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ESPN analysts Doris Burke, Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo and Carolyn Peck give their thoughts on the Final Four participants:

ESPN Game Analyst Doris Burke
Original Final Four: Baylor, Connecticut, Tennessee and Stanford
National Champion: Stanford

Reason for Stanford Winning National Title: “There are a lot of reasons to think Stanford can win it all – talent, depth, versatility, size and coaching. The athleticism of the Ogwumike sisters (Chiney and Nnemkadi) is hard to match up against, plus Jeanette Pohlen, who has struggled at shooting the ball during the NCAA Championship, is completely comfortable running Stanford’s system and has a history of making big shots. Kayla Pedersen is an incredibly smart player who can play at multiple positions and head coach Tara VanDerveer is relentless in her team’s preparation. I think this team has all the necessary ingredients to win the national championship.’’

Thoughts on Connecticut: “Connecticut continues to amaze me and there is no doubt in my mind that this is one of Coach Auriemma’s best coaching jobs. This is not a `vintage’ UConn team in terms of talent and offensive weapons, yet the only thing this team has done is win. A six man rotation has been able to avoid foul trouble, tough shooting nights by Maya Moore and a lack of depth in the post and dominant size, yet UConn comes out of the nation’s toughest conference undefeated, suffering their only loss on the road to Stanford. It is incredible stuff.’’

Thoughts on Notre Dame: “The Irish can score the basketball. They have averaged 75.0 points this season and have hit the 90-point mark on eight occasions. On the interior, Devereaux Peters has length and athleticism that must be factored in to your offensive thinking, while Becca Bruszewski gives another dimension with her ability to bang on the boards. Skylar Diggins is as capable and good as any guard in the country and this is a team that can get scoring from different places and in different ways. Finally, the Irish defense has been sterling in the postseason with three of the last four opponents having not reached 60 points and the fourth could muster only 64. Right now Notre Dame is playing great basketball on both ends of the floor.’’

Thoughts on Texas A&M: “On selection Monday I said, if the two Sydneys (Sydney Colson and Sydney Carter) could make their shots – the Aggies could win. Texas A&M is tough because they are relentless with their pressure, athleticism and speed. Though she struggled mightily against Baylor, Danielle Adams is the kind of offensive weapon that can anchor a team and get it to advance on any particular night.’’

ESPN Studio Analyst Kara Lawson
Original Final Four Picks: Baylor, Connecticut, Tennessee and Stanford
National Champion: Connecticut

Reason for Connecticut Winning National Title: “Maya Moore is the primary reason for picking Connecticut. She stands out as the player who is the most competitive and she has the physical skills to take over games. Connecticut is at times overly dependent on Moore, but she is that good to carry the burden. Kelly Faris is one of the best individual defenders in the country. UConn has a complete team and at this stage of the season depth is not really an issue because they have smart players.’’

Thoughts on Notre Dame: “I love Notre Dame’s balance and how they fit together as a group. Skylar Diggins’ maturation from her freshman to sophomore year has proved to be the biggest factor in the Irish reaching the Final Four. She has developed better poise and game management skills. Becca Bruszewski provides toughness in the paint.’’

Thoughts on Stanford: “Stanford has tremendous experience and Jeanette Pohlen has had a great year at the point guard spot. The Ogwumike sisters [Chiney and Nnemkadi] give this team added dimensions that you need to win – relentless attitude, terrific athleticism and rebounding. The foundation for this group is provided by Kayla Pedersen and Stanford’s backcourt will have to be ready to handle the defensive pressure of the Aggies.’’

Thoughts on Texas A&M: “Texas A&M is very invested on the defensive end of the floor and is always in attack mode. It is very difficult to handle the Aggies ball pressure and the way they attack the passing lanes. Sydney Carter was fantastic against Baylor and the size and balance of Stanford’s team will be Texas A&M’s toughest challenge.’’

ESPN Game Reporter Rebecca Lobo
Original Final Four Picks: Connecticut, Baylor, Stanford and Tennessee
National Champion: Connecticut

Reason for Connecticut Winning National Title: “Connecticut has won the last two titles and Coach Auriemma has consistently been the best coach in the game. Even though they have fewer pieces this year, he is still the one moving those pieces around. That can be enough.’’

