The podcast is up and here’s some of what you’ll hear:
Starting Five: Beth tosses five questions at Debbie
1) The scoring snafu at Texas v. Texas A&M game.
Debbie: Correctable error — error at scorer’s table over team fouls made officials think it was a 1-and-1. Wasn’t. When they fixed it, took two points off board for Texas, and because of where the stoppage happened, TAMU kept ball. TAMU’s scorer error — rule needs to be adjusted.
Some of Power League coaches need to step up and decide how game should be called.
Beth: Officials would like to be on Rules Committee too.
2) Your Big 12 “Under the radar team.”
Debbie: Cory Montgomery, Nebraska
Kelsey Bolte, Iowa State
Ashleigh Fontenette, Texas
Jordan Murphree, Texas Tech
Abi Olajuwon, Oklahoma
Sidney Carter, Texas A&M
3) Top 10 scoring teams in country – no surprise UConn, Stanford, Nebraska. How about Gonzaga, Middle State Tennessee.
Debbie: Teams that can spread it out, go off the bounce, three-point shooting and score in paint, make you guard side to side — all those teams you mentioned I love on offensive end, I look for that to be the difference NCAA tournament, because the game shrinks. Scoring will be the difference — officials will crack down on defense.
4) Looking at the #1s and #2s, how far have Irish fallen. UConn, Stanford, Nebraska… who’s on your top line?
Debbie: Never had Notre Dame. I’ve had TN. ND might not be the second best team in Big East. They have some limitations. No quality win on resume for a while. Good solid, team.
West Virginia is one of my 2-seed: Sarah Miles tremendous, Liz Repella and freshman Bussie, giving them inside presence. They defend. Coach Carey does a great job. Add Duke, Ohio State, and maybe Xavier (no quality win in a long time). Maybe Big 12 team?
5) What about multi-bid leagues outside of power conferences. A-10? C-USA, Mountain West, America East?
Debbie: The first three have been multi bid leagues. America East? Depends on Big 10 – might give up a couple of bids. Ditto with Pac-10.
Jostens “Diamonds in the Rough:” Michigan State Brittney Thomas hit game tying bucket, clutch OT free throws in their upset of Ohio State. Don’t sleep on Michigan State!
Shootaround guests: Virginia coach Debbie Ryan and Virginia Tech coach Beth Dunkenberger.
B/D: Beth and Debbie want their own show — maybe they should audition for Beth and Debbie? Maybe you want to ask us a question, Coach D?
BD: Sure. Do you have any coaching experience?
B/D: I’ve coached my son’s summer league team – won’t tell you my record, but I have gotten a T. Not my fault. Beth – undefeated in summer league teams. Debbie – you mean the Nike high school games that I ref?
DR: When did you meet? Why work together?
B/D: I think it was “streaking the lawn” at Virginia? Or game at Penn State. Question for coach Ryan – do you keep track of all your campers?
DR: Not all of them, but we one on the phone with us – Beth Dunkenberger, a star former camper.
BD: Question for coach Ryan – your favorite camp story?
DR: You probably
BD: UVA camp we advertised Madonna was coming. She had to bow out — but we had a great substitute: MaDebbie.
DR: They dressed me up.
BD: Probably my best recruiting talk was getting Debbie Ryan to put on my mini-skirt and my bikini top. Camp went crazy.
DR: It was pretty good act — I sang “Like a Virgin.”
B/D: If only we had YouTube.
DR: Thank goodness we didn’t! I don’t think we even had computers.
B/D: Debbie – Monica Wright said to me, “You played, right? I’m going to YouTube you.” YouTube me? There’s no such thing!
BD: When you played was it six-on-six and did you wear skirts.
B/D: Beth – I just missed out. It was short shorts, tube socks with big stripes. Debbie – I just call it the “before pony tail” time. Coach Ryan – who is the best non-stat starter in NC State history?
DR: That would be you.
B/D: Didn’t Coach Yow tell you that?
DR: Don’t recall, but I know you’ve told me a number of times. (laughs)
B/D: What could you two compete in?
BD: I think we could lip sync.
B/D: Talk about Monica Wright.
DR: Monnie’s a player that only comes around once in a life time. She’s like a Dawn Staley, Wendy Palmer. What I love about Monica is that she’s the total package – not just a basketball player, a leader, tremendous person. If you were to paint a picture of a baskeball player, you’d paint Monica Wright.
BD: I have nothing but respect for her. And she’s gotten better. You don’t always see that with talent like that – some kids quit working. She just keeps getting better and batter.
Werner Ladder “Rising above the Rest:” Elena Della Donne & Dawn Evans. In the Delaware v. James Madison, EDD scored 54 pts and Evans 38.
Notes from the Cocktail Napkin:
1) Stanford Cardinal getting it done. Congrats to Jayne Appel: 2000 pts, 1000 rebs.
2) 10th consecutive Pac-10 championship for Cardinal, 6th for Ohio State. Xavier and Nebraska close to clinching first.
3) WBCA’s “So You Want to be a Coach” kicking off
4) Hopefully Debbie and Beth will stick to coaching, not want our jobs because we can’t do theirs.
Comments? Questions: Shootaround@wbca.org
Also, if you’d like to be part of the Shootaround “So You Want to be a Sports Journalist” intern program, drop them a line: Shootaround@ wbca.org
Don’t forget: The podcast is up.
