[ad_1]
Will Dawn Staley ever outgrow Geno? Lisa Leslie weighs in.
In an interview with Sports Serious, WNBA legend Lisa Leslie shared her opinion that South Carolina’s Dawn Staley has the best program in women’s college basketball.
America today
The craziness has come to women’s racing.
It’s not a 16 seed that upsets a No. 1 or a lesser-known school that knocks off a powerhouse. But it’s close, and it says a lot about the growing depth of the women’s game.
For just the fifth time since 1994, and the first time since 2009, a No. 1 seed has fallen before the Sweet 16. Eighth-seeded Ole Miss also sent top-seeded Stanford to its first exit since 2007.
Ole Miss coach Yolette McPhee-McCune said after her team’s 54-49 win, “an incredible amount of gratitude.” “We were expecting big. … For our team to do this, I am the sole creditor.
There was an argument that Stanford should have been No. 1 after losing in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament after dropping the regular season finale. Ole Miss took on South Carolina at Old Testament during the regular season.
Still, watching the Rebels beat Stanford — on the Cardinal’s home court, no less — showed just how deep the women’s game was. Gone are the days when the early rounds were games for the top seeds.
Even Stanford fans have to admit this is a good thing.
Check out the winners and losers on Day 3 of the NCAA Women’s Tournament:
Sunday’s highlights: All the action from the women’s and men’s races
Women’s Competition: Results and schedules of all games
Winners
Power forward
It was a big day for the greats.
As with the performances of LSU’s Angel Reese, Utah’s Alyssa Pilley and Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Keatley, there could be a “This Place Belongs” tag in the paint. Stanford’s loss would have been lopsided if not for Cameron Brink’s incredible effort.
Brink had 13 rebounds and seven blocks — three in one game! — and she almost got Stanford back into the game midway through the 13th quarter. But Brink didn’t get enough help offensively, or really from Stanford’s coaching staff.
LSU had a 32-20 advantage in the paint against Michigan, and that was largely due to Reese. She had an impressive 24 rebounds, 14 on the offensive glass and six blocked shots. She also scored a team-high 25 points in the Tigers’ 66-42 romp.
None of Pilley’s 10 rebounds were more than she had on Princeton’s next two possessions, a 13-point Utah lead. With Pilley roaming the paint, the Tigers couldn’t find good looks to tie or take the lead, allowing the Utes to hold on for a 63-56 win.
Keatley had a double-double – the 55th of her career, matching the all-time record at Virginia Tech. Although South Dakota State had an 8-point lead in the paint, 38-26, the second chance had just eight points. Nine of Keatley’s 14 boards were on the defensive glass, helping the Hokies to a 72-60 win.
Lauren Ebo
Despite playing at home for the first two rounds, many thought Notre Dame would pull off an upset with the loss of point guard Olivia Miles. Senior center Lauren Ebo had other ideas.
Ebo had an impressive performance with 10 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks in 31 minutes in the Irish’s 53-48 win over 11th-seeded Mississippi State. Five of her 18 rebounds were offensive, none more than a board, and Notre Dame retook the lead with 4:38 to play. And her free throw with 35 seconds left gave the Irish a two-possession lead, 49-45.
Virginia Tech
Welcome back to the Sweet 16, Hokies. It has been many times.
Virginia Tech reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, and for the first time since 1999, it beat South Dakota State.
“For us to be able to get this team, this program is very, very special,” hockey coach Kenny Brooks said. “It’s really exciting to be able to get to this point.”
It’s already been a historic season for the Hokies. South Dakota State’s win was Virginia Tech’s 29th of the year, the most in team history. The Hokies won their first ACC Tournament title — their first appearance in the playoffs, no less — and were awarded their best-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“Hockey Nation is so special that it means a lot to be a part of it,” Brooks said. “Great people have come here in all different sports and it means a lot to be able to contribute to that.
“We have amazing programs,” he added. It’s really exciting when we get to go out and do our part.
Cheyney State
Dawn Staley never misses an opportunity to teach.
South Carolina’s coach wore a Cheyney State jersey Sunday, the only HBCU team to make the Division I Final Four. At that time, Chennai was the second division of the state. In 1982, it played in its first NCAA Women’s Tournament and advanced to the championship game before losing to Louisiana Tech.
That team was coached by Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer, who often praised Staley for her impact on the game and for opening doors for other black coaches.
“Cheyney State was the only HBCU to make it to the Final Four and for them to be led by Coach Stringer, who opened the doors to where I’m going now, it was truly an honor to wear this jersey and represent them,” Staley said. After the game.
The No. 44 jersey belonged to Yolanda Laney — “It’s not a jersey,” Staley explained — who is from Philadelphia. In fact, one of Staley’s growing basketball leagues was started by Lenny.
A friend of hers sent her the Stalin shirt, she said.
“I like the jersey, I like what it represents, I like Coach Stringer,” Staley said.
Chaney State has extra meaning for Staley because it’s where John Chaney began his college coaching career. Chaney Steele was Temple’s men’s coach when he was hired by the Owls and he served as a mentor.
Losers
Georgia ball management
If you come across the queen, you better not drop the ball.
Georgia gave Kaitlin Clark and Iowa all they could handle on the Hawkeyes’ home floor, and UGA hit a 3 to get within two, 68-66, to put Iowa on the edge with 2:17 to play. Iowa missed its next shot and UGA had a chance to make or take the lead — but the Bulldogs turned it over on back-to-back possessions.
Four turnovers in the final 3:38, all three in a row, directly connected to UGA’s scoring drought in the final 2:17 of the game and Iowa’s eventual 74-66 victory. The second turnover in that string was even worse, as Clark converted it into two points for the Hawkeyes. Georgia finished with 18 turnovers, which Iowa converted into 17 points.
Home-court advantage
It is understandable why the NCAA continued to play the first two rounds at home venues. The crowd at Cassel Coliseum was so wild, Virginia Tech players said they could feel the building shake. The decibel level at Carver-Hawkeye Arena had to be recorded on a seismograph machine. The arenas at LSU and South Carolina were packed.
But is it fair in the NCAA tournament, when you lose and your season is over?
You could make the argument that Georgia would have beaten Iowa if that game had been played on neutral court. Princeton may have a better shot late against Utah if they play elsewhere. And if the game wasn’t at the Cardinal’s home, there’s no way Stanford would be within 10 points of Ole Miss.
The women’s game has grown enough that the NCAA should consider neutral courts for all three weekends of the tournament.
[ad_2]
Source link
