Tonight is Game 3 of the Phoenix vs San Antonio series. I'm not sure what happened to Phoenix last week, did they forget to show up at the arena? Did they forget it was the playoffs? Alas, that game is in the past and Phoenix (and my keys to winning) showed up and dismantled the Silver Stars on Saturday to set up a Game 3 showdown in Phoenix.
San Antonio Silver Stars vs Phoenix Mercury (10:00 pm, ESPN2)
Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm
I'm tired of hearing that people are surprised by how well the Sparks are playing. Of course they are playing well! Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker are on fire and Betty Lennox is totally under rated! Parker and Leslie missed a good portion of the season so they are just in mid-late season form now. Tina Thompson plays well when others around her play well so, guess what, she's on fire too. Best pickup in the off season for them was Thompson, one of the few remaining originals (Tameka Dixon is the other one). So yes, I'm not surprised LA won the series against the Storm. LA frustrated the Storm and took the win. Swin Cash was pretty much a no show in their two losses so guess what, the Storm lost. Maybe next year...
Detroit Shock vs Atlanta Dream
Experience and veterans got the best of the Dream this year. Their first playoff spot but they'll be back. Angel McCoughtry is the real deal and she'll help lead the Dream to a WNBA final one day. Holdsclaw was back but not 100% and de Souza ended up being a non-factor because Kara Braxton played liked the world was ending tomorrow. Great series, look for the next series to be just as entertaining!
Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics
I think this was the best series so far. Indiana should've lost both games that they won, period. But, they came back like the veterans that they are (Tamika Catchings was unbelievable in Game 2) and won both games. What amazed me was that in Game 2 the Mystics had no excuse to not win that game! They led the ENTIRE game...up until the very end. Washington needs to find that desire to put a knife in their opponent, they just can't seem to finish.
So depending on what team shows up tonight for Phoenix, it could be a very interesting remainder of the playoffs. If the real Phoenix team shows up, I don't see how anyone can beat them. But, they showed that they can be defeated because San Antonio really rattled them on Thursday night. Should prove to be a great game, lots of emotion flying as this could be VJ's last game in the WNBA!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WNBA Playoffs Day 2
Great games last night, Detroit comes back to win and LA wins, perhaps, Lisa Leslie's final game in LA (which it won't be, sorry Seattle).
Los Angeles vs Seattle
Los Angeles, 1-0
Detroit vs Atlanta
Detroit, 1-0
The match ups tonight will be good too, well one of them will be.
Indiana Fever @ Washington Mystics (7:00 pm)
Phoenix Mercury @ San Antonio Silver Stars (9:00 pm)
Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics
Game 1: Thu 9/17 (Washington) - 7:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Sat 9/19 (Indiana) - 7:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Mon 9/21 - (Indiana)-8:00 pm (ESPN2, if necessary)
Both teams are banged up which should prove to be interesting. All season long I've heard how Indiana can't win on the road (and I've thought that too). But they were almost .500 on the road, NOT bad. I'd take that. For Indiana both Tammy Sutton-Brown and Katie Douglas are still recovering. Tamika Catchings left the game early on on Sunday after her head collided with Connecticut Sun's Tan White's head (ouch).
For Washington, Alana Beard is recovering from a sprained ankle. Even with Beard though, the Mystics didn't win one of the four games they played against Indiana. Another issue for the Mystics; the game will not be played at the Verizon Center because some dinosaurs are marching around the Verizon Center floor. If you've read my blogs, you'll remember me talking about this before (or click here).
So some notes:
-Both teams average 77 points per game
-Washington allows 77 points per game vs Indiana's 71
-Both are very close on rebounding (for and against): Washington 35 for, 33 against; Indiana 33 for, 33 against.
-Indiana has 2 double figure scorers (Katie Douglas and Tamika Catchings) while Washington has 3 (Alana Beard, Lindsey Harding and Crystal Langhorne). But the rest of the Indiana starting 5 is nearly at double figures where Washington has a pretty big gap.
Keys for Indiana: STAY HEALTHY. Enough said....
