Final Four:
More than 3.8 million viewers for the Championship game.
Five lasting impressions from the Final Four.
Five factors contributing to South Carolina's turnaround.
LaChina Robinson interviewed Dawn Staley.
Ode to Staley.
License plates celebrating the Gamecocks' title could be available soon.
Expectations will be high for Mississippi State next year.
UConn transfers Azura Stevens and Batouly Camara look to turn the Huskies' loss into motivation.
Other college news:
New Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors will try to keep Aaliyah Wilson on his roster.
Keitha Adams' former high school teammates welcomed her to Wichita State.
The school may enter the American Athletic Conference.
Lafayette and coach Theresa Grentz are parting ways.
New Miami coach Megan Duffy dreamed of being a coach since she was a kid.
Stony Brook's leading scorer Davion Wingate will transfer.
Muffet McGraw lost her breath for a moment when she got the call from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
WNBA draft news:
South Carolina's Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray have declared for the WNBA draft.
LaChina Robinson talks to Kelsey Plum.
She also talked with Stars GM Ruth Riley.
Other pro news:
Kara Lawson says the Sacramento Kings didn't let her watch a practice in her early WNBA days, calling her a distraction.
High school news:
Final high school top 25.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Vic Schaefer is quite capable of running his team
The criticism started rolling in Sunday night after the National Championship game was even over: why didn't Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer put Morgan William in for the entirety of the fourth quarter? The star and savior of the Bulldogs' last two games, the 5-5 point guard watched the last 10 minutes of the title match up from the bench.
The third reporter question to Schaefer in the post-game news conference that night addressed that question. The coach said it was because she and other players "didn't have the energy level we needed," due largely to their takedown of No. 1 UConn in Friday's semifinal. That didn't seem to satisfy the masses, as criticism continued. Last night ESPN published a piece criticizing Schaefer and his decision with the qualifier that "coaches are subject to public scrutiny."
In the purest sense, that's correct: public figures are subject to public scrutiny, and everyone on Earth makes mistakes from time to time. But maybe it's because I've been to so many high school basketball games and have heard too many ill-advised, completely-off-the-mark parents scream at the coach, but it's not appropriate to grill Schaefer for his game time decisions. It's disrespectful and pompous.
The man has 17 years of college coaching experience that includes plenty of NCAA Tournament appearances. He was SEC coach of the year in 2015. He just took his team to the Final Four for the first time in school history. He clearly knows what he's doing.
Schaefer spent many years working for coach Gary Blair, who is one of the most level-headed leaders in the game. Schaefer also displays that kind of balance. He truly loves and cares about the young people who play for him, and it shows.
After Mississippi State's Elite 8 win against Baylor, Schaefer hugged William while she cried. After their upset of UConn, Schaefer hugged William while he cried. He's said that members of his team are like daughters to him, and that's how he treats them. I could see it on the bench in December when the Bulldogs came to play in USC's holiday tournament. I saw it in the press room after those games. I read about it last week when Schaefer said William was his daughter's best friend, and that she was at his home more than any other player.
I could see it in the Bulldog locker room after Friday's upset win, as players and coaches shared an intimate celebration of a monumental moment. It was apparent in post-game interviews when Schaefer said he had to "go feed his kids" and take care of them. The closeness between the staff and the athletes has been quite evident.
A large number of people automatically assume others have ulterior motives for what they do, which became evident when I tweeted Schaefer's "energy level" comment a few seconds after he said it; the reaction was negative. It seemed like everyone across the country knew William's energy level better than her coach did. Were fans assuming Shaefer wanted his team to lose? Why wouldn't they believe him when he said that others seemed to have a hotter hand than William, so he left them in?
According to the ESPN piece, William herself repeatedly deflected questions about her playing time in the Championship game, deferring to Schaefer's judgement. Too bad others can't do that. But especially today, people aren't good at minding their own business.
No one knows what goes on inside a team unless they're on it. No one knows what goes into the decisions of others unless that person reveals their thought processes. It's pretty simple.
Leave Vic Schaefer alone. He's doing a great job. And his decisions are no one's business but his.
The third reporter question to Schaefer in the post-game news conference that night addressed that question. The coach said it was because she and other players "didn't have the energy level we needed," due largely to their takedown of No. 1 UConn in Friday's semifinal. That didn't seem to satisfy the masses, as criticism continued. Last night ESPN published a piece criticizing Schaefer and his decision with the qualifier that "coaches are subject to public scrutiny."
