Conference champions tonight:
Chattanooga routed Davidson, 71-45, for the Southern Conference title. Coach Jim Foster is the fist coach in NCAA history to lead four different teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Marist topped Quinnipiac, 70-66, for their ninth straight MAAC title.
UConn downed Louisville, 72-52, to take the first American Athletic Conference Championship.
Baylor held on to defeat West Virginia, 74-71, for the Big 12 Championship.
Albany thrashed Stony Brook, 70-46, for the America East title.
Full scoreboard.
It's coach shedding season:
Jennifer Mountain's contract won't be renewed at Santa Clara.
Binghamton won't offer Nicole Scholl a contract renewal.
Brown coach Jean Burr will retire after 26 years.
Arizona coach Niya Butts may keep her job despite a poor season.
WBCA/Russell Athletic "Together we R" Team Award:
Finalists are: Colorado Christian University, the University of North Carolina, Purdue University and the University of South Carolina.
More news:
Former Miami coach Lin Dunn was named an ACC legend Saturday.
Monday, March 10, 2014
AP top 25 poll
It seems kind of pointless to do a top 25 poll now that the conference tournaments have begun, but here goes:
1. Connecticut
2. Notre Dame
3. Louisville
4. Tennessee
5. West Virginia
6. Stanford
7. Baylor
8. South Carolina
9. Duke
10. Kentucky
11. Maryland
12. North Carolina
13. Nebraska
14. Penn State
15. Texas A&M
16. North Carolina State
17. Purdue
18. Gonzaga
19. Iowa
20. Michigan State
21. Oklahoma State
22. Middle Tennessee
23. DePaul
24. California
25. Bowling Green
1. Connecticut
2. Notre Dame
3. Louisville
4. Tennessee
5. West Virginia
6. Stanford
7. Baylor
8. South Carolina
9. Duke
10. Kentucky
11. Maryland
12. North Carolina
13. Nebraska
14. Penn State
15. Texas A&M
16. North Carolina State
17. Purdue
18. Gonzaga
19. Iowa
20. Michigan State
21. Oklahoma State
22. Middle Tennessee
23. DePaul
24. California
25. Bowling Green
Brackets busted already?
ESPN's Charlie Creme has some great points:
Tennessee is now a #1 seed, Duke is a #2, and there has been some bid stealing:
Fordham and USC came into the weekend on the outside looking in and then ran the table in the Atlantic 10 and Pac-12 tournaments, respectively, to not only climb the board, but then take automatic bids. That meant two would-be at-large spots disappeared. Goodbye to Minnesota and Rutgers. Neither have particularly good résumés with a combined 2-14 record against the RPI top-50, and were just average in recent weeks. Rutgers hung around longer because it had the better win, but Minnesota might ultimately have the better chance of inclusion. However, neither the Golden Gophers or Scarlet Knights are likely to be happy come next Monday.
Tennessee is now a #1 seed, Duke is a #2, and there has been some bid stealing:
Fordham and USC came into the weekend on the outside looking in and then ran the table in the Atlantic 10 and Pac-12 tournaments, respectively, to not only climb the board, but then take automatic bids. That meant two would-be at-large spots disappeared. Goodbye to Minnesota and Rutgers. Neither have particularly good résumés with a combined 2-14 record against the RPI top-50, and were just average in recent weeks. Rutgers hung around longer because it had the better win, but Minnesota might ultimately have the better chance of inclusion. However, neither the Golden Gophers or Scarlet Knights are likely to be happy come next Monday.
Pro camp set for Final Four Sunday
Merit Management Group's free agent camp for prospective WNBA players is set for Sunday, April 6 in Nashville, the site of this year's Final Four. The camp is as old as the WNBA itself - 18 years - and has helped get 43 athletes signed or drafted by teams.
The camp runs the morning of the semifinals of the National Championship, at a gym in the host city. Through a series of games, attending WNBA coaches are able to see prospects in a variety of game situations that allow them to decide if they want to invite them to training camp. With team rosters expanding back to 12 players this season, the chances that a camp prospect will find a team home is greater.
Camp games are filmed and put on the Merit Management website so overseas teams can have access. President Stephanie Stanley said several players have been able to sign with a team because of this.
"It's been rewarding to see athletes go on to successful careers after they've participated in one of our camps," Stanley said.