Keys for Washington: Monique Currie has to step up for Washington to have any chance to win. If Beard is "good to go" she will not be 100% and not having her athleticism at full tilt could hurt them against a quick Indiana team. I know Monique can play, she's proven her abilities in playoff type games before. But she's also shown her ability to falter. Lindsey will have a nice series but she needs to get Langhorne the ball a lot more and pound Indiana's forwards. She has the athleticism to do it. Washington has the athletes to succeed, they just need to put it together and stay consistent for a full 40 minutes.
So the series will end up with Indiana winning 2-0. Washington allows opponents to shoot nearly 44% from the field, if you keep allowing that you are going home early. I think the games will be tight since Washington is very athletic and strong but I just see them falling short...barely but it's only a 3 game series and the track record is well, not there.
Phoenix Mercury vs San Antonio Silver Stars
Game 1: Thu 9/17 - (San Antonio) 9:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Sat 9/19 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (NBA, TV)
Game 3: Mon 9/21 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (ESPN2, if necessary)
Phoenix is healthy and ready to bring another Championship to Arizona. Phoenix heads to San Antonio tonight to begin the quest. They bring with them the best road record in the WNBA (11-6), WNBA scoring leader Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter is the 4th highest scorer this season and the league best average points per game at 93. So San Antonio has their work cut out for them.....hope they prepared well!
The Silver Stars are pretty healthy too but they just don't have the same kind of players Phoenix has. But, anything can happen. Becky Hammon is averaging more assists this season then any other season and she has always played well come playoff time. She also set a career high with 19.5 points per game this season. So she might be playing her best ball right now. There are just some players that can play their best in the playoffs and she's one of them. Plus she's an awesome leader that can get her team fired up.
Some notes on the teams:
-Mercury score 92 points per game BUT allow 89 points per game.
-Silver Stars score 77 points per game and their defense allows 78 per game (that's the wrong way you want that stat to be!)
-Mercury average 35 boards and allow 35 boards per game.
-Silver Stars average 31 boards and allow 35 boards per game (wrong way stat again!)
-Mercury have 5 players in double figures for scoring
-Silver Stars have 3 players in point per game averages
Keys for Phoenix: dominate the boards and protect the middle. That little one (aka Becky Hammon) loves to drive the lane. As long as Pondexter and Taurasi are playing well, Phoenix should be fine.
Keys for San Antonio: stop the perimeter game of Phoenix. If they got hot from behind the arc, forget it. Rebound, rebound, rebound! Win the boards and limit second chance points for Phoenix, stop the transition game. Let Sophia Young do her thing and let her be free in her decisions, she's a great athlete that can match the athleticism of the Mercury.
Phoenix wins the series 2-0.
Los Angeles vs Seattle
Los Angeles, 1-0
Detroit vs Atlanta
Detroit, 1-0
The match ups tonight will be good too, well one of them will be.
Indiana Fever @ Washington Mystics (7:00 pm)
Phoenix Mercury @ San Antonio Silver Stars (9:00 pm)
Indiana Fever vs Washington Mystics
Game 1: Thu 9/17 (Washington) - 7:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Sat 9/19 (Indiana) - 7:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Mon 9/21 - (Indiana)-8:00 pm (ESPN2, if necessary)
Both teams are banged up which should prove to be interesting. All season long I've heard how Indiana can't win on the road (and I've thought that too). But they were almost .500 on the road, NOT bad. I'd take that. For Indiana both Tammy Sutton-Brown and Katie Douglas are still recovering. Tamika Catchings left the game early on on Sunday after her head collided with Connecticut Sun's Tan White's head (ouch).
For Washington, Alana Beard is recovering from a sprained ankle. Even with Beard though, the Mystics didn't win one of the four games they played against Indiana. Another issue for the Mystics; the game will not be played at the Verizon Center because some dinosaurs are marching around the Verizon Center floor. If you've read my blogs, you'll remember me talking about this before (or click here).
So some notes:
-Both teams average 77 points per game
-Washington allows 77 points per game vs Indiana's 71
-Both are very close on rebounding (for and against): Washington 35 for, 33 against; Indiana 33 for, 33 against.
-Indiana has 2 double figure scorers (Katie Douglas and Tamika Catchings) while Washington has 3 (Alana Beard, Lindsey Harding and Crystal Langhorne). But the rest of the Indiana starting 5 is nearly at double figures where Washington has a pretty big gap.