Thoughts on Notre Dame: “Notre Dame is outstanding and head coach Muffet McGraw and her staff are terrific. Skylar Diggins plays with tremendous poise and does a great job controlling the tempo of her team. They are a very smart team and know how to play the game – which is different from knowing how to `run plays.’ If Devereaux Peters plays well and stays out of foul trouble, I will not be surprised to see Notre Dame win the whole thing.’’

Thoughts on Stanford: “Stanford is a veteran team with championship experience. Head coach Tara VanDerveer is a great coach and her players know the game. They are big, long and athletic. Jeanette Pohlen has really impressed me this year and they have the pieces to win the whole thing. I’m eager to see them face the A&M defense.’’

Thoughts on Texas A&M: “Texas A&M showed its balance in the win over Baylor. Danielle Adams struggled and Tyra White had a quiet performance, but Sydney Colson and Sydney Carter were both terrific in the backcourt. They play aggressive defense and assistant coach Vic Schaefer puts together great defensive game plans for each game. When Danielle Adams is playing well, she is very difficult to defend because of her size and skill.’’

ESPN Studio Analyst Carolyn Peck
Original Final Four Picks: Baylor, Connecticut, Tennessee and Stanford
National Champion: Stanford

Reason for Stanford Winning National Title: “I watched Stanford mature from a December loss in Knoxville to now having won 27 straight games. Chiney and Nnemkadi Ogwumike, combined with Kayla Pedersen inside and out, make Stanford a tough matchup for any team. If Jeanette Pohlen shoot the basketball and play like she did in the Elite Eight, Stanford is a team to be reckoned with and will win it all. They are versatile in how they play and head coach Tara VanDerveer has a solid playing rotation with good depth.’’

Thoughts on Connecticut: “UConn has been remarkably successful and maintained it all with six key players and having a freshman point guard and center. Their success with so many young players, exemplifies Maya Moore as a great player and leader. Connecticut is the team to beat, and so much focus has been on their ability to score but their defense is the key. Kelly Faris is one of the most underrated players of this tournament as she has had the assignment of guarding some of the best offensive threats in the nation.’’

Thoughts on Notre Dame: “Notre Dame has hit its stride at the right time and sophomore Skylar Diggins has continued to mature in helping to lead the Irish. Devereaux Peters was the missing piece in the post for Notre Dame last year, and her integration back into the lineup with Becca Bruszewski and the addition of freshman Natalie Achonwa all give a strong presence in the paint. Head coach Muffet McGraw prepares her teams to play against multiple defenses and with five scoring threats on the bench at all times they have great scoring ability.’’

Thoughts on Texas A&M: “Texas A&M worked so hard to get to the Final Four, and has now reached the goal it made two seasons ago. The Aggies look like they belong following the team’s execution against Baylor. Head coach Gary Blair has a tremendous staff – working their offensive and defensive systems behind associate head coaches Vic Schaefer and Kelly Bond. Danielle Adams had a solid NCAA Tournament up to the Baylor game, but in the end helped her team advance. Adaora Elonu and Karla Gilbert give depth to the Texas A&M bigs and combined with the Aggies speed, defense and ability to penetrate the ball will give them continued success.’’

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Four years ago, Auriemma sent Lorin Dixon back to campus for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament. She was immature.

It was the start of a long journey for Dixon. One that has seen her ultimately find earn success in the classroom and on the court. And during the two games of the Philadelphia regional this week, Dixon was rewarded for her hard work and determination by being named to the all-regional team.

“I couldn’t be happier for that kid,’’ assistant coach Shea Ralph said. “She’s a real special player and a special kid. She’s put a lot of work into her game and into her schoolwork, which has been an issue for her. For me to see how much she’s grown and matured… I know how it feels to play your senior year and not go out the way you want to go out. For her I’m just so happy. We’re moving on to the Final Four, and I think she contributed. I don’t know without her that we would’ve won that Georgetown game (Sunday). And her contribution… that’s what she’s capable of doing. And that’s what you always want for a kid. You want them to reach their potential, and I thought Lorin did that and more this weekend.’’

