Many of the pregame storylines for UConn women’s basketball’s Final Four matchup with Arizona highlighted the disparity of the two programs’ experience competing for a nation championship. The Huskies were competing in their 21st Final Four, while the Wildcats made the final weekend for the first time in program history.
Perhaps instead the focus should have been on the experience on the court for each of the two teams. Arizona’s starting lineup boasted three seniors and two juniors. UConn started two freshmen with a third coming off the bench for significant minutes.
“When you get to this level, you need to have a couple mature players that are capable of doing that because the other team is really good, too,” head coach Geno Auriemma said after the loss.