Rewatching the LSU/Iowa game, the moment that stood out to me was Mulkey calling a timeout 1:30 into the game with her team trailing 7-3. That's in direct contrast to Dawn this season who seemed OK with slow starts all season. We fell behind Stanford, Tennessee, Georgia early. We actually trailed after the 1st quarter in 3 of our 5 tournament games (South Florida, Maryland, Iowa). It was bound to catch up with us at some point. Dawn ignored the problem, even the fan base ignored it for the most part. The starting lineup should have been addressed.
It's nothing something new, either. It is Dawn's one flaw. Or biggest anyway. In the 2015 Final Four, the score was 15-3 before A'ja Wilson entered the game.
You have the GOAT on your team and she doesn't start! She only played 24 minutes. In that time, A'ja was 8-11 from the field, grabbed 9 rebounds, blocked 2 shots. She didn't commit a foul, so she wasn't in foul trouble.
Carolina lost by
ONE point. Don't you think A'ja starting the game would have mattered? Elem Ibiam put up a Saxton-esque stat line of 0 points and 1 rebound as a starter. Dawn loves her veterans.
Thankfully, that was Breanna Stewart's senior season, so we can't say not starting A'ja cost us a national title. UCONN was beating anyone they played that season.
The whole game is on Youtube. Interesting to watch the intro because Dawn is shown talking to the team and she says "depth" is the difference between Carolina and Notre Dame.
Depth is important, but not as much as Dawn seems to think. LSU had zero depth and won it all. Carolina had zero depth in 2017 and won it all.
The key to winning national titles is maximizing the talent you do have. Playing too many players, especially average ones, only serves to dilute your talent.
Dawn is a great coach, but no coach is perfect. I'm looking forward to the 23-24 season, in large part, because Dawn won't feel obligated to play veterans; they aren't many.