Trb, I have something from memory lane that may comfort you: In the movie "Patton," Patton, while meeting his new aide, Lt. Colonel Charles R, Codman, points out that is own G2 section has indicated his disappointment that his (Patton's) troops just won a battle while Rommel was in Germany. Codman points out that surely Rommel surely planned the attack. "If you defeat Rommel's plan, you defeat Rommel."
I am willing to give the head coach credit if a team s/he formed, recruited, and trained, coached by an assistant coach well versed in her/his game practices. "If you defeat NC, you defeat Hatchell."
"If you lose to UCONN, you lose to Auriemma."