Fans were looking past tonight's games and putting Stanford and UConn in the championship game for a rematch of last year. I was even doing it. But the "underdogs" had different ideas.
Texas A&M used some of the best defense I've seen in years, and a phenomenal final 30 seconds, to upend Stanford 63-62.
In the second game, Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins was a force of nature, putting up 28 points and leading the charge for the Irish to upset UConn 72-63.
Personally, I was speechless after the first game, and shocked after the second. Who knew?
But many folks tonight (including Lisa Leslie) are saying this might be a changing of the guard of sorts. Maybe they're right.
When is the last time there have been no number one seeds in a final? Has anyone ever beaten both Tennessee and UConn in the tournament? Is that green her "Incredible Hulk" look, because Skylar Diggins has grown by leaps and bounds as a player this year. How did each underdog team have the composure to stick with it, not get rattled and finish strong?
Tuesday's final should be intense. If both teams play with the urgency and desire to win that they did tonight, expect a very physical contest.
It's FUN to have two fresh blood teams in the big game. It's something new.
Charlie Creme has a rapid reaction to Texas A&M-Stanford.
The Aggies inexperience trumped the Cardinal's weaith of experience.
Creme also has a rapid reaction to Notre Dame-UConn.
Depth made a difference in the win for the Irish.
Big ups to seniors Kayla Pedersen and Jeannette Pohlen of Stanford and Maya Moore of Connecticut for their brilliant college careers. You will be missed.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
WBCA game wrap-up
Eleven ties and 15 lead changes in this game - would have loved to see that:
INDIANAPOLIS -Smyrna (Clayton, Del.) High School's Betnijah Laney, one of the nation's top high school seniors who has yet to declare where she will play collegiately, scored 21 points to lead the White Team to an 83-73 victory over the Red Team in the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike, played today at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The hotly contested, but friendly 20th annual contest, which features the 20 members of the WBCA High School All-America Team, is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®. This marked the second year the game was played on the Women's Final Four court.
I went to this game in 2009, before it was on the Final Four court. Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins were playing, and afterwards I was one of the media in the press room asking them questions. Two years later, they are giants on their teams and are playing for the title. Who knows what players this year will be in the same position in coming seasons?
INDIANAPOLIS -Smyrna (Clayton, Del.) High School's Betnijah Laney, one of the nation's top high school seniors who has yet to declare where she will play collegiately, scored 21 points to lead the White Team to an 83-73 victory over the Red Team in the 2011 WBCA High School All-America Game presented by Nike, played today at Conseco Fieldhouse.
The hotly contested, but friendly 20th annual contest, which features the 20 members of the WBCA High School All-America Team, is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®. This marked the second year the game was played on the Women's Final Four court.
I went to this game in 2009, before it was on the Final Four court. Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins were playing, and afterwards I was one of the media in the press room asking them questions. Two years later, they are giants on their teams and are playing for the title. Who knows what players this year will be in the same position in coming seasons?
More coaching upheaval
Just a week out from Green Bay Coach Matt Bollant emphatically telling his players to show Baylor "the Green Bay way" in the Sweet Sixteen, it looks like he may be finding another way himself: he's interviewing at other schools.
Xavier's Kevin McGuff is also interviewing.
UCLA says they gave Nikki Caldwell "a very attractive multi-year offer," but she turned them down anyway. Plenty of other Division I jobs are open.
One coach who is staying put is Gonzaga's Kelly Graves, who signed a 10-year contract last week. Bless his heart.
Xavier's Kevin McGuff is also interviewing.
UCLA says they gave Nikki Caldwell "a very attractive multi-year offer," but she turned them down anyway. Plenty of other Division I jobs are open.
One coach who is staying put is Gonzaga's Kelly Graves, who signed a 10-year contract last week. Bless his heart.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Four more Final Four stories (hey, that rhymes)
Who will win? Four great arguments.
Skylar Diggins and the Irish are ret ta go.
Little-known Texas A&M traditions.
The teams are ready to stop talking and start playing.
Heck yeah, me too - let's get this started already.
Extra: I hear that the "white" team won at the WBCA All-American game today, but of course there's no story or box score to be found on the web. The minute there is, though, I will be posting. There is this video.
Skylar Diggins and the Irish are ret ta go.
Little-known Texas A&M traditions.
The teams are ready to stop talking and start playing.
Heck yeah, me too - let's get this started already.
Extra: I hear that the "white" team won at the WBCA All-American game today, but of course there's no story or box score to be found on the web. The minute there is, though, I will be posting. There is this video.
WNIT photos and recap
Thanks, IM in OC, for the pictures illustrating the intense atmosphere at the WNIT championship game today. Bless the hearts of the USC Trojans for staying competitive in an environment like that. And that picture of Kari LaPlante breaks my heart.
There's NOTHING to hang your head at in playing a championship game, ladies! Be proud of yourselves, because I sure am.
Melissa Ward(on left) from the 82 championship team and Courthey Robinson(t-shirt) former Trojan team manager were at the game to support the Trojans. Ward is now a commercial airline pilot.
Toledo fans circle the court and the players enter through them before the start.