In the purest sense, that's correct: public figures are subject to public scrutiny, and everyone on Earth makes mistakes from time to time. But maybe it's because I've been to so many high school basketball games and have heard too many ill-advised, completely-off-the-mark parents scream at the coach, but it's not appropriate to grill Schaefer for his game time decisions. It's disrespectful and pompous.
The man has 17 years of college coaching experience that includes plenty of NCAA Tournament appearances. He was SEC coach of the year in 2015. He just took his team to the Final Four for the first time in school history. He clearly knows what he's doing.
Schaefer spent many years working for coach Gary Blair, who is one of the most level-headed leaders in the game. Schaefer also displays that kind of balance. He truly loves and cares about the young people who play for him, and it shows.
After Mississippi State's Elite 8 win against Baylor, Schaefer hugged William while she cried. After their upset of UConn, Schaefer hugged William while he cried. He's said that members of his team are like daughters to him, and that's how he treats them. I could see it on the bench in December when the Bulldogs came to play in USC's holiday tournament. I saw it in the press room after those games. I read about it last week when Schaefer said William was his daughter's best friend, and that she was at his home more than any other player.
I could see it in the Bulldog locker room after Friday's upset win, as players and coaches shared an intimate celebration of a monumental moment. It was apparent in post-game interviews when Schaefer said he had to "go feed his kids" and take care of them. The closeness between the staff and the athletes has been quite evident.
A large number of people automatically assume others have ulterior motives for what they do, which became evident when I tweeted Schaefer's "energy level" comment a few seconds after he said it; the reaction was negative. It seemed like everyone across the country knew William's energy level better than her coach did. Were fans assuming Shaefer wanted his team to lose? Why wouldn't they believe him when he said that others seemed to have a hotter hand than William, so he left them in?
According to the ESPN piece, William herself repeatedly deflected questions about her playing time in the Championship game, deferring to Schaefer's judgement. Too bad others can't do that. But especially today, people aren't good at minding their own business.
No one knows what goes on inside a team unless they're on it. No one knows what goes into the decisions of others unless that person reveals their thought processes. It's pretty simple.
Leave Vic Schaefer alone. He's doing a great job. And his decisions are no one's business but his.
The transfers continue
Just as coach firings have slowed, player transfers have picked up.
Three gone from Maryland: super-frosh Destiny Slocum, Kiah Gillespie and Jenna Staiti.
Who will be next?
Three gone from Maryland: super-frosh Destiny Slocum, Kiah Gillespie and Jenna Staiti.
Who will be next?
Monday, April 3, 2017
More Final Four fall out
More on the Final Four:
Last night's game was the most-streamed women's basketball Championship ever.
Our photo gallery.
I got a lot of reaction on Twitter last night when I revealed what Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer gave as the reason for benching Morgan William in the last quarter of the title game: she and other players lacked "the energy level that they needed." ESPN's Mechelle Voepel takes Schaefer to task in this piece.
Mississippi State's run might be a sign of things to come.
At last, Dawn Staley is a champion.
Carolyn Peck is elated for Dawn Staley as the second black coach to win a women's title.
Staley said she'd accept a White House invite.
Staley belongs to both South Carolina and Philly now.
The Gamecocks' championship parade will be Sunday.
The reason Alaina Coates stayed home.
College program news:
Three players are leaving Rutgers, including the team's top three scorers.
Those getting a release.
Coach C. Vivian Stringer and the school are still negotiating her contract.
College team news:
Final top 25 coaches poll.
College player news:
Top college players are choosing school over the WNBA Draft. Thank goodness.
Diamond DeShields looks to mentor Tennessee's incoming freshmen.
College coach news:
It's official: Mike Neighbors to Arkansas. What a sad day.
Michigan assistant coach Megan Duffy is the new head coach at Miami Ohio.
Kristen Gillespie is Illinois State's new head coach.
Carolyn Peck is paying it forward.
WNBA news:
My mock draft for the week.
Something on the Draft from the Star Tribune.
Bobbie Kelsey is the Los Angeles Sparks' new assistant coach.
Kelsey Plum has chosen Wasserman Colas as her agent.
Former Sun Devil Sophie Brunner looks forward to the draft.
Imani Boyette on WNBA life.