Keys for Indiana: STAY HEALTHY. Enough said....
Keys for Washington: Monique Currie has to step up for Washington to have any chance to win. If Beard is "good to go" she will not be 100% and not having her athleticism at full tilt could hurt them against a quick Indiana team. I know Monique can play, she's proven her abilities in playoff type games before. But she's also shown her ability to falter. Lindsey will have a nice series but she needs to get Langhorne the ball a lot more and pound Indiana's forwards. She has the athleticism to do it. Washington has the athletes to succeed, they just need to put it together and stay consistent for a full 40 minutes.
So the series will end up with Indiana winning 2-0. Washington allows opponents to shoot nearly 44% from the field, if you keep allowing that you are going home early. I think the games will be tight since Washington is very athletic and strong but I just see them falling short...barely but it's only a 3 game series and the track record is well, not there.
Phoenix Mercury vs San Antonio Silver Stars
Game 1: Thu 9/17 - (San Antonio) 9:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Sat 9/19 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (NBA, TV)
Game 3: Mon 9/21 - (Phoenix) 10:00 pm (ESPN2, if necessary)
Phoenix is healthy and ready to bring another Championship to Arizona. Phoenix heads to San Antonio tonight to begin the quest. They bring with them the best road record in the WNBA (11-6), WNBA scoring leader Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter is the 4th highest scorer this season and the league best average points per game at 93. So San Antonio has their work cut out for them.....hope they prepared well!
The Silver Stars are pretty healthy too but they just don't have the same kind of players Phoenix has. But, anything can happen. Becky Hammon is averaging more assists this season then any other season and she has always played well come playoff time. She also set a career high with 19.5 points per game this season. So she might be playing her best ball right now. There are just some players that can play their best in the playoffs and she's one of them. Plus she's an awesome leader that can get her team fired up.
Some notes on the teams:
-Mercury score 92 points per game BUT allow 89 points per game.
-Silver Stars score 77 points per game and their defense allows 78 per game (that's the wrong way you want that stat to be!)
-Mercury average 35 boards and allow 35 boards per game.
-Silver Stars average 31 boards and allow 35 boards per game (wrong way stat again!)
-Mercury have 5 players in double figures for scoring
-Silver Stars have 3 players in point per game averages
Keys for Phoenix: dominate the boards and protect the middle. That little one (aka Becky Hammon) loves to drive the lane. As long as Pondexter and Taurasi are playing well, Phoenix should be fine.
Keys for San Antonio: stop the perimeter game of Phoenix. If they got hot from behind the arc, forget it. Rebound, rebound, rebound! Win the boards and limit second chance points for Phoenix, stop the transition game. Let Sophia Young do her thing and let her be free in her decisions, she's a great athlete that can match the athleticism of the Mercury.
Phoenix wins the series 2-0.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
WNBA Playoffs
So with the playoffs kicking off tonight (and the games actually on TV...WOW!) it's time for some predictions.
Tonight's games:
Atlanta @ Detroit (8:00 pm, ESPN2)
Seattle @ Los Angeles (10:00 pm, ESPN2)
Atlanta Dream vs Detroit Shock
Game 1: Wed 9/16 (Detroit)- 8:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Atlanta)- 7:30 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Atlanta)- 3:00 pm (If necessary) (ESPN2)
It's reality time for Atlanta and their first round games are going to be the toughest games they have played all season. Why? The Detroit Shock are a.) on a tear b.) no WAY are the defending Champs going to bow out in the first round (a-la Tennessee Lady Vols). On paper, Atlanta is a more balanced team but that doesn't take into account the factor of the playoffs and what it can do to a team (good and bad). Some notes:
-5 Double figure scorers for the Dream compared to 3 for Shock (1 for each team might be out).
-Katie Smith and Chamique Holdsclaw are doubtful to play in Game 1, perhaps the entire series.
-Atlanta scores average 84 PPG and allows 82 PPG
-Detroit scores 78 PPG and allows 77 PPG
-Rebounds are close: Atlanta 37, Detroit 36
-Rebounds allowed (this is where Atlanta will suffer): Atlanta 37, Detroit 32
Here are some keys for Detroit to win: If Cheryl Ford remains healthy and dominates Erika de Souza (who is averaging 2 more boards per game then Cheryl), the Shock will win. If Katie Smith can play in the series, they will win (right now it's unclear if she will play in the first game or at all).