Play goes on, under the far basket, while people watch the game from the restaurant above the arena.
Fans swarmed the court after the victory as the USC Women of Troy went back to their bench.
One last huddle for the USC WOT after the game ended.
Coach Michael Cooper and Briana Gilbreath hug Kari LaPlante after her college career ended today.
____________________
It was a tremendous atmosphere to be at for a college women's basketball game. I arrived 90 minutes prior to tipoff to find tailgaters in the parking lot, like it was a fall football game.
The Toledo crowd was dressed in gold, and was very supportive. There were 7300+ in attendance, and only about 15 Trojan, fans and parents there to root for the Women of Troy.
The game was competitive, and both sides left everything on the floor. Naama Shafir - #4 for Toledo - played the game of her career, scoring 40 points. Even though the Trojans lost, it was worth the trip and the experience.
After the game about a dozen Toledo fans came up to us in the stands and thanked us for coming and supporting our team. As we walked out almost every fan wished us and the players a safe trip back. I wish the So Cal teams had the support that the Toledo Rocket fans gave to their team.
- IM in OC
Me too! - Sue
There's NOTHING to hang your head at in playing a championship game, ladies! Be proud of yourselves, because I sure am.
Melissa Ward(on left) from the 82 championship team and Courthey Robinson(t-shirt) former Trojan team manager were at the game to support the Trojans. Ward is now a commercial airline pilot.
Toledo fans circle the court and the players enter through them before the start.
Play goes on, under the far basket, while people watch the game from the restaurant above the arena.
Fans swarmed the court after the victory as the USC Women of Troy went back to their bench.
One last huddle for the USC WOT after the game ended.
Coach Michael Cooper and Briana Gilbreath hug Kari LaPlante after her college career ended today.
____________________
It was a tremendous atmosphere to be at for a college women's basketball game. I arrived 90 minutes prior to tipoff to find tailgaters in the parking lot, like it was a fall football game.
The Toledo crowd was dressed in gold, and was very supportive. There were 7300+ in attendance, and only about 15 Trojan, fans and parents there to root for the Women of Troy.
The game was competitive, and both sides left everything on the floor. Naama Shafir - #4 for Toledo - played the game of her career, scoring 40 points. Even though the Trojans lost, it was worth the trip and the experience.
After the game about a dozen Toledo fans came up to us in the stands and thanked us for coming and supporting our team. As we walked out almost every fan wished us and the players a safe trip back. I wish the So Cal teams had the support that the Toledo Rocket fans gave to their team.
- IM in OC
Me too! - Sue
Three-way tie for AP Coach of the Year
It's never happened before, but we have a three-way tie for the honor this year: Stanford Coach Tara VanDerveer, Connecticut Coach Geno Auriemma and Miami Coach Katie Meier.
Nikki Caldwell to LSU
I got the word about 2:30 Pacific time today from one of my best sources that Nikki Caldwell had accepted the Virginia job. Looking at my twitter feed, I wasn't the only one who heard this, as info began to leak about 5 p.m. PDT. But no, it's Louisiana State University that's stealing the brilliant coach away. The story burst about 50 minutes ago.
Though they don't yet say what her salary will be in Tigerville, you would assume it's going to be much more than it was at UCLA. It's been said that the Bruins "have a long history of underpaying coaches." Don't know if that's true, but the whole thing is sad. The air is filled with "coulda been"s, as in what she could have done with the program if she'd kept going.
Caldwell didn't return my voicemail this afternoon, but I still have one more question: will there still be a team banquet in nine days?
I'm also accepting nominations for a new college team to follow. I might take pro nominations too.
Though they don't yet say what her salary will be in Tigerville, you would assume it's going to be much more than it was at UCLA. It's been said that the Bruins "have a long history of underpaying coaches." Don't know if that's true, but the whole thing is sad. The air is filled with "coulda been"s, as in what she could have done with the program if she'd kept going.
Caldwell didn't return my voicemail this afternoon, but I still have one more question: will there still be a team banquet in nine days?
I'm also accepting nominations for a new college team to follow. I might take pro nominations too.
Following up
Here's the WBCA All-American basketball team:
Danielle Adams, Texas A&M University
Skylar Diggins, University of Notre Dame
Brittney Griner, Baylor University
Amber Harris, Xavier University
Shenise Johnson, University of Miami
Jantel Lavender, Ohio State University
Maya Moore, University of Connecticut
Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford University
Shekinna Stricklen, University of Tennessee
Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga University
And check out the list of honorable mentions.
Hoopfeed is doing a great job going to every event today. This will keep you on top of everything.
In the WNIT, Toledo won the 'ship, beating USC 76-68 in front of 7,301 fans.
When the WBCA high school All-America game finishes up, I'll have something on that too.
Woot!
Danielle Adams, Texas A&M University
Skylar Diggins, University of Notre Dame
Brittney Griner, Baylor University
Amber Harris, Xavier University
Shenise Johnson, University of Miami
Jantel Lavender, Ohio State University
Maya Moore, University of Connecticut
Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford University
Shekinna Stricklen, University of Tennessee
Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga University
And check out the list of honorable mentions.
