The reserves turned things around for Team USA today, giving them the juice to finally extend the lead in the third quarter and finish the job. Maya Moore lead the US with 18 points, and Lindsay Whalen added 13.
Box score.
I'm concerned that Team USA hasn't dominated their first two opponents, as it took them a while Monday night to mount a lead on Brazil. Anytime a team is slow to start, that is a red flag - especially considering how hungry some of the members of the US team have said they are.
I was never sold on the composition of Team USA in the first place. I would have put Cappie Pondexter and Nnemkadi Ogwumike on the squad instead of Swin Cash and Ashja Jones, both for their significantly better statistics and younger legs. I'm sure there are politics involved, as there always are. But USA Basketball should be able to put those aside for the Olympic Games.
And as if these women aren't disrespected enough playing for the WNBA, ESPN commentator Mark Jones today kept making errors referring to players during the game cast. He mixed up Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles, as well as Candace Parker and Maya Moore. That is completely unacceptable, especially considering all the good, knowledgeable commentators that could have taken his place.
Finally, when, how and why was UConn assistant Chris Dailey suddenly added to the Olympic staff? There already were three assistant coaches. Why four?
I wish I was feeling more excited about this Olympic basketball competition so far, but I'm not.
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8 comments:
Great Blog hoopism! When I first heard that Geno would be the coach two things I knew: Cappie Pondexter would not be on the team, and that UCONN would be very well represented. It is no disrespect to neither Swin, or Ajsha, but Nneka, and Cappie are simply better players. While ofcourse I hope USA brings home the gold, so far its hard to be impressed. Tina Charles shoots every time she touches the ball, and Ajsha Jones looked lost!
Great blog!! 1. Chris Daily isn't an Asst., but she's Assisting the Coaching Staff. Check out courantblogs.com/uconn-women/ and your questions will be answered.
2. Cappie made the decision to skip out on FIBA in 2010 to go to Fashion Week because thats what she wants to do post Bball. Integrity in Question, I think so!?
3. I do think Nneka will be on the 2016 Squad, but she's not needed right now. If Swin or Ashja is replaced, it should be by Young or Dupree, not Nneka.
4. Selection is done by Committee, take it up with Carol Callan.
5. The Jersey says USA not UCONN, get over it
Basketball at the HS/AAU and the Pro level is all about politics with respect to scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, When it come to playing on the so called elite teams. Of course we could have put a better team out there. Woman's BBall is very corrupt and politically motivated at those levels. It should always be about the best talent we have to offer. Hopefully it will get better.
Thanks Sue as always for your candid observation!
Anonymous 1, I can't disagree with anything you've said.
HuskyGirl1:
1. Thanks and thanks for reading. I'll do that.
2. I am aware of that incident and that USA Basketball still holds that against her, but I stand by my original statement: let bygones be bygones. Holding grudges is childish. I'd rather have them win a gold medal than continue to punish someone.
3. We can agree to disagree on that one.
4. I'm not taking anything up with anyone.
5. I'd encourage you to read my work if you're assuming I'm unfair. I've always been very fair, as an old-school journalist. I have never not presented both sides of a story.
I'd also encourage you to be very careful when making assumptions about someone's patriotism. I have been on several message boards these past weeks encouraging disgruntled fans to support Team USA regardless of who is on it, for exactly the reason you stated, that it's the US team. On twitter two days ago, I also reminded a UConn fan of the same thing when she said that if where were no Husky players on the team, she wouldn't support it.
Cash and Jones are the weakest links, and they happen to have gone to UConn.
Anonymous 2, thanks for the thanks, and that's a mouthful you just said.
Theres more to Sports than to worry about what College Team the players played with. We have enough trouble getting fans as it is, and ppl are worried about that.
I could care less who the team was filled with, I want a Gold Medal. Sports is all about Politics, that I do agree. Even if Geno had 4 UCONN players, Tina,Maya, Diana, and Sue, people would still have a problem. Its a lose-lose situation. But its a done deal so get over it.
As for Cappie, we're Guard Heavy and dont need her. We need size and thats why I said Young or Dupree. Lets just deal with what we have and cheer them on to a Gold Medal.
HuskyGirl1:
I agree with you on this - "Theres more to Sports than to worry about what College Team the players played with. We have enough trouble getting fans as it is, and ppl are worried about that.
I could care less who the team was filled with, I want a Gold Medal. Sports is all about Politics, that I do agree."
I'm not buying your UConn persecution complex, as the Huskies have plenty of fans - "Even if Geno had 4 UCONN players, Tina,Maya, Diana, and Sue, people would still have a problem."
With this I'm baffled, as it seems you're still trying to pick a fight with me - "But its a done deal so get over it."
And here too, you seem to have a chip on your shoulder, as I already said we can agree to disagree - "As for Cappie, we're Guard Heavy and dont need her. We need size and thats why I said Young or Dupree. Lets just deal with what we have and cheer them on to a Gold Medal."
Chill out, HuskyGirl1.
Sue,
Thanks for keeping me up on all the latest...Keep on doin' what you do!
I almost always agree with your observations...and even when I don't, I usually see where you are coming from and often walk away with something to think about.
With this topic, you are correct my friend...I can name at least 5 players (Cappie, Nneka, Young(Sophia), Dupree, Brunson) that I think would be better choices than Jones & Cash.
The guard heavy argument doesn't hold water as we usualy win with our fast pace/up and down play that most teams can't combat. We need players(guard or not) that can finish and even better, rebound and then start the break themselves...Cash and Jones were really good at one point in their careers in this area...but not so much these days.
We missed a prime opportunity to showcase our speed and exciting ball movement and sweet fast break finishes that we should be known for.
I'm still confident we will get the gold...we'll just have to deal with the comments about the women's game not being as exciting to watch as the men's game...and that's a bummer...
Thanks for everything!
Thanks for the kind words, RF. I am also the type to be able to take something away when I don't agree with another person.
We are most definitely NOT guard-heavy. All five players you mentioned would be great candidates for Cash and Jones.
You made two excellent points:
We missed a chance to showcase our best and quickest, and
for that we'll probably have to endure more insults from WBB haters.
Wish I woulda said that!
Thank you for reading.
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