Keys for Atlanta to win: Limit the number of second chance opportunities for the Shock and perhaps, Atlanta can sneak out the win....but I just don't see that happening.
Detroit wins the series 2-0. (I'm sorry Atlanta, I love you, but first playoffs against Detroit? Sorry ladies!).
Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks
Game 1: Wed 9/16 (LA) - 10:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Seattle)- 10:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Seattle)- 5:00 pm (if necessary) (ESPN 2)
Seattle will be without All-World player Lauren Jackson for this series BUT they get many of their other players back. Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Tanisha Wright and Katie Geralds should all be in uniform and ready to play tonight. Geralds is still pretty hurt from her injured PCL but just having her on the floor for a few minutes will create some positive vibes for the Storm. The Sparks, on the other hand, have as much playoff experience as the Storm and are flying high with emotion. Nobody on that teams wants legendary Lisa Leslie to retire without a WNBA title this season (heck, how storybook would that be...a-la David Robinson?). The Sparks are playing really good ball right now and they are healthy. Some notes:
-Both teams have 5 players scoring in double figures but Seattle is down one
-Both teams average 74 points per game and allow the same 73
-Sparks have the edge in rebounds: 37-32
-Sparks have the edge in allowed rebounds: 30-32 (but close enough)
For Seattle to win: One name-Swin Cash. If Cash plays BIG (boards and points) Seattle could win the series. What is going to hurt them is no Lauren Jackson in the playoffs. Sure, they are playing great ball without her but LA is on a mission and they know how to win and they know how to use emotion effectively (loaded with successful NCAA and Olympic Champions).
For LA to win: Rebounds, rebounds and rebounds. Stop Swin Cash and limit the assists Sue Bird gets (in other words, protect the low block) and LA can win this series.
This is the series to watch...arguably the best one of the playoffs.
Los Angeles wins 2-1.
Tonight's games:
Atlanta @ Detroit (8:00 pm, ESPN2)
Seattle @ Los Angeles (10:00 pm, ESPN2)
Atlanta Dream vs Detroit Shock
Game 1: Wed 9/16 (Detroit)- 8:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Atlanta)- 7:30 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Atlanta)- 3:00 pm (If necessary) (ESPN2)
It's reality time for Atlanta and their first round games are going to be the toughest games they have played all season. Why? The Detroit Shock are a.) on a tear b.) no WAY are the defending Champs going to bow out in the first round (a-la Tennessee Lady Vols). On paper, Atlanta is a more balanced team but that doesn't take into account the factor of the playoffs and what it can do to a team (good and bad). Some notes:
-5 Double figure scorers for the Dream compared to 3 for Shock (1 for each team might be out).
-Katie Smith and Chamique Holdsclaw are doubtful to play in Game 1, perhaps the entire series.
-Atlanta scores average 84 PPG and allows 82 PPG
-Detroit scores 78 PPG and allows 77 PPG
-Rebounds are close: Atlanta 37, Detroit 36
-Rebounds allowed (this is where Atlanta will suffer): Atlanta 37, Detroit 32
Here are some keys for Detroit to win: If Cheryl Ford remains healthy and dominates Erika de Souza (who is averaging 2 more boards per game then Cheryl), the Shock will win. If Katie Smith can play in the series, they will win (right now it's unclear if she will play in the first game or at all).
Keys for Atlanta to win: Limit the number of second chance opportunities for the Shock and perhaps, Atlanta can sneak out the win....but I just don't see that happening.
Detroit wins the series 2-0. (I'm sorry Atlanta, I love you, but first playoffs against Detroit? Sorry ladies!).
Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks
Game 1: Wed 9/16 (LA) - 10:00 pm (ESPN2)
Game 2: Fri 9/18 (Seattle)- 10:00 pm (NBA TV)
Game 3: Sun 9/20 (Seattle)- 5:00 pm (if necessary) (ESPN 2)
Seattle will be without All-World player Lauren Jackson for this series BUT they get many of their other players back. Swin Cash, Sue Bird, Tanisha Wright and Katie Geralds should all be in uniform and ready to play tonight. Geralds is still pretty hurt from her injured PCL but just having her on the floor for a few minutes will create some positive vibes for the Storm. The Sparks, on the other hand, have as much playoff experience as the Storm and are flying high with emotion. Nobody on that teams wants legendary Lisa Leslie to retire without a WNBA title this season (heck, how storybook would that be...a-la David Robinson?). The Sparks are playing really good ball right now and they are healthy. Some notes:
-Both teams have 5 players scoring in double figures but Seattle is down one
-Both teams average 74 points per game and allow the same 73
-Sparks have the edge in rebounds: 37-32
-Sparks have the edge in allowed rebounds: 30-32 (but close enough)
For Seattle to win: One name-Swin Cash. If Cash plays BIG (boards and points) Seattle could win the series. What is going to hurt them is no Lauren Jackson in the playoffs. Sure, they are playing great ball without her but LA is on a mission and they know how to win and they know how to use emotion effectively (loaded with successful NCAA and Olympic Champions).
For LA to win: Rebounds, rebounds and rebounds. Stop Swin Cash and limit the assists Sue Bird gets (in other words, protect the low block) and LA can win this series.
This is the series to watch...arguably the best one of the playoffs.
Los Angeles wins 2-1.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Angels, Wiggins and Leslies...oh my!
Tonight is a pretty important night here in WNBA land. Minnesota Lynx play at Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun play at Atlanta Dream. It's important because....
-the Atlanta Dream can start to complete their turn around from last season by clinching a playoff spot in their friendly confines of Philips Arena. If they beat the Sun (which I think they will) the Dream will certainly be living a dream.
-The Minnesota Lynx can keep their hopes alive by staying alive in the playoff hunt with a win at Los Angeles. IF the Lynx can win and win again on Sunday (saying the Silver Stars beat the Storm Saturday) they are in the playoffs. How can they be if they are tied with the Silver Stars? You know, that recreational head-to-head thing....Minnesota has the edge over San Antonio.
Check out the games! The more viewers the better...
Connecticut Sun @ Atlanta Dream (7:00 pm)
Minnesota Lynx @ Los Angeles Sparks (10:30 pm, NBA TV)
Washington Mystics
So if the Mystics make the playoffs the "Walking with Dinosaurs" show will kick them out of the Verizon Center. They will have to go 30 minutes north to College Park, MD...where there is train service but it's kind of a pain to navigate. Of course this is not the first time a pro team has had to reschedule a playoff game. Just this past NHL season the Pittsburgh Penguins had to reschedule their game with the Washington Capitals because of a Yanni concert. Not like it mattered because my Pens won but still...dinos and Yanni kick pro sports out of their own arena? Who exactly has banners hanging in the rafters? I rest my case....
-the Atlanta Dream can start to complete their turn around from last season by clinching a playoff spot in their friendly confines of Philips Arena. If they beat the Sun (which I think they will) the Dream will certainly be living a dream.
-The Minnesota Lynx can keep their hopes alive by staying alive in the playoff hunt with a win at Los Angeles. IF the Lynx can win and win again on Sunday (saying the Silver Stars beat the Storm Saturday) they are in the playoffs. How can they be if they are tied with the Silver Stars? You know, that recreational head-to-head thing....Minnesota has the edge over San Antonio.
Check out the games! The more viewers the better...
Connecticut Sun @ Atlanta Dream (7:00 pm)
Minnesota Lynx @ Los Angeles Sparks (10:30 pm, NBA TV)
Washington Mystics
So if the Mystics make the playoffs the "Walking with Dinosaurs" show will kick them out of the Verizon Center. They will have to go 30 minutes north to College Park, MD...where there is train service but it's kind of a pain to navigate. Of course this is not the first time a pro team has had to reschedule a playoff game. Just this past NHL season the Pittsburgh Penguins had to reschedule their game with the Washington Capitals because of a Yanni concert. Not like it mattered because my Pens won but still...dinos and Yanni kick pro sports out of their own arena? Who exactly has banners hanging in the rafters? I rest my case....
C. Vivian Stringer
Today marks the long overdue enshrinement of C. Vivian Stringer into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. There are some excellent articles on the web about her, I have listed my favorites below.
