From what I've seen SCar/s offensive depends on a few things.
First and most importantly, they depend on Boston. Boston's movement in the offense end is more than any other player on the team. She moves from the block to perimeter, to down screens, to back screens, then ultimately to the block to get the pass inside. Boston will however occasionally stay at the arc on consecutive offense series because she can hit the 3. That draws her mark to the perimeter opening up the lane for Amihere one on one, or drives to the basket. The team is also very dependent on Boston getting her double/doubles, of which the total is now up to 20 consecutive games. The offense spreads at the arc, they move the ball to a post entry where Boston or Amihere takes the shot and draws the defense, or she passes to the perimeter where the guards have the option to shoot, create inside, and/or pass back to Boston or to Amihere and Beal for the shot. Amihere can also hit from the perimeter.
Second, they're dependent on their guards outside shooting and ability to create off the dribble. Both guards have been fairly consistent from the arc, except for this year where Cooke has struggled. These two guards generally take the lions share of shots, and Dawn needs them to keep defenses from collapsing inside against their forwards, or from settling into a zone. The forwards set good high screens, Henny and Cooke have good pull ups, and are great finishers around the rim. Henny is also a very good passer, although I think I think Raven Johnson will ultimately prove the better passer in the future. When Boston sits and Cardoso comes in, or Amihere moves over, the offense does not need to change. Feagin and Rivers are terrific and athletic off the bench. We all know that Cardoso's length is a handful, and overall SCar's length and bench is a major handful. Feagin is nice inside and good rebounder. Cardos also shoots FT's well. Rivers can score from all three levels. Rivers is also ultra athletic , is silky smooth, and a good passer. Hall is strong, has good body control, and a nice finisher. Dawn will use every player on her bench which will wear out most teams in the second half.
Defensively of course, SCar's length gives everyone issues. But it's isn't merely their length, but their girth, athleticism, and their ability to box out that causes teams problems. Beal and Saxton are also smart and quick. They generally play a M2M, non-switching defense.
In a nutshell, UConn's offense doesn't depend on one player. The offense is built around the Princeton offense with many hybrid triangle features. It is clearly the most complex and difficult to master offense in WCBB; also the prettiest. The offense is dependent on ball movement, not dribbling. Players usually dribble to position themselves for the pass. In Geno's offense if you're not passing you're setting a screen. If you're not setting a screen, you're cutting toward the basket. It's not uncommon to see many offensive possesions where, once the ball crosses the half court line, it never touches the floor. If you have the open shot, take it. Geno varies his offense from a chin offense, to a hybrid chin, and or hybrid triangle. I've talked about Geno running the 23 keep with Paige, where, when given the hand off, she then has the option to dribble around the screen and shoot, pass to the cutting screener, or find the shooter for the corner three. Geno also now runs that play with Azzi and CD. When the clock is ticking down then you'll see someone trying to break someone down off the dribble. With shooters such as Paige, Azzi, and CD Geno now has the option to run some interesting sets such as a strong side, fake combination down and back screens, to a step screen on the weak side, or just simple high flare screens. With Dorka Geno can also draw forwards and posts out to the perimeter and away from the lane and their comfort zone. Dorka also gives guards an option for the pick and pop. Geno's offense is a team offense that is dependent on good passing, pace and execution (especially on screens) in the offensive end. It is also dependent on consistency from the perimeter, but his offense really clicks when players produce from the mid range. It also clicks when the defense produces TO's, because Geno's transition game is still the best in WCBB. When UConn is getting execution in their half court sets and getting TO's, that's when blowouts occur. UConn is one of the few teams in WCBB that can lose the rebounding war and still win the game by a significant margin. All due to their efficiency in the offensive zone and defense. Geno's bench is also a handful, and now that everyone is healthy he is wearing out teams down the stretch. Geno also has something I don't think anyone else in WCBB has. That is, the option of playing 5 out, including two forwards over 6' 3", all of which are capable of hitting the 3. When working, this is almost impossible to stop cutters, and one one one in the lane.
Geno's teams play a team defense, and they've always hung their hat on that end of the floor. UConn alters their defense from a switching M2M, to a collapsing M2M, to various zones. UConn's length in the defensive end causes many teams problems, especially since UConn has long forwards switching or hedging on the perimeter. The disadvantage is you will occasionally get poor swtiches where the offense has the advantage, or the switch isn't timely and the defense is out of position. It also means that occasionally your forwards are in poor position for the rebound.
Two teams with almost polar opposite strategies on offense and defense.