A group of current and former WNBA players help Stanley run the camp, where they also answer athlete questions.
"I help out every year, which is both fun and personally satisfying," said former Indiana forward Shyra Ely.
The camp fee is $175 for college seniors and $190 for free agents. This includes a free airport shuttle to the host hotel. This camp was profiled at the 2012 Final Four in Denver.
A few years ago, another camp sprouted as competition to Stanley's camp. It is run by two former pro coaches, and participants have confused it with the Merit camp. There is a second competitor camp, and this one runs both Saturday, April 5, and Sunday. A fourth camp has now arisen on April 6, in Dallas, Texas.
Stanley said her camp is the least expensive of the four, and gets more exposure.
"We are very well-attended by WNBA coaches, and well-networked with overseas coaches as well," Stanley said. "Our main goal is to place athletes on teams - not to turn a profit."
Athletes can register for the camp here.
The camp runs the morning of the semifinals of the National Championship, at a gym in the host city. Through a series of games, attending WNBA coaches are able to see prospects in a variety of game situations that allow them to decide if they want to invite them to training camp. With team rosters expanding back to 12 players this season, the chances that a camp prospect will find a team home is greater.
Camp games are filmed and put on the Merit Management website so overseas teams can have access. President Stephanie Stanley said several players have been able to sign with a team because of this.
"It's been rewarding to see athletes go on to successful careers after they've participated in one of our camps," Stanley said.
A group of current and former WNBA players help Stanley run the camp, where they also answer athlete questions.
"I help out every year, which is both fun and personally satisfying," said former Indiana forward Shyra Ely.
The camp fee is $175 for college seniors and $190 for free agents. This includes a free airport shuttle to the host hotel. This camp was profiled at the 2012 Final Four in Denver.
A few years ago, another camp sprouted as competition to Stanley's camp. It is run by two former pro coaches, and participants have confused it with the Merit camp. There is a second competitor camp, and this one runs both Saturday, April 5, and Sunday. A fourth camp has now arisen on April 6, in Dallas, Texas.
Stanley said her camp is the least expensive of the four, and gets more exposure.
"We are very well-attended by WNBA coaches, and well-networked with overseas coaches as well," Stanley said. "Our main goal is to place athletes on teams - not to turn a profit."
Athletes can register for the camp here.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Crown 'em
SEC:
Tennessee beat Kentucky for the SEC Championship, 71-70.
Big Ten:
Nebraska took down Iowa for the Big Ten Championship, 72-65.
ACC:
Notre Dame routed Duke for the ACC Championship, 69-53.
Pac-12:
USC rallied in the second half to beat Oregon State for the Pac-12 Championship, 71-62.
A-10:
Fordham downed Dayton to take the A-10 Championship, 63-51.
Big South:
Winthrop beat High Point to take the Big South Championship, 87-74.
Other tournament results:
Big 12:
West Virginia got by Texas in one semifinal, 67-60.
Baylor squeaked by Oklahoma State in the other semifinal, 65-61.
American Athletic Conference:
Louisville survived South Florida in one semifinal, 60-56.
UConn routed Rutgers in the other semifinal, 83-57.
Full scoreboard.
Brackets for all conference tournaments.
More news:
Kansas State has fired coach Deb Patterson after 18 years.
Attendance was down for the first two days of the Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle.
Coach Matt Insell: one year into the Ole Miss rebuilding project.
Tennessee beat Kentucky for the SEC Championship, 71-70.
Big Ten:
Nebraska took down Iowa for the Big Ten Championship, 72-65.
ACC:
Notre Dame routed Duke for the ACC Championship, 69-53.
Pac-12:
USC rallied in the second half to beat Oregon State for the Pac-12 Championship, 71-62.
A-10:
Fordham downed Dayton to take the A-10 Championship, 63-51.
Big South:
Winthrop beat High Point to take the Big South Championship, 87-74.
Other tournament results:
Big 12:
West Virginia got by Texas in one semifinal, 67-60.
Baylor squeaked by Oklahoma State in the other semifinal, 65-61.
American Athletic Conference:
Louisville survived South Florida in one semifinal, 60-56.
UConn routed Rutgers in the other semifinal, 83-57.
Full scoreboard.
Brackets for all conference tournaments.
More news:
Kansas State has fired coach Deb Patterson after 18 years.
