Why Final Four loss can give UConn women’s basketball the edge it lacked this season

[BRS24]

Passing the torch, and finding the fire for next season -

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According to ESPN, the Gamecocks displayed the score of the 2025 national title game — UConn 82, South Carolina 59 — on screens around their weight room during offseason workouts last summer. That 23-point deficit lit a fire under the team, and though South Carolina players denied they were thinking about revenge heading into the Final Four, it was clear from the Gamecocks’ lackluster performance two days later in the national championship that they had more hunger in the matchup with the Huskies.​

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Every team competing in March Madness wants to win a championship, but finding something personal to fight for is a separator. UCLA, which routed the Gamecocks 79-51 to win its first NCAA championship on Sunday, got its motivation from last year’s historic Final Four loss to UConn, from its eight seniors hungry to end their careers on a high.​

 

[cullaville]

You shouldn't need outside motivation to play your best and hardest, especially a Final Four or championship game.

 

[Ozimoto]

And sometimes you play you --s off and things just don't go your way.

 

[jaundicedeye]

I feel for Geno and the players. I don't know how he can address this team about the loss and what needs to be done when so much of it was what the officials wrongly permitted. I doubt he would tell them, "Well, if this is the way they are letting teams play against us then I guess we have to play that way too."

 

[willtalk]

I feel for Geno and the players. I don't know how he can address this team about the loss and what needs to be done when so much of it was what the officials wrongly permitted. I doubt he would tell them, "Well, if this is the way they are letting teams play against us then I guess we have to play that way too."

Match ups and how officials call the games have always influenced the outcome of games. Its what all teams much face in the NCAA tournament. Its not a perfect system but it is what it is. The reality was that UConn got the easiest road to the final four based on their top ranking. SC was the first real competition they faced. Objectively, they were the forth best team behind SC, Texas and UCLA based on their perfect season and media reputation. In reality they were a good team, but still unknown with how good they actually were in relation to the other top teams.

 

[jaundicedeye]

Match ups and how officials call the games have always influenced the outcome of games. Its what all teams much face in the NCAA tournament. Its not a perfect system but it is what it is. The reality was that UConn got the easiest road to the final four based on their top ranking. SC was the first real competition they faced. Objectively, they were the forth best team behind SC, Texas and UCLA based on their perfect season and media reputation. In reality they were a good team, but still unknown with how good they actually were in relation to the other top teams.

Case in point: UCLA vs SC did not look like or was officiated as the UConn vs SC game. The officiating was not acceptable as it is unacceptable to say, "it's not a perfect system". That is a tough one for Geno to explain. Nobody from the NCAA or anywhere else is addressing what was so egregiously wrong.

 

[browns]

Uconn doesn't need to make excuses..If you want to blame it on the refs..fine but the bottom like is they were out played and out coached..and IMHO if they would have played this UCLA team they would have lost..much different team than last year
Let's see how the big O fits in along with hopefully Ice and Morgan if their healthy.
They have the best player in the country along with Blanka having a year under her belt playing college ball and Shade and KK having played in 3 final fours..Add in Heckle who I was excited when they got her and she played great
S Williams never lived up to her hype but who knows why..you can't win them all
So they have 2 open spots and lets see what Geno does in the portal..if nothing they still have a top 5 team that will compete for a championship

 

[BBallF]

Case in point: UCLA vs SC did not look like or was officiated as the UConn vs SC game. The officiating was not acceptable as it is unacceptable to say, "it's not a perfect system". That is a tough one for Geno to explain. Nobody from the NCAA or anywhere else is addressing what was so egregiously wrong.

I think the real cause , whatever it is, has to be identified first.