The podcast is up and here’s some of what you’ll hear:
Starting Five: Beth tosses five questions at Debbie
1) Us? Jinx?
Debbie: Georgia, Green Bay are on the show and lose. Nebraska the anti-jinx.
2) What are the impressive non-basketball things we’ve seen in our travels?
- Getting from East Lansing to Detroit to catch a flight in an hour.
- The crowd at Nebraska (13,303). (Check out Poll question about Nebraska – who’s the first to beat them: Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas A&M, Nobody, UConn)
- Beth: Shout out to Agnus Berenato (Pittsburgh) brought swag on the road to “bribe” announcers.
- Debbie: I’ve booted male officials out of dressing room so I could dress.
- Debbie: 23 plows in a row on the runway in Chicago
3) Early NCAA Tourney Talk: First & Second- round: Cal & Stanford both hosting/playing games on same day. Why? Also, half of hosts might miss the tournament.
Debbie: Pittsburgh, Louisville, Washington, Arizona State, Minnesota, Cal, Old Dominion. This is going to impact ticket sales.
4) The revolving door Final Four. Just when you have a bead, you get upsets in top 10.
Debbie: In my poll – Nebraska jumps to 3 from 7. Tourney in Kansas City would help them to the Final Four.
5) One year anniversary of passing of coach Yow. Raised 1.7 million.
Debbie: Celebrating what we’ve all done. In honor of Kay Yow, present:
NC State All-Time Starting Five
Genia Beasley
Linda Page – one of the best scorers no one ever saw (like Monica Wright)
Trina Trice
Chasity Melvin
Andrea Stinson
Non-Stat Starter List
Debbie Antonelli
Kristen Gillespie (assistant at Illinois Chicago – scouted win v Green Bay)
Jenny Palmateer
Monica Pope
Rachel Stockdale
Matt the Stat Guy: Youngstown State – the opposite of undefeated, so pull for the Penguins to get a win.
Shootaround guest: Mary Struckhoff, coordinator of NCAA women’s basketball officiating.
B/D: How do you feel season is progressing?
MS: We’re getting there. Move needle, increase consistency and make folks accountable.
B/D: Hot topic: Travel and spin
MS: Background: Each year, Rules Committee chooses several points of emphasis. Last couple of years traveling one of them. We have found via video study, spin move in particular, the tendency of players is to travel (not all are). Spin move:
1) Stops dribble, one foot down.
2) That becomes pivot foot.
3) She spins on the other one
4) Then puts the first (pivot) foot down again
5) Equals a travel.
Tried in trainings with officials and coaches to say, it’s a travel – not because the rule has changed, but because it’s a travel. We’re going to try and get our officials better at calling (video). I’ve seen players make adjustments. Similar to education we did years ago w/ hands on the dribble (hot stove touch).
Still not perfect – but better than have been. Making progress, but progress can be painful.
B/D: We’re concerned it will change once we get to the NCAA.
MS: Not our goal, and I hear that from coaches. Perception is we tell officials: “Everything you’ve done all season, forget that.” Opposite is true. We say, “Stick to what got you here.”
B/D: What about who’s on Rules Committee? More power leagues?
MS: It is D1, 2, 3 represented, so get variance. But, all their discussions center around the good of the game at every level. We all want to grow the game. But, give the Committee some kudos for often thankless work — they’re volunteers and take job seriously. And we’d love for some high profile coaches to sit.
B/D: Mowins on the Rules Committee?
MS: Member institution or conference.
B/D: How about we have a Shootaround with Beth and Debbie Rules Seminar and you host it.
MS: And I get to quiz you? Sure!
B/D: Bunch of broadcasters and you can educate us and we can educate.
B/D: We should warn her that the title of the seminar would be “Protecting the Offensive Player.”
MS: We talk a lot about protecting the shooter at clinics. Rules are all about balance between offense and defense. We want more offense in the game and that’s where a lot of the rule changes come from.
Werner Ladder “Rising above the Rest:” Alexis Grey-Lawson: 47pts. New Cal record.
Jostens “Diamond in the Rough:” Prairie View Lady Panthers: 22-game SWAC winning streak under coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke.
Notes from the Cocktail Napkin:
1) Sherri Coale, Oklahoma: win #300. Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse: Doing okay after collapsing on sidelines. Michael Cooper, USC, reprimanded for &$%#.
2) Triple-double: Danielle Adams, Texas A&M. Bianca Thomas, Mississippi, 42pts. Monica Wright, Virginia 39pts . Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Stanford 30pts.
3) Consider Baylor next year: Griner, Brooklyn Pope, Destiny Williams, Odyssey Sims, Melissa Jones. Quickness!
4) UConn’s at 58 straight. 71? In Big East tournament.
5) Congrats to Seimone Augustus. Jersey retired, waived waiting period.
Final Rules Thought: Coaches are surveyed about rules. Majority rules. If they want changes, it’s up to the coaches to get involved.
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.
A Companion Blog for the First National Women's Basketball Podcast 