Attendance was down for the first two days of the Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle.
Coach Matt Insell: one year into the Ole Miss rebuilding project.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Stanford upset at Pac-12 Tournament
USC knocked off #4 Stanford in tonight's Pac-12 Tournament semifinal, 72-68. It's the first time in the history of the tournament that the Cardinal have failed to make the final.
(I'm still in slight shock, three hours later)
The Trojans will face Oregon State in tomorrow's final. The Beavers downed Washington State, 70-60, in semifinal two.
No one predicted this finals match up.
This might be the upset of the month so far, with South Carolina's fall earlier today a close second.
ACC:
#10 Duke put away #13 North Carolina, 66-61, in the tournament semifinal.
#2 Notre Dame routed #14 North Carolina State, 83-48, in the other semifinal.
Big Ten:
#16 Nebraska dusted #19 Michigan State, 86-58, in the tournament semifinal.
They'll face #23 Iowa.
Ohio Valley:
UT Martin beat Belmont for the title, 78-66.
Big 12:
#7 West Virginia 67, TCU 59.
#9 Baylor 81, Kansas 47.
#18 Oklahoma State 67, Iowa State 57.
Texas 82, Oklahoma 72.
Full scoreboard.
(I'm still in slight shock, three hours later)
The Trojans will face Oregon State in tomorrow's final. The Beavers downed Washington State, 70-60, in semifinal two.
No one predicted this finals match up.
This might be the upset of the month so far, with South Carolina's fall earlier today a close second.
ACC:
#10 Duke put away #13 North Carolina, 66-61, in the tournament semifinal.
#2 Notre Dame routed #14 North Carolina State, 83-48, in the other semifinal.
Big Ten:
#16 Nebraska dusted #19 Michigan State, 86-58, in the tournament semifinal.
They'll face #23 Iowa.
Ohio Valley:
UT Martin beat Belmont for the title, 78-66.
Big 12:
#7 West Virginia 67, TCU 59.
#9 Baylor 81, Kansas 47.
#18 Oklahoma State 67, Iowa State 57.
Texas 82, Oklahoma 72.
Full scoreboard.
South Carolina upset in SEC semifinal
Shocker today at the SEC Tournament, as #12 Kentucky upset #5 South Carolina, 68-58, in the semifinals.
In tomorrow's final they face #6 Tennessee, who got there by downing #15 Texas A&M, 86-77.
One almost-upset in the Big Ten Tournament:
#23 Iowa survived Ohio State, 77-73. The Buckeyes upset top seed Penn State yesterday.
There is much more basketball to be played tonight, so I'll be back later.
More news:
Purdue's three seniors are marked by overcoming adversity, and character. One of the seniors, Courtney Moses, learned selflessness at a young age.
Former Gamecock Sheila Foster is enjoying the rise of the program under coach Dawn Staley.
Coach Mike Carey has brought West Virginia to prominence.
Boston University coach Kelly Greenberg has been accused of bullying.
Green Bay senior Michele Ranger and her mom have grown to love the city of Green Bay.
High school upset:
Windward stunned #1-ranked Mater Dei last night in the Southern Section Open Division Championship, by beating them 61-46. UCLA-bound Jordin Canada lead the winners with 14 points and nine assists.
In tomorrow's final they face #6 Tennessee, who got there by downing #15 Texas A&M, 86-77.
One almost-upset in the Big Ten Tournament:
#23 Iowa survived Ohio State, 77-73. The Buckeyes upset top seed Penn State yesterday.
There is much more basketball to be played tonight, so I'll be back later.
More news:
Purdue's three seniors are marked by overcoming adversity, and character. One of the seniors, Courtney Moses, learned selflessness at a young age.
Former Gamecock Sheila Foster is enjoying the rise of the program under coach Dawn Staley.
Coach Mike Carey has brought West Virginia to prominence.
Boston University coach Kelly Greenberg has been accused of bullying.
Green Bay senior Michele Ranger and her mom have grown to love the city of Green Bay.
High school upset:
Windward stunned #1-ranked Mater Dei last night in the Southern Section Open Division Championship, by beating them 61-46. UCLA-bound Jordin Canada lead the winners with 14 points and nine assists.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Tournaments seeing upsets
Big Ten:
Ohio State put away #11 Penn State, 99-82.
