[TheFarm07]

Well, this is depressing, but Tara is simply going to have to pull off a few more of her magic tricks.  I wish KLS well, but I cannot fathom encouraging my own daughter to choose Connecticut over Stanford on the basis of any sports program.  I wonder if KLS is as academically inclined as her sisters?  And I wonder if the professional opportunities in WBB is harming Stanford's recruitment of elite athletes?  If so, there are some foolish decisions being made--but maybe that isn't it.

And yes, with 3 of the top ten recruits, Connecticut looks like a hegemony, and yes this will be very bad for WBB in the long run.  I am disappointed for Stanford, of course, but I am deeply disappointed for the game if all the suspense goes out of the national championships for the next few years.

In the ESPNW article regarding KLS's choice, she was quoted as saying: "I wanted to push myself to be the best; I wanted to play for the best." That should be a wake-up call to Tara.  They either have a choice to accept 2nd best or work harder and adopt a more competitive mindset to achieve what Auriemma is doing at UConn.

There was an article during the lead-up to this year's Final Four where it mentioned the Stanford coaching stuff had "zero frustration or anger" about not winning a title in the numerous Final Four appearances they've had in the last few years.  Contrast that sentiment with an interview with Auriemma where he mentioned that he simply wasn't satisfied with his team surviving each round of the NCAA tournament to get to the end, but wanting to dominate each opponent to send a message to the rest of the field.  I think that says something about the mentality of each program and quite frankly, I think it plays a role in the success that Auriemma has, when expectations are to be the best and nothing less is acceptable.

I think it shows too in the box scores.  Some people might criticize UConn for "running up the score" during games, but I think it shows that they have the instinct to put opponents away and show them no mercy.  They don't ease up and isn't that a sign of disrespect too? When you think you have the game clinched and you relax and don't give your opponent respect by thinking they can come back?

Too many times I've seen Stanford up 15 points with 10 minutes to go and end up winning by only a dozen points or so.  You may ask what's the big deal? A win by 10 counts the same as a win by 30, but I think it sets the precedent that Auriemma wants them to be at their best and not go through the motions even when they are up by a lot.

Yes, UConn has had elite caliber players, but so do other programs.  UConn can only play 5 players at a time like any other school; not every top basketball player can play for them.  Other programs have great coaches who can come up with great game plans and have great fundamentals as well and Tara does a great job doing that.

I think it's the mindset of UConn that distinguishes them.

[TheFarm07]

Well, this is depressing, but Tara is simply going to have to pull off a few more of her magic tricks.  I wish KLS well, but I cannot fathom encouraging my own daughter to choose Connecticut over Stanford on the basis of any sports program.  I wonder if KLS is as academically inclined as her sisters?  And I wonder if the professional opportunities in WBB is harming Stanford's recruitment of elite athletes?  If so, there are some foolish decisions being made--but maybe that isn't it.

And yes, with 3 of the top ten recruits, Connecticut looks like a hegemony, and yes this will be very bad for WBB in the long run.  I am disappointed for Stanford, of course, but I am deeply disappointed for the game if all the suspense goes out of the national championships for the next few years.

In the ESPNW article regarding KLS's choice, she was quoted as saying: "I wanted to push myself to be the best; I wanted to play for the best." That should be a wake-up call to Tara.  They either have a choice to accept 2nd best or work harder and adopt a more competitive mindset to achieve what Auriemma is doing at UConn.

There was an article during the lead-up to this year's Final Four where it mentioned the Stanford coaching stuff had "zero frustration or anger" about not winning a title in the numerous Final Four appearances they've had in the last few years.  Contrast that sentiment with an interview with Auriemma where he mentioned that he simply wasn't satisfied with his team surviving each round of the NCAA tournament to get to the end, but wanting to dominate each opponent to send a message to the rest of the field.  I think that says something about the mentality of each program and quite frankly, I think it plays a role in the success that Auriemma has, when expectations are to be the best and nothing less is acceptable.

I think it shows too in the box scores.  Some people might criticize UConn for "running up the score" during games, but I think it shows that they have the instinct to put opponents away and show them no mercy.  They don't ease up and isn't that a sign of disrespect too? When you think you have the game clinched and you relax and don't give your opponent respect by thinking they can come back?

Too many times I've seen Stanford up 15 points with 10 minutes to go and end up winning by only a dozen points or so.  You may ask what's the big deal? A win by 10 counts the same as a win by 30, but I think it sets the precedent that Auriemma wants them to be at their best and not go through the motions even when they are up by a lot.

Yes, UConn has had elite caliber players, but so do other programs.  UConn can only play 5 players at a time like any other school; not every top basketball player can play for them.  Other programs have great coaches who can come up with great game plans and have great fundamentals as well and Tara does a great job doing that.

I think it's the mindset of UConn that distinguishes them.