Dixon averaged 3.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in 24.0 minutes in the regional for the Huskies. The numbers are far from gaudy, but it was when she produced that made the difference.

Dixon had four points, one rebound, one assist and four steals during a 13-0 run that transformed a seven-point deficit into a six-point for the Huskies against Georgetown.

“It’s great,’’ Dixon said. “It’s a great feeling. Just to get the response from my teammates made it all better. Everybody grabbed me. I thought Maya was going to toss me into the stands. It was a great moment. Just to have this my senior year, going out this way is something I definitely will remember.’’

Said Tiffany Hayes: “I’m just so happy for her knowing she’s leaving on a good note. The way she’s played these last two games has pretty much been the reason we’re moving on. So for her to step up and play like that is amazing, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. I believe next week she can do the same thing and help us win a national championship.’’

Rich

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The instant the buzzer sounded at the Liacouras Center Tuesday night UConn freshmen Bria Hartley and Stefanie Dolson exchanged a glance that will be difficult for either to forget. A victory over No. 6 Duke was secure. And with it so was a berth to the Final Four.

Along with the rest of the top-ranked Huskies, Hartley and Dolson had realized their goal after a 37-game march that featured very little margin for error. Dolson said it felt even better that she has envisioned. Hartley could not stop smiling the locker room following the game.

“It’s just a special moment, especially since we’re freshmen, so we have the same emotions the first time going,’’ Hartley said. “It’s something we’ve been working for all season. We worked for a national championship, and this Final Four is another step closer to that.’’

The ideal situation for the Huskies would have been to ease both Hartley and Dolson into their roles this season. The circumstances surrounding the team never afforded UConn coach Geno Auriemma this opportunity. The graduation of All-American center Tina Charles left a hole in the middle for the Huskies. The season-injury knee injury sustained by Caroline Doty last summer left a hole at point guard.

Charles and Doty were starters on an undefeated national championship team a year ago. Dolson and Hartley were charged with filling these holes and fortifying the team’s run for an NCAA record tying third straight national championship.

Both players suffered through growing pains during the season. This was simply part of the maturation process. Dolson started 35 games and is averaging 24.6 minutes. Hartley started 33 and is averaging 31.6. They have also combined for 22.7 points per game, which is 29.5 percent of the team’s scoring output.

“Mentality-wise, they’re tough kids,’’ UConn assistant coach Shea Ralph said. “And they’ve had to do a lot this year. And they’ve had to grow a lot this year. And I think anybody would tell you right now we’re not treating them as freshmen. They’re not playing like freshmen and we don’t consider them to be freshmen. They are veterans now and that’s how they play. For them to do it consistently and the way they’ve done it their first year, their freshman year… I wouldn’t call it surprising, but it’s been huge. It’s been huge. So I’m happy for them, and they deserve it. Because it doesn’t just happen. Those kids have put a lot of work into what they’re doing and into our team.’’

Ralph said that it is fair to say that without the contributions of Hartley and Dolson the Huskies would not be heading to Indianapolis this weekend for the right to win the program’s eighth national championship.

“I think we take that in stride and just take the expectations and show up to the games and just really play well,’’ Dolson said.

Hartley, an All-Big East second team pick and the conference Freshman of the Year, is averaging 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the NCAA tournament. She finished with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes against Duke to lock up a spot on the five-player all-regional team.

Dolson is averaging 10.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the tournament. She had 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes against the Blue Devils.

“Coach has challenged us in a variety of ways and we stepped up to that,’’ Hartley said. “We know that we just do what our team needs us to do, and as freshmen we had to come in here and we had to step up to big roles. And I think we filled them really well.’’

Hartley and Dolson are confident and mature beyond their class standing at this point. Now they are poised to help UConn continue their quest for further greatness at the Final Four at Conseco Fieldhouse.

“Stefanie in the post, nine times out of 10 when she catches it she’s going to score,’’ UConn junior Tiffany Hayes said. “She’s smart most of the time with the ball in everything she does. And Bria, knocking down big shots when we need them. Running this team from the point is not as easy as it looks. She’s just so good at it she can make it look easy. So both of them have been working hard all year and it’s good to see that they have been able to contribute. And I’m glad that the world sees them contributing.’’