When I was 11 years old my Mom took me to my first live women's basketball game. The school: Rutgers University. A nice 45 minute drive from my home in Mercer County, NJ. My Mom and I didn't know much about the program but we went anyway. Man, were we thrilled. There was a duo there known as Wicks and Sticks (Sue Wicks and Regina Howard). I was amazed at how quickly they moved and how effortlessly they played the game. That was when I was hooked on Rutgers basketball. I watched the team do well in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
At the same time, more and more games were being shown on TV. At that time, the women's NCAA Championship game was broadcast on CBS (I can still picture Ann Meyer's outfit as she broadcast the 1990 final between Stanford and Auburn). In the early 90s a coach and a team captured my attention. University of Iowa and C. Vivian Stringer. Perhaps I was a bit partial to Iowa because they had an excellent field hockey program (another sport I love). I just loved how Coach Stringer empowered her team to play well and how she approached and respected the game. I started to learn about Coach Stringer and I read about her accomplishments at Cheyney State (small school playing big time hoops) and her move to Iowa and what she had done there. Did you know that Coach Stringer's Iowa Hawkeye's team became the first team ever, in the history of women's basketball, to have an advance game sell out? Coach Stringer took the Iowa Hawkeyes to 10 NCAA tournaments, 9 straight from 1984-1993. Final Four berth in 1993 (her second one), not bad if you ask me.
In July 1995 Rutgers, my team, announced that this great coach would replace Theresa Grentz. Could it be true? That someone of her caliber would come to a program that was mediocre? Oh, the possibilities of a Final Four berth, Tournament Championships, All-Americans danced through my head. Needless to say, I was thrilled.
I made sure that my Mom and I were there for her first game against Penn State on November 25, 1995 (I still have the program). It was a thriller with RU beating then unflappable Rene Portland's Penn State team by 2 points. I clearly remember the last few seconds of the game as RU had fouls to give before PSU would shoot free throws so Stringer would foul them as soon as the ball would be thrown into play. It worked flawlessly. I was more thrilled with the strategy and the hope that RU would become the "Jewel of the East".
Sure enough, RU made the final four in 2000 (and the National title game in 2007). Coach Stringer became the first coach in NCAA history to take 3 different teams to the Final Four. From there the top High School players started knocked on the big red doors on the Banks. Cappie Pondexter, Matee Ajavon, Kia Vaughn, April Sykes and Monique Oliver (and many others that have walked through the door). In February 2008, Coach Stringer won her 800th game and she ranks #3 all time.
Now they are a team that is talked about as possible NCAA Champions! Coach Stringer took an average to above-average team and made them one of the best, a force to be reckoned with. People used to say: UCONN, Tennessee, Stanford and UNC. Now they say: UCONN, Tennessee, Stanford, UNC and Rutgers. She has taken yet another program and put them at the top of their game. Congratulations to C. Vivian Stringer on this special day. I am proud to say she is the head coach of my team, Rutgers University.
C. Vivian Stringer's impact reaches beyond the court
Stringer’s Long, Rewarding Trip to Hall of Fame
Naismith Induction "Earth Shattering” for C. Vivian Stringer
Chaney and Stringer
Stringer nervous before Hall of Fame inductions
When I was 11 years old my Mom took me to my first live women's basketball game. The school: Rutgers University. A nice 45 minute drive from my home in Mercer County, NJ. My Mom and I didn't know much about the program but we went anyway. Man, were we thrilled. There was a duo there known as Wicks and Sticks (Sue Wicks and Regina Howard). I was amazed at how quickly they moved and how effortlessly they played the game. That was when I was hooked on Rutgers basketball. I watched the team do well in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
At the same time, more and more games were being shown on TV. At that time, the women's NCAA Championship game was broadcast on CBS (I can still picture Ann Meyer's outfit as she broadcast the 1990 final between Stanford and Auburn). In the early 90s a coach and a team captured my attention. University of Iowa and C. Vivian Stringer. Perhaps I was a bit partial to Iowa because they had an excellent field hockey program (another sport I love). I just loved how Coach Stringer empowered her team to play well and how she approached and respected the game. I started to learn about Coach Stringer and I read about her accomplishments at Cheyney State (small school playing big time hoops) and her move to Iowa and what she had done there. Did you know that Coach Stringer's Iowa Hawkeye's team became the first team ever, in the history of women's basketball, to have an advance game sell out? Coach Stringer took the Iowa Hawkeyes to 10 NCAA tournaments, 9 straight from 1984-1993. Final Four berth in 1993 (her second one), not bad if you ask me.
