Geno Auriemma has a very simple way of explaining the difference between Connecticut and its challengers in women’s basketball:

“We have Diana and they don’t,” the coach says.

At Duke, coach Gail Goestenkors says without hesitation: “I think Alana raises the level of play of our entire team every single day.”

They are talking about Diana Taurasi and Alana Beard, for whom being designated an All-American is becoming as commonplace as high-top sneakers.

The two seniors were unanimous selections Tuesday for the Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.

Their names appeared on all 47 ballots from the national media panel voting in the weekly AP poll. Also chosen were Kansas State’s Nicole Ohlde (34 votes), Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante (28) and Stanford’s Nicole Powell (25).

Beard, a 5-foot-11 guard, made the preseason team for the third time, Taurasi, a 6-foot guard, for the second. Beard also was unanimous a year ago, and both were unanimous postseason All-Americans last spring.

Taurasi was the AP’s player of the year last season and led a Connecticut team that relied heavily on freshmen to its second consecutive national championship.

“If we win another national championship this year, Diana Taurasi’s arguably the greatest college player of all time,” Auriemma said.

Ohlde, a 6-foot-5 senior, has become a dominant post player during Kansas State’s rise to national prominence and was a first-team All-American last season.