Rich

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Maya Moore has been named the United States Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year. Along with Rookie of the Year Odyssey Sims and Coach of the Year Kim Mulkey of Baylor, she will be honored at the USBWA Women’s Awards Breakfast on April 5 in Indianapolis.

Moore is averaging 22.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season in leading the Final-bound Huskies to a 36-1 record. She is just the third two-time USBWA National Player of the Year, joining former Tennessee stars Candace Parker and Chamique Holdsclaw, and the second player to earn USBWA All-America honors four times (Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris).

Ohio State’s Jantel Lavender, Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Jeannette Pohlen, Tennessee’s Shekinna Stricklen, Gonzaga’s Courtney Vandersloot, Miami’s Shenise Johnson, Texas A&M’s Danielle Adams, Xavier’s Amber Harris and Baylor’s Brittney Griner were also named to the USBWA All-America team.

Rich

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Maya Moore has been selected to the five-member Wooden All-American team, The Los Angeles Athletic Club announced today. She won the Wooden award as the nation’s top player in 2009.

Moore was joined by Gonzaga’s Courtney Vandersloot, Baylor’s Brittney Griner and Jeanette Pohlen and Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford. Each player has proven that they are making progress toward graduation and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Voters were asked to weigh a player’s performance during the regular season and through the NCAA regional semifinals, as well as their character and academic performance.

Rich

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Connecticut players congratulate forward Maya Moore, back to camera center, after she scored her 3,000-point against Duke in the second half of an NCAA women's college basketball tournament regional final, Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Philadelphia. Connecticut won the regional championship 75-40. (AP Photo/Barbara Johnston)

Connecticut forward Maya Moore, left, and guard Lorin Dixon celebrate as they watch the last seconds of the game against Duke in an NCAA women's college basketball tournament regional final game, Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Philadelphia. Connecticut won the regional championship 75-40. Moore scored 28 points, including the 3,000th of her career. (AP Photo/Barbara Johnston)

Maya Moore heard the roar of the crowd at the Liacouras Center Tuesday night with 3:44 left in the second half of the Huskies’ demolition of Duke. She does not track individual milestones. She usually finds these things out when they are brought to her attention by the media.

So when Moore made a jumper and the crowd rose to its feet she had an idea that it had something to do with her chase of 3,000 career points. She was right as she became only the seventh player in Division I history to reach the milestone.

“I wasn’t keeping track during the game, but when I hit it I had a feeling it was either close or something like that,’’ Moore said. “When my teammates starting tackling me I knew that was it. So I’m just glad we played well, and my teammates do a great job of finding me. And when I’m open I just try to knock it in.’’

The milestone hoop was Moore’s final one of the game. She finished with 28 points, which also moved her into second place all-time in NCAA tournament history in scoring with 440 points. Former Tennessee All-American Chamique Holdsclaw is first with 479.

Playing in a program where players pride themselves on being unselfish and making the extra pass, the fact Moore has reached 3,000 points is extraordinary. Tina Charles had previously held the UConn scoring record with 2,346 points.

“You think about how we’ve shared the ball constantly and she shares the ball,’’ sophomore Kelly Faris said. “It’s one of those things to know that she can get the rebounds, she can get the steals. But then to be able to get 3,000 points is unbelievable, especially in a program that shares the ball as much as we do.’’

Moore needed two points to reach the mark when she banged knees with Duke’s Karima Christmas and was removed from the game with 7:51 left in the game.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma usually pays no attention to individual milestones. But, after associate head coach Chris Dailey informed him that Moore was as close as she was he put her back in the game with 4:46 left to give her an opportunity to score.

“When Maya came out, that was what everybody was yelling, ‘She needs two more points,’’’ Auriemma said. “I said, `So what? I don’t care. She’s out.’ Then I think it was Chris who said, `Let’s just get it over with so we don’t have to worry about it next weekend.’ I said, ‘Yeah, you’re right.’ That’s the first time I’ve ever done that with anybody, put them back in to get something done like that. I feel like you should just do it in the course of what’s going on. But by getting it out of the way, we can just focus on playing Notre Dame.’’

Rich