Final Thoughts on Women's B-ball for 2009

Some final comments on women's basketball before I pull the plug on sports until football starts in the fall (sorry, just not much of a baseball fan):

• I've seen UConn live twice this year, and I have to say that this year's UConn team is the best women's team of all time, AND in another league entirely when it comes to the women's game. They are long, athletic, very quick, focused, and extremely well-coached. There is not one women's team anywhere this year that could beat them. If you make a mistake, they immediately take advantage of it and score. I told some people that I thought the UConn women could win this year's SEC East -- on the men's side. :-)
• Geno is still a jerk. In both games I saw, the outcome was decided long before the end of the game, yet he kept his starters in until almost the end just to run up the score. Jeff Walz emptied his bench long before Geno did. Even the UConn couple sitting next to me agreed -- the little old lady said in her senior-adult voice, "Yes, Geno's not a very nice man."
• Without taking too much space, I'd like to point out what an amazing story U of L's run to the NC game was. As Angel pointed out, there are no McDonald's All-Americans on this team ... none. And, our starting center went down with a knee injury before the season, and didn't return. And, a starting guard quit the team in February to concentrate on academics in order to get into med school.
  
  Two seniors, no juniors, three sophomores, six freshmen. That's the team that made the NC game. Hard work, defense, great game plans, and senior leadership. Which leads me to ...

• This year's Lady Vols team. I honestly think the major problem was the lack of upper-classmen who could mother the new players and challenge the entire team to work harder and do things the right way. If Angie, and maybe Vicki, can become those leaders as juniors, and everyone else can grasp how much harder they have to work and how much better they have to be in order to be at the UConn level, then perhaps next year will be better. If not, then it won't, plain and simple. Time to "change the players or change the players."
  
  Angel may have been the star on the Louisville team, but Candyce was the anchor. (Their nicknames were "Crazy Aunt" and "Mom," respectively.) When they got behind Oklahoma in the semis, and started yelling at each other in the huddle, it wasn't coach Walz that got them focused -- it was Candyce, the senior, standing up in the huddle and telling everyone to shut up and be a team. If the Lady Vols can find that leadership beginning now -- and not from Pat, either -- then they should be better.

Finally, have to say Congratulations to Angel for getting the #1 draft pick slot in the WNBA draft, and to Candyce for being drafted in the third round (#39). Quite a year when both our seniors are drafted! It's been a great season, and a great run. Party on 4th Street Live next Wednesday!