The same way we had to hear Doris drone on about Notre Dame this and Notre Dame that, a team that's ranked whatever, during a #1 vs. #2 match up.
In a way, I thought that was an attempt to salvage a narrative for the entire WCBB season. ESPN (and every other broadcaster, & non-UConn scribe) does not want their audience (in December, for goodness' sake!) to lose interest in the season. "UConn's gonna win anyway, and, it ain't even gonna be close: boring!"
Duke was supposed to be the "white knight", the "noble underdog challenger". They folded like a bad poker hand. Tennessee won't play us, and, it's not the same narrative without Pat. Stanford got whupped, Maryland got whupped, Baylor lost She Who Could Not Be Beat, Louisville gets creamed by UConn. The only team left that has a history of success against UConn is ND .
In the last 4 years, that was a regular, reliable rivalry, with 15 meetings, with tremendous drama and competition. Lots of great television, reams of pithy commentary and quotes. This year? Until the NCAA tourney, the only story line is UConn's invincibility - a storyline that has already been told, repeatedly.
The talking heads and faceless scribes are desperate to find something new that will engage their audience.