Why did Rebecca Lobo, Jen Rizzotti, and Nykesha Sales want to play for UConn in the early 1990's when its practice facilities were horrible and the Big East of that era was weak? Yes, they were local talent, but they certainly could have gone to a bigger-named school.
Likewise, if the 1990 version of Geno were a young and unheralded coach at Marquette in the last few years, he would have recruited KK Arnold and Allie Ziebell from Wisconsin high schools, and he would have dissuaded Emily LaChapell from transferring. At that point, and with the players that actually are on the Marquette roster, he could have been a contender -- to quote Marlon Brando.
A better recruiter than Doug Bruno would have recruited and retained more Chicago talent than Doug has. A more dynamic personality than Jim Flanery could have recruited Caitlin Clark and had the success that Iowa is now having. But it takes a unique individual with a rare combination of ambition, salesmanship, charisma, and exceptional basketball X-and-O knowledge to have that success.