Hoopfeed is doing a great job going to every event today. This will keep you on top of everything.
In the WNIT, Toledo won the 'ship, beating USC 76-68 in front of 7,301 fans.
When the WBCA high school All-America game finishes up, I'll have something on that too.
Woot!
In-between time news
Maya Moore just won the Wade Trophy for the third time in a row - the first player ever to do that. Still waiting for a complete listing of the entire team, as right now the only updates are from twitter. Can't wait to hear about it.
In the meantime.......
The Final Four teams are somewhat a reflection of their coaches.
Three of the four teams there have experienced point guards, which is no surprise.
WNIT final is today:
USC's defense will pose a problem for Toldeo in the 3 p.m. matchup.
The LA Times also chose to acknowledge the game (what a shock).
In the meantime.......
The Final Four teams are somewhat a reflection of their coaches.
Three of the four teams there have experienced point guards, which is no surprise.
WNIT final is today:
USC's defense will pose a problem for Toldeo in the 3 p.m. matchup.
The LA Times also chose to acknowledge the game (what a shock).
Friday, April 1, 2011
Final Four getting going, high school turns to club ball
Everyone's arriving in Indianapolis........
On the lighter side: former Stanford Cardinal Roslyn Gold-Onwude breaks down the tournament fashion bracket. (Nikki Caldwell was robbed)
Present Cardinal freshman Chiney Ogwumike is enjoying her year. She was a mere 15 days old when Stanford won its last championship.
Apparently, behind all that on-court iciness, Maya Moore has a great sense of humor, among other attributes:
"She's very private, she's very closed, and her personality comes out on the court and when she is with her teammates off the court," Auriemma said. "But most other times she's Maya Moore -- she's running for president."......
Her mother, Kathryn, said the world sees only the public version of Moore. Her daughter also plays the drums. And she's got a knack for being in front of the camera, ever since she played a wayward child in a church movie.
"What you guys see is not half of who she is, not half," Kathryn Moore said. "She's got an amazing sense of humor, and she loves to have fun. So when I see her on interviews, I'm like, 'OK, she's very composed.' Once you get to know her one-on-one, you see another side of her. Her teammates talk about that."
Let the games begin.
The WBCA High School All-American game is tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PDT/4:30 p.m. EDT.
Another collegiate item:
Gonzaga's Courtney Vandersloot has won the Nancy Lieberman Award, which honors the nation's top NCAA Division I point guard.
A little more on the McDonald's All-American game:
In breaking the tournament record for scoring, Elizabeth Williams was named MVP.
If I could find a freakin box score, I would have known that Reshanda Gray, interviewed in this space yesterday, was the team-high rebounder for the West.
Club ball season is in full effect:
High school season is over and club ball season is on like Donkey Kong. ESPN has an Ohio tip sheet and one for Georgia, or Gerja, as Medea would say.
Next weekend will be a major club ball tournament at Mater Dei High School in Anaheim. The following weekend is the first official recruiting weekend of the new season for college coaches. Teams I know will be headed to the Deep South Classic in North Carolina.
Cool high school bonus:
Ruth Lovelace coaches both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams at Bedford-Stuyvesant High School.
On the lighter side: former Stanford Cardinal Roslyn Gold-Onwude breaks down the tournament fashion bracket. (Nikki Caldwell was robbed)
Present Cardinal freshman Chiney Ogwumike is enjoying her year. She was a mere 15 days old when Stanford won its last championship.
Apparently, behind all that on-court iciness, Maya Moore has a great sense of humor, among other attributes:
"She's very private, she's very closed, and her personality comes out on the court and when she is with her teammates off the court," Auriemma said. "But most other times she's Maya Moore -- she's running for president."......
Her mother, Kathryn, said the world sees only the public version of Moore. Her daughter also plays the drums. And she's got a knack for being in front of the camera, ever since she played a wayward child in a church movie.
"What you guys see is not half of who she is, not half," Kathryn Moore said. "She's got an amazing sense of humor, and she loves to have fun. So when I see her on interviews, I'm like, 'OK, she's very composed.' Once you get to know her one-on-one, you see another side of her. Her teammates talk about that."
Let the games begin.
The WBCA High School All-American game is tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. PDT/4:30 p.m. EDT.
Another collegiate item:
Gonzaga's Courtney Vandersloot has won the Nancy Lieberman Award, which honors the nation's top NCAA Division I point guard.
A little more on the McDonald's All-American game:
In breaking the tournament record for scoring, Elizabeth Williams was named MVP.
If I could find a freakin box score, I would have known that Reshanda Gray, interviewed in this space yesterday, was the team-high rebounder for the West.
Club ball season is in full effect:
High school season is over and club ball season is on like Donkey Kong. ESPN has an Ohio tip sheet and one for Georgia, or Gerja, as Medea would say.
Next weekend will be a major club ball tournament at Mater Dei High School in Anaheim. The following weekend is the first official recruiting weekend of the new season for college coaches. Teams I know will be headed to the Deep South Classic in North Carolina.
Cool high school bonus:
Ruth Lovelace coaches both the girls and boys varsity basketball teams at Bedford-Stuyvesant High School.
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