What’s So Special About UConn? Nothing, Really.

The University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball team’s record now stands at 74-0 double-digit wins and counting. The amazing thing is that this sort of dominance isn’t unusual for the Huskies. It makes you wonder: factoring the talent, the tactics, the defenses, what’s so special about UConn? The truth is, not that much.

I may not be his biggest fan, but I like head coach Geno Auriemma. The guy has managed multiple versions of winning teams all while graduating some of the top players in the world who still like their former coach. That says something. He’s the constant (well, not the only constant–there’s also Associate Head Coach Chris Dailey). So, what mystical thing does Coach Auriemma do in Storrs to create this juggernaut of excellence? Nothing. He simply mandates that the players who come to UConn be excellent.

There’s a lot of talk about how Geno tears down players and builds them back up again like in a Marine boot camp. I’m sure that does happen. Probably not to the extent that many think, but most coaches do instill a bit of fear–especially in underclassmen–so as to get players to slough off the preconceptions of their own abilities. He will insist, during practices, that in situations players stand in a certain spot. Not a general area, but an exact spot. Why? Does he have some special scout that other coaches don’t? No. Then why?

The key to UConn’s success, as far as I’ve been able to glean from watching games, behind-the-scenes reports, and listening to the coaches and players, is simply this: personal responsibility. Each player has a personal responsibility to be excellent. Sounds sort of egotistical, doesn’t it? It’s not. It means that players have to be aware of where they are every moment; they have to be aware of where their teammates are. They have to know, without question, that they can depend on teammates just as their teammates depend upon them.

But, it’s not just hit-the-spot. It’s about paying attention to the situation. It’s about focus. It’s about committing. If the ball is loose, don’t just bend down to get it if the other team is diving for it–you better dive for it. It’s not about loping up the court, it’s about running up the court. It’s about practicing foul shots after practice. It’s about practicing field shots after practice. It’s about taking responsibility for what you are able to do–and always trying to improve. It’s about taking responsibility for setting aside your own ego and committing to what’s best for the team. It may be about making the extra pass. It may be about knowing when not to make the extra pass and take the shot yourself.

And this is something available to every single team in the nation.

No…many teams might not have quite the caliber of talent that Auriemma is able to recruit, but every one of the players on those teams has the option of doing what Geno expects from his players. EVERY. ONE. What that means is that UConn isn’t really all that special after all…just that many others (most often players, but sometimes coaches) don’t try as hard as they are able to be in that company. The question isn’t so much, “Why is UConn so dominant,” but “Why aren’t the other schools nipping at their heels?”