#23 Iowa came back to beat #17 Purdue, 87-80.
Pac-12:
Washington State downed #20 Cal, 91-83.
ACC:
#13 North Carolina defeated #8 Maryland, 73-70.
More tournament results:
SEC:
#6 Tennessee powered by LSU, 77-65.
#5 South Carolina eased past Georgia, 67-48.
#13 Kentucky edged Florida, 75-70.
#15 Texas A&M routed Auburn, 86-54.
Big Ten:
#16 Nebraska topped Minnesota, 80-67.
#19 Michigan State slipped by Michigan, 61-58.
Pac-12:
#4 Stanford took out Colorado, 69-54.
USC squeaked by Arizona State, 59-57.
ACC:
#14 North Carolina State beat Syracuse, 79-63.
#10 Duke hammered Georgia Tech, 82-52.
WCC:
#21 Gonzaga handled San Francisco, 81-68.
BYU thrashed Pepperdine, 77-51.
Full scoreboard.
Ohio State put away #11 Penn State, 99-82.
#23 Iowa came back to beat #17 Purdue, 87-80.
Pac-12:
Washington State downed #20 Cal, 91-83.
ACC:
#13 North Carolina defeated #8 Maryland, 73-70.
More tournament results:
SEC:
#6 Tennessee powered by LSU, 77-65.
#5 South Carolina eased past Georgia, 67-48.
#13 Kentucky edged Florida, 75-70.
#15 Texas A&M routed Auburn, 86-54.
Big Ten:
#16 Nebraska topped Minnesota, 80-67.
#19 Michigan State slipped by Michigan, 61-58.
Pac-12:
#4 Stanford took out Colorado, 69-54.
USC squeaked by Arizona State, 59-57.
ACC:
#14 North Carolina State beat Syracuse, 79-63.
#10 Duke hammered Georgia Tech, 82-52.
WCC:
#21 Gonzaga handled San Francisco, 81-68.
BYU thrashed Pepperdine, 77-51.
Full scoreboard.
WNBA Board of Governors ratifies new eight-year CBA
It's official:
NEW YORK — The WNBA Board of Governors ratified a new eight-year collective bargaining agreement Friday......
The new CBA also decreases the number of times a player can be “cored,” shortening the path to unrestricted free agency for stars. There also is an improved revenue-sharing program for the players and a small increase in the salary cap.
Another change is that teams can now offer players a “time off bonus.” Teams have up to $50,000 to divide up among players who play fewer than three months overseas. Those bonuses aren’t tied to any sort of offseason team obligations.
NEW YORK — The WNBA Board of Governors ratified a new eight-year collective bargaining agreement Friday......
The new CBA also decreases the number of times a player can be “cored,” shortening the path to unrestricted free agency for stars. There also is an improved revenue-sharing program for the players and a small increase in the salary cap.
Another change is that teams can now offer players a “time off bonus.” Teams have up to $50,000 to divide up among players who play fewer than three months overseas. Those bonuses aren’t tied to any sort of offseason team obligations.
Randomly-distributed news items
Arkansas has fired coach Tom Collen after seven seasons.
Louisville's Shoni Schimmel is eying the Final Four, and then the WNBA draft.
Notre Dame seniors have stepped out of the shadow of Skylar Diggins.
They're having trouble keeping the lights on at the ACC Tournament.
Oregon's Jillian Alleyne broke the Pac-12 single-season rebounding record in the Ducks' loss last night.
Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith is tied for the most wins by an Ivy League coach.
It's time to give DePaul coach Doug Bruno his due.
Unselfish play motivates Georgetown's Natalie Butler in her rookie season.
The winless season of the University of New Orleans has been a test of character.
Louisville's Shoni Schimmel is eying the Final Four, and then the WNBA draft.
Notre Dame seniors have stepped out of the shadow of Skylar Diggins.
They're having trouble keeping the lights on at the ACC Tournament.
Oregon's Jillian Alleyne broke the Pac-12 single-season rebounding record in the Ducks' loss last night.
Harvard coach Kathy Delaney-Smith is tied for the most wins by an Ivy League coach.
It's time to give DePaul coach Doug Bruno his due.
Unselfish play motivates Georgetown's Natalie Butler in her rookie season.
The winless season of the University of New Orleans has been a test of character.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
