It’s time to think beyond the court.

Sure, there’s a lot of back-and-forth about whether UConn’s dominance – winning streak of 78 and beating almost all opponents by double-digit margins – is bad or good for women’s college basketball. The basic argument: Is it too boring to watch? Or will everyone tune in to see what the fuss is all about? (BTW lately looks like people are tuning in as Nielsen rating for UConn-Baylor was 2.6 or 2 million households on Sunday, more than Red Sox-Yankees or PGA Golf).

But the horse-race aspect of this debate misses what we have here: A genuine image of what women look like when they lead. In a sport in which players mostly stay for all four years of college with legitimate majors and career plans, watching how this team approaches their on-court work reveals far more than awesome ball-handling skills. I see young women I would hire – and vote for. Here’s why:

1. Preparation.  From the minute they step onto the court at practice, these players are full-out. They drill like they play (sometimes unfairly out-matched), and take seriously the details of their game. It doesn’t matter that opponents aren’t likely to measure up. They stride into the meeting, the contest, the debate fully ready.

2. Mental Toughness. It is not easy to win. Constantly. By wide margins – and not lose focus. Many athletes play to their opponents. Many people outside of sports lack the mental fortitude to stay on track when no one is challenging them to be great and do it right. That’s why inner city schools fail; why Toyota is spending a fortune on a recall.

3. Team Play. Yes Tina Charles is a superstar and so is Maya Moore. But this is not the Charles-Moore Show; it is UConn women’s basketball. This is how things –on court or off – really get done. In Congress, in companies, in the world.

4. Relentless Pursuit. Beyond the mental toughness to play to their own standards when others fall away, this team keeps it at a sustained high level so consistently that they have created a new reality, a new image of what (phenom Brittany Griner aside) women’s basketball looks like. Or should I say, women leaders playing basketball?

5. Self-Discipline. In 1995, after Connecticut won that critical title, Rebecca Lobo quipped on national TV that “now I can go back to being the worst post player in America.” It’s no secret that Geno Auriemma is tough. Tina Charles and teammates have heard and taken more “coaching” than most people could handle. They have kept cool and listened. They have stood up and worked harder. Who doesn’t want a leader who can take the guff and stay in control?

Go ahead, tune in, if you want to see what all the talk is about. But don’t forget to notice what’s happening on that court — besides basketball.

VS.?

By Laura Pappano

Baylor Coach Kim Mulkey has a number in mind: 47,492.

That’s how many fans went wild last Sunday in Houston for the men’s Baylor-Duke matchup. After her team upset Duke in a thrilling 51-48 win last night, Mulkey made the point: She wants the same support in San Antonio for her Baylor team as they head to the Final Four.

“It’s good to get back home,” she said in post-game interview with ESPN’s Holley Rowe. “I want everybody in the state to show us the same kind of a fan base we had in Houston for our men. We’re home. Come on, you are going to see the best team in the country in Connecticut if they win the next one – and let’s just go play.”

Mulkey is not the only one who thinks a UConn-Baylor contest is worth coming out – or tuning in – for. The ESPN desk jockeys (who made sure to mention that they don’t watch a much women’s basketball), nonetheless admitted that seeing Brittany Griner & Co. take on UConn is appointment viewing.

And why wouldn’t it be?

Well, because despite thrilling play (the second game last night, Xavier-Stanford was decided at the buzzer as Jeanette Pohlon released the game-winning layup as time expired) there remains an apologetic stance toward women’s basketball. Real sports fans, we hear ad-nauseam, don’t like it.

“Most of us don’t care about the women’s tournament,” wrote Dan Shaughnessy in Sports Illustrated. “Sorry. I know this is not the politically correct stance and I know there are young women all over the nation who rightfully look up to the Huskies as role models, but the fact remains that most red-blooded American fans don’t give a hoot about women’s basketball…”

What’s so funny about the don’t-make-me-watch-women-play stance is that same tired arguments (big one: slower play) might well be applied as an excuse to forgo men’s college play for the NBA. The bottom line is that, having watched my share of men’s and women’s games this month, it’s impossible to say that the men’s games are really more exciting to watch than the women’s.

It’s about the match-ups.

Sure, UConn has been dominant this season, but who doesn’t want to see if Brittney Griner (transformed from punch-throwing heathen to “freshman sensation”) can keep Tina Charles and Maya Moore from the hoop?

UConn will need some serious three-pointers because Griner (and her tenacious young teammates) are tough to beat inside (Griner has an NCAA tournament record 35 blocked shots in four games, 218 for the season – so far).

Don’t show up in San Antonio or tune in because you think you should. I believe women should support women’s sports. But this isn’t about that. This is about compelling play, the David and Goliath contest that doesn’t come along every day, but is – at the core — why we watch sports in the first place.

47,492 is the number to beat.

The big game is tonight! Before the NCAA’s D1 Women’s Basketball March to the Arch, I spoke with Cathy Inglese, former head coach at Boston College whose teams made it to the tournament six of the last eight years (plus were Big East Champions in 2004). She has spent this year visiting the nation’s top programs, watching games and practices — and getting a veteran’s courtside view of women’s D1 basketball.

FGN: What makes women’s basketball today special?
CI: What makes the women’s game so exciting to watch is the teamwork both offensively and defensively. The play is very team-oriented and this year the players are stronger, more skilled, and more athletic than ever before. For example, you’ve got players like Courtney Paris who are consistently recording double-double games – that’s double digit points and double-digit rebounds.

FGN: How does such a team-oriented game translate into to how this tournament has progressed?
CI: The most interesting thing about this year’s bracket was its parity. Besides UConn, who I think play on a level above that of the other teams, on any given night any of the top 50 teams could beat each other. What it came down to was the matchups, how each team’s particular dynamics played out against their opponent’s. It’s not always the best talent that determines the win.

FGN: What should we expect to see from University of Connecticut?
CI: UConn portrays a real team dynamic; they practice hard and really play together and mesh together as a team.

FGN: Which players should we be watching in tonight’s game?
CI: Maya Moore from UConn, for one. She is an energetic player who works hard all the time. You’ll notice in tonight’s game how unselfish she is. She’s extremely athletic, but she also meshes well with her teammates. Maya’s teammate Renee Montgomery is great point guard for the team and a big scorer. She distributes the ball very well, getting the ball to the player that’s open. She makes those people around her better. Look for Angel McCoughtry and Candyce Bingham tonight as well, playing for Louisville.

FGN: Thanks so much for your insight, Coach Inglese. So, do you plan to get back into college coaching?
CI: Absolutely. I love what I’ve been able to do during this year as far as visiting other teams and meeting coaches around the country, but being part of a team is what I’m really missing right now. I’m chomping at the bit to get back into coaching.

Savanna Johnson is a Wellesley College senior and swimmer who is a three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time NCAA Academic All-American. She holds NEWMAC conference and meet records in the 50 yard freestyle. Johnson (who also runs track) holds Wellesley College records in seven swimming and three track events.

Her player profile doesn’t mention it, but Boston College guard Ayla Brown, has a killer voice that earned her a contestant’s spot in the fifth season of American Idol. She was a regular before home games, belting out the anthem – and then stepping on the court.

Ditto for UConn phenom #23 Maya Moore and teammate #41 Kaili McLaren (okay, they did it as a tribute to the team’s seniors, but they sounded pretty good). And then Stanford forward/guard Michelle Harrison teamed up with Hookslide before the Stanford men tipped off against Cal State Bakersfield last month. I wonder how that rangy-maned shock-jock would sound…