When UConn routed Duke back in January, 87-51, Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie seemed to have some strong words regarding her team's effort. The Blue Devils were ranked third in the nation and unbeaten before suddenly finding themselves trailing 13-0 against the Huskies.

"Connecticut came out punching and we just completely stepped back; that's the way it went," McCallie said.

McCallie's team went on to finish 32-3, losing again to North Carolina a week after the UConn loss but coming back to tie for the ACC regular-season title, as well as winning the ACC tournament championship.

Apparently, McCallie wouldn't deem her team's late-season success a turnaround.

When asked at what point she felt more comfortable with her team's ability to punch back, McCallie launched a soliloquy Monday afternoon at the Liacouras Center, where her team will take on UConn (35-1) once again tonight with a trip to the Final Four going to the winner.

"We were 20-0 playing Connecticut. With five freshman," said McCallie, who listened as her players were questioned about the difference between the Duke team in January and Duke now. "There's no turnaround. We beat a whole lot of really good teams. We got thumped at Connecticut, probably just part of the learning curve. But our season has been one of power and it's continued.

"I can't talk about a turnaround. There's no turnaround. There's been nothing but power and excitement and getting better."

Certainly an interesting personality, McCallie later spoke to the group of sportswriters in the interview room about the potential for more stories than just the usual UConn/Tennessee angles. The women's game has the capability to grow quicker than the men's game did, with more parity, she said, if only the stories could be told.

Why could the women's game develop quicker than the men's game ever did?

"The women are better than the men, that's the difference," the coach said. "Women are superior. This is where our multi-tasking and intuitive smarts come in as women. We can grow this game … I just have a lot of confidence in women and I think the women's game is different.

"I like to compare it to the men's game. I have great respect for what the men do. I compare to be better, not compare to follow. Hopefully it will take one story."