In July 1995 Rutgers, my team, announced that this great coach would replace Theresa Grentz. Could it be true? That someone of her caliber would come to a program that was mediocre? Oh, the possibilities of a Final Four berth, Tournament Championships, All-Americans danced through my head. Needless to say, I was thrilled.
I made sure that my Mom and I were there for her first game against Penn State on November 25, 1995 (I still have the program). It was a thriller with RU beating then unflappable Rene Portland's Penn State team by 2 points. I clearly remember the last few seconds of the game as RU had fouls to give before PSU would shoot free throws so Stringer would foul them as soon as the ball would be thrown into play. It worked flawlessly. I was more thrilled with the strategy and the hope that RU would become the "Jewel of the East".
Sure enough, RU made the final four in 2000 (and the National title game in 2007). Coach Stringer became the first coach in NCAA history to take 3 different teams to the Final Four. From there the top High School players started knocked on the big red doors on the Banks. Cappie Pondexter, Matee Ajavon, Kia Vaughn, April Sykes and Monique Oliver (and many others that have walked through the door). In February 2008, Coach Stringer won her 800th game and she ranks #3 all time.
Now they are a team that is talked about as possible NCAA Champions! Coach Stringer took an average to above-average team and made them one of the best, a force to be reckoned with. People used to say: UCONN, Tennessee, Stanford and UNC. Now they say: UCONN, Tennessee, Stanford, UNC and Rutgers. She has taken yet another program and put them at the top of their game. Congratulations to C. Vivian Stringer on this special day. I am proud to say she is the head coach of my team, Rutgers University.
C. Vivian Stringer's impact reaches beyond the court
Stringer’s Long, Rewarding Trip to Hall of Fame
Naismith Induction "Earth Shattering” for C. Vivian Stringer
Chaney and Stringer
Stringer nervous before Hall of Fame inductions
Thursday, September 10, 2009
There can only be 1
It should be no surprise to anyone which team is considered #1 in the "nearly-a-decade" list (my comparison to Stanford Basketball Examiner writer Jake Curtis' top 10 teams). If you are surprised, did you live under a rock for most of the decade?
Jake-UCONN
Jenn-UCONN
-4 National Titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2009)
-2 additional Final Fours (2001, 2008)
-Failed to make the NCAA Elite Eight only one time (2005)
-39 victories in both 2002, 2009 (I would argue with anyone that the 2002 UCONN team is the best ever to be put on a floor)
-Won fewer then 30 games only once in the 9 years
-2 Undefeated seasons (2002, 2009)
-Finished in the top 10 final standings all 9 years (#1 in 5 of those seasons)
-7 Regular Season Big East Champions (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009)
-6 Big East Tournament Championships (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
-7 (yes 7) 1st Team All Americans: Svetlana Abrosimova 2001, Swin Cash 2002, Sue Bird 2002, Diana Taurasi 2002-2004, Tina Charles 2009, Renee Montgomery 2008, 2009, Maya Moore 2008, 2009.
-3 Wade Trophy National Player of the Year Awards: Sue Bird, 2002; Diana Taurasi, 2003; Maya Moore, 2009
Enough said....
WNBA
Minnesota Lynx picked up a very important win over the Detroit Shock last night. If the Shock had won they would've clinched a playoff spot but now they have to wait another game. The Lynx scored 9 straight points to pull out the 3 point victory. The win puts the Lynx tied with San Antonio Silver Stars for 4th place in the West. San Antonio holds the tie-breaker head to head and they both have 2 games remaining.
I think it's time, with the talent so diversified in the WNBA, that if teams tie for a playoff position they play 1 game to determine the standings. None of this recreational league head to head stuff. A good example would be the Sparks. Say it was between the Sparks and a team they played twice early on in the season. The Sparks were without Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie for a good portion of the beginning of the season. Now they are on fire. Is it fair and right to not have them in the playoffs when they are playing better ball then a lot of teams just because they didn't win their head-to-head? Go to a 1 game playoff, let the ladies lay it on the floor, let the PLAYERS decide who gets into the playoffs not a statistician.