Last night's game was the most-streamed women's basketball Championship ever.
Our photo gallery.
I got a lot of reaction on Twitter last night when I revealed what Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer gave as the reason for benching Morgan William in the last quarter of the title game: she and other players lacked "the energy level that they needed." ESPN's Mechelle Voepel takes Schaefer to task in this piece.
Mississippi State's run might be a sign of things to come.
At last, Dawn Staley is a champion.
Carolyn Peck is elated for Dawn Staley as the second black coach to win a women's title.
Staley said she'd accept a White House invite.
Staley belongs to both South Carolina and Philly now.
The Gamecocks' championship parade will be Sunday.
The reason Alaina Coates stayed home.
College program news:
Three players are leaving Rutgers, including the team's top three scorers.
Those getting a release.
Coach C. Vivian Stringer and the school are still negotiating her contract.
College team news:
Final top 25 coaches poll.
College player news:
Top college players are choosing school over the WNBA Draft. Thank goodness.
Diamond DeShields looks to mentor Tennessee's incoming freshmen.
College coach news:
It's official: Mike Neighbors to Arkansas. What a sad day.
Michigan assistant coach Megan Duffy is the new head coach at Miami Ohio.
Kristen Gillespie is Illinois State's new head coach.
Carolyn Peck is paying it forward.
WNBA news:
My mock draft for the week.
Something on the Draft from the Star Tribune.
Bobbie Kelsey is the Los Angeles Sparks' new assistant coach.
Kelsey Plum has chosen Wasserman Colas as her agent.
Former Sun Devil Sophie Brunner looks forward to the draft.
Imani Boyette on WNBA life.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
South Carolina are champs
South Carolina are your new National Champions after defeating Mississippi State, 67-55.
The Bulldogs ran out of gas after a monumental win over UConn Friday.
Coach Dawn Staley became the second African-American female coach to lead a women's hoops team to a national title. The first, Carolyn Peck, gave her a piece of that net in 1999 and told her to hold on to it until she got hers. Staley said in tonight's post-game press conference that she'd give Peck her net piece back and take part of her own to give forward to someone else. More on that later.
In the meantime, I have a story about Staley's success paving the way for her growth.
Staley finally got her trophy.
In the battle of the point guards, it was Bianca Cuevas-Moore over Morgan William.
It's the "Dawn" of a new era.
A'ja Wilson fulfilled her wish to home and family.
Sad college coaching news:
It's been rumored for many weeks now that Washington coach Mike Neighbors will leave to become head coach at Arkansas, where he is from. That sees to be a reality.
The Bulldogs ran out of gas after a monumental win over UConn Friday.
Coach Dawn Staley became the second African-American female coach to lead a women's hoops team to a national title. The first, Carolyn Peck, gave her a piece of that net in 1999 and told her to hold on to it until she got hers. Staley said in tonight's post-game press conference that she'd give Peck her net piece back and take part of her own to give forward to someone else. More on that later.
In the meantime, I have a story about Staley's success paving the way for her growth.
Staley finally got her trophy.
In the battle of the point guards, it was Bianca Cuevas-Moore over Morgan William.
It's the "Dawn" of a new era.
A'ja Wilson fulfilled her wish to home and family.
Sad college coaching news:
It's been rumored for many weeks now that Washington coach Mike Neighbors will leave to become head coach at Arkansas, where he is from. That sees to be a reality.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Keep those awards in perspective: it's all about exposure and publicity
The awards are coming this time of year.
Monday the AP announced their All-American teams. The US Basketball Writers Association named their All-America Team a few days ago. Today the WBCA revealed its All-American team.
As is the case with every award list, there were glaring omissions and world-class snubs on each list. With the AP teams, in particular, some of the best players in the college game garnered only honorable mentions: Alaina Coates, Jordin Canada, Tori Jankoska, Brooke McCarty, Kristine Anigwe and Nia Coffey stand out the most. Other great players didn't even make the honorable mention list: Monique Billings, Kaela Davis, Rebecca Greenwell and Myisha Hines-Allen, just to name a few.
It's important to remember that choosing award winners is an impersonal process. A panel looks at lists of players, compares stats and other factors, and votes. Only a small number of players can make the list, despite a talent pool that continues to grow each year.
