Oregon fame will be healthy next season too.

[Lorcan]

Olivia Miles and Kylee Watson off to greener pastures at TCU - Campbell just reloading at TCU for another run next year. Maddie Scherr - also formerly of Oregon fame will be healthy next season too.

[Treebound]

BobK,
I thought that I saw a few grad transfers identified with the term "Post Bac."   Typically, this is a non-degree option, as these athletes already have a BA or BS.   Yes, it is a challenge for any highly qualified individual to get into many/most of our graduate programs, especially the pre-professional schools (MBA, LAW, MD).   I think Shaw and the AD reached a compromise with the Post Bac program.  My thoughts are that it's a good step to getting athletes from the portal.  If they do well in an academic area of interest, they can apply for a masters program in their field for an additional year.   Does anyone know what Blakes was working on academically as he had his undergrad degree from Duke.

[Treebound]

BobK,
I thought that I saw a few grad transfers identified with the term "Post Bac."   Typically, this is a non-degree option, as these athletes already have a BA or BS.   Yes, it is a challenge for any highly qualified individual to get into many/most of our graduate programs, especially the pre-professional schools (MBA, LAW, MD).   I think Shaw and the AD reached a compromise with the Post Bac program.  My thoughts are that it's a good step to getting athletes from the portal.  If they do well in an academic area of interest, they can apply for a masters program in their field for an additional year.   Does anyone know what Blakes was working on academically as he had his undergrad degree from Duke.

[Griffins78]

UCLA freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo enters transfer portal. Surprising. She got a lot of playing time her freshman year and UCLA doesn't have a lot of point guards. Yes - Charlisse Leger-Walker is returning from ACL but she would be a great mentor to have during Elina's sophomore year. She then has two years left to run the team.

[Griffins78]

UCLA freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo enters transfer portal. Surprising. She got a lot of playing time her freshman year and UCLA doesn't have a lot of point guards. Yes - Charlisse Leger-Walker is returning from ACL but she would be a great mentor to have during Elina's sophomore year. She then has two years left to run the team.

[JohnR34231]

BobK,
I thought that I saw a few grad transfers identified with the term "Post Bac."   Typically, this is a non-degree option, as these athletes already have a BA or BS.   Yes, it is a challenge for any highly qualified individual to get into many/most of our graduate programs, especially the pre-professional schools (MBA, LAW, MD).   I think Shaw and the AD reached a compromise with the Post Bac program.  My thoughts are that it's a good step to getting athletes from the portal.  If they do well in an academic area of interest, they can apply for a masters program in their field for an additional year.   Does anyone know what Blakes was working on academically as he had his undergrad degree from Duke.

I believe he was going for a masters in statistics.

[JohnR34231]

BobK,
I thought that I saw a few grad transfers identified with the term "Post Bac."   Typically, this is a non-degree option, as these athletes already have a BA or BS.   Yes, it is a challenge for any highly qualified individual to get into many/most of our graduate programs, especially the pre-professional schools (MBA, LAW, MD).   I think Shaw and the AD reached a compromise with the Post Bac program.  My thoughts are that it's a good step to getting athletes from the portal.  If they do well in an academic area of interest, they can apply for a masters program in their field for an additional year.   Does anyone know what Blakes was working on academically as he had his undergrad degree from Duke.

I believe he was going for a masters in statistics.

[MV72018]

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.

[MV72018]

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.

[BosCard]

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.

[BosCard]

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.

[MV72018]

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.

[MV72018]

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.

[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.