Games Tonight:
New York Liberty @ Detroit Shock (7:30 pm, NBA TV)
Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky (8:00 pm)
San Antonio Silver Stars @ Sacramento Monarchs (10:00 pm)
Phoenix Mercury @ Seattle Storm (10:00 pm)
Big games for Detroit and Chicago. If Detroit wins, they clinch a playoff spot. Liberty are playing pretty well now, if Katie Smith is out again for Detroit (back) then look for the Liberty to delay the Shock their playoff berth.
Chicago is 11-4 @ home and as we've seen, the Fever just are not playing well on the road. Look for the Sky to win and gain sole possession of that 4th place playoff spot.
Jake-UCONN
Jenn-UCONN
-4 National Titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2009)
-2 additional Final Fours (2001, 2008)
-Failed to make the NCAA Elite Eight only one time (2005)
-39 victories in both 2002, 2009 (I would argue with anyone that the 2002 UCONN team is the best ever to be put on a floor)
-Won fewer then 30 games only once in the 9 years
-2 Undefeated seasons (2002, 2009)
-Finished in the top 10 final standings all 9 years (#1 in 5 of those seasons)
-7 Regular Season Big East Champions (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009)
-6 Big East Tournament Championships (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009)
-7 (yes 7) 1st Team All Americans: Svetlana Abrosimova 2001, Swin Cash 2002, Sue Bird 2002, Diana Taurasi 2002-2004, Tina Charles 2009, Renee Montgomery 2008, 2009, Maya Moore 2008, 2009.
-3 Wade Trophy National Player of the Year Awards: Sue Bird, 2002; Diana Taurasi, 2003; Maya Moore, 2009
Enough said....
WNBA
Minnesota Lynx picked up a very important win over the Detroit Shock last night. If the Shock had won they would've clinched a playoff spot but now they have to wait another game. The Lynx scored 9 straight points to pull out the 3 point victory. The win puts the Lynx tied with San Antonio Silver Stars for 4th place in the West. San Antonio holds the tie-breaker head to head and they both have 2 games remaining.
I think it's time, with the talent so diversified in the WNBA, that if teams tie for a playoff position they play 1 game to determine the standings. None of this recreational league head to head stuff. A good example would be the Sparks. Say it was between the Sparks and a team they played twice early on in the season. The Sparks were without Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie for a good portion of the beginning of the season. Now they are on fire. Is it fair and right to not have them in the playoffs when they are playing better ball then a lot of teams just because they didn't win their head-to-head? Go to a 1 game playoff, let the ladies lay it on the floor, let the PLAYERS decide who gets into the playoffs not a statistician.
Games Tonight:
New York Liberty @ Detroit Shock (7:30 pm, NBA TV)
Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky (8:00 pm)
San Antonio Silver Stars @ Sacramento Monarchs (10:00 pm)
Phoenix Mercury @ Seattle Storm (10:00 pm)
Big games for Detroit and Chicago. If Detroit wins, they clinch a playoff spot. Liberty are playing pretty well now, if Katie Smith is out again for Detroit (back) then look for the Liberty to delay the Shock their playoff berth.
Chicago is 11-4 @ home and as we've seen, the Fever just are not playing well on the road. Look for the Sky to win and gain sole possession of that 4th place playoff spot.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Rutgers Announces 2009-2010 Schedule
Rutgers has another demanding schedule this season. Stanford, Georgia, USC, Texas, Florida, Tennessee...oh yes, and the rest of the Big East schedule. Look for RU to be just fine this season, even though I have a feeling the talk will be "Without Prince who will lead them." Oh, you just wait and see.
You can see the entire schedule here.
Coach Stringer goes into the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend. Long overdue if you ask me. Just what she did at Cheyney State and Iowa deserved the honor but I'm proud to say she's going into the Hall as the coach of Rutgers. Nice article on her on the women's basketball site.
You can see the entire schedule here.
Coach Stringer goes into the Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend. Long overdue if you ask me. Just what she did at Cheyney State and Iowa deserved the honor but I'm proud to say she's going into the Hall as the coach of Rutgers. Nice article on her on the women's basketball site.
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