Winning awards is also about exposure. Players from most of the big conferences get plenty of that on TV. One exception is the Pac-12, which has some kind of conflict with Direct TV that prevents their games from being broadcast on those channels. As a result, West coast games are woefully underexposed on the East coast, where many voters and much buzz potential lies. The Pac should make it their highest priority to work out a deal that allows fans from across the country to see the magnificent women's basketball product that lies within the conference.
A third important factor in whether or not an athlete wins an award is how much publicity she gets. UConn players have at least a half dozen publications writing about them all the time. Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina also get great coverage. If there is little media around a team, the school and the sports information director should be sending out regular news releases to outlets across the country to keep their athlete's names in everyone's minds. I am on the email list for many schools, and far more should be sending out regular press releases to pump up their players.
Schools, sports information directors, coaches: are you doing everything you can do for your athletes?
Monday the AP announced their All-American teams. The US Basketball Writers Association named their All-America Team a few days ago. Today the WBCA revealed its All-American team.
As is the case with every award list, there were glaring omissions and world-class snubs on each list. With the AP teams, in particular, some of the best players in the college game garnered only honorable mentions: Alaina Coates, Jordin Canada, Tori Jankoska, Brooke McCarty, Kristine Anigwe and Nia Coffey stand out the most. Other great players didn't even make the honorable mention list: Monique Billings, Kaela Davis, Rebecca Greenwell and Myisha Hines-Allen, just to name a few.
It's important to remember that choosing award winners is an impersonal process. A panel looks at lists of players, compares stats and other factors, and votes. Only a small number of players can make the list, despite a talent pool that continues to grow each year.
Winning awards is also about exposure. Players from most of the big conferences get plenty of that on TV. One exception is the Pac-12, which has some kind of conflict with Direct TV that prevents their games from being broadcast on those channels. As a result, West coast games are woefully underexposed on the East coast, where many voters and much buzz potential lies. The Pac should make it their highest priority to work out a deal that allows fans from across the country to see the magnificent women's basketball product that lies within the conference.
A third important factor in whether or not an athlete wins an award is how much publicity she gets. UConn players have at least a half dozen publications writing about them all the time. Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina also get great coverage. If there is little media around a team, the school and the sports information director should be sending out regular news releases to outlets across the country to keep their athlete's names in everyone's minds. I am on the email list for many schools, and far more should be sending out regular press releases to pump up their players.
Schools, sports information directors, coaches: are you doing everything you can do for your athletes?
WBCA All-American team
Revealed earlier tonight:
Kalani Brown Baylor Sophomore Center
Napheesa Collier Connecticut Sophomore Forward
Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State Junior Guard
Chantel Osahor Washington Senior Forward
Alexis Peterson Syracuse Senior Guard
Kelsey Plum Washington Senior Guard
Katie Lou Samuelson Connecticut Sophomore Guard
Brianna Turner Notre Dame Junior Forward
Gabby Williams Connecticut Junior Forward
A'ja Wilson South Carolina Junior Forward
Kalani Brown Baylor Sophomore Center
Napheesa Collier Connecticut Sophomore Forward
Kelsey Mitchell Ohio State Junior Guard
Chantel Osahor Washington Senior Forward
Alexis Peterson Syracuse Senior Guard
Kelsey Plum Washington Senior Guard
Katie Lou Samuelson Connecticut Sophomore Guard
Brianna Turner Notre Dame Junior Forward
Gabby Williams Connecticut Junior Forward
A'ja Wilson South Carolina Junior Forward
One more game
National Championship story lines:
Tomorrow's Championship game is sold out!!
Ratings from last night's semifinals were up!!
South Carolina isn't surprised to be facing the Bulldogs instead of UConn.
Off night? A short memory is essential for Kaela Davis and Victoria Vivians.
Morgan William is ready for one last battle.
After its stunner, Mississippi State turns to title game.
Allisha Gray is South Carolina's silent assassin.
Mississippi State is winning with heart.
The Gamecocks have built their reputation on defense.
Teaira McCowan is the center of attention for the Bulldogs.
The Gamecocks want a title for coach Dawn Staley.
Staley is one win away from her first NCAA title.
Why each team could win it all.
Whatever happens in the title game, the SEC comes out a winner.
How do two SEC rivals match up?
More on the Final Four:
Alaina Coates isn't with South Carolina because she's home recovering and waiting for the WNBA draft.
Mississippi State alum Dak Prescott, who plays for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, went nuts in the stands last night.
Geno Auriemma always had concerns, but his team almost proved him wrong.
He showed class after last night's loss.
Auriemma didn't want UConn to go undefeated, but they kept winning anyway.
A surprising loss is a learning experience for UConn.
Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant says Friday was a landmark in women's hoops.
Geno Auriemma's daughter took exception to his recent comments about female coaches.
The Final Four could finally give women's basketball the attention it deserves.
The season ended in frustration for Stanford.
Seeking the best fit, the Final Four has returned to Friday-Sunday.
Awards:
Kelsey Plum has won the Naismith and Lieberman awards.
She also won the Wade Trophy and the Dawn Staley Award.
College player news:
Diamond DeShields will return for one more season at Tennessee. Told ya.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Inductees this morning included Muffet McGraw and Rebecca Lobo.
WNIT:
Michigan outlasted Georgia Tech in three overtimes to take the WNIT Championship, 89-79.
College coach news:
Amanda Levens has been named Nevada's head coach.
Homophobia is keeping women out of the coaching game.
Tomorrow's Championship game is sold out!!
Ratings from last night's semifinals were up!!
South Carolina isn't surprised to be facing the Bulldogs instead of UConn.
Off night? A short memory is essential for Kaela Davis and Victoria Vivians.
Morgan William is ready for one last battle.
After its stunner, Mississippi State turns to title game.
Allisha Gray is South Carolina's silent assassin.
Mississippi State is winning with heart.
The Gamecocks have built their reputation on defense.
Teaira McCowan is the center of attention for the Bulldogs.
The Gamecocks want a title for coach Dawn Staley.
Staley is one win away from her first NCAA title.
Why each team could win it all.
Whatever happens in the title game, the SEC comes out a winner.
How do two SEC rivals match up?
More on the Final Four:
Alaina Coates isn't with South Carolina because she's home recovering and waiting for the WNBA draft.
Mississippi State alum Dak Prescott, who plays for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, went nuts in the stands last night.
Geno Auriemma always had concerns, but his team almost proved him wrong.
He showed class after last night's loss.
Auriemma didn't want UConn to go undefeated, but they kept winning anyway.
A surprising loss is a learning experience for UConn.
Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant says Friday was a landmark in women's hoops.
Geno Auriemma's daughter took exception to his recent comments about female coaches.
The Final Four could finally give women's basketball the attention it deserves.
The season ended in frustration for Stanford.
Seeking the best fit, the Final Four has returned to Friday-Sunday.
Awards:
Kelsey Plum has won the Naismith and Lieberman awards.
She also won the Wade Trophy and the Dawn Staley Award.
College player news:
Diamond DeShields will return for one more season at Tennessee. Told ya.
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Inductees this morning included Muffet McGraw and Rebecca Lobo.
WNIT:
Michigan outlasted Georgia Tech in three overtimes to take the WNIT Championship, 89-79.
College coach news:
Amanda Levens has been named Nevada's head coach.
Homophobia is keeping women out of the coaching game.
Ah, these games
To say it's been an incredible experience already is an understatement. Let's start with the NCAA Tournament until this point: full of upsets and close games. An A-plus.
Then you add last night.
First South Carolina beat Stanford to make its first National Championship.
THEN there was the epicness that was Mississippi State upending UConn to snap their 111-game winning streak. It's their first time in the final two as well, and it'll be an all-SEC final. Not to mention it's the second game in a row that Itty Bitty (Morgan William) has won it for them.
There's still so much more to write. It will all come out in the ensuing days.
For now, this is a special experience; it's always a blessing to cover the Final Four. But last night's crowd was awesome, (great ratings too) and the Championship game tomorrow is sold out.
Much more to come.....gotta go socialize now, though.
Then you add last night.
First South Carolina beat Stanford to make its first National Championship.
THEN there was the epicness that was Mississippi State upending UConn to snap their 111-game winning streak. It's their first time in the final two as well, and it'll be an all-SEC final. Not to mention it's the second game in a row that Itty Bitty (Morgan William) has won it for them.
There's still so much more to write. It will all come out in the ensuing days.
For now, this is a special experience; it's always a blessing to cover the Final Four. But last night's crowd was awesome, (great ratings too) and the Championship game tomorrow is sold out.
Much more to come.....gotta go socialize now, though.
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