The podcast is up and here’s some of what you’ll hear:
Starting Five: Beth tosses five questions at Debbie
1) The Pink Zone – WBCA/Kay Yow Cancer Fund – Feb 12-21st Already starting!
Debbie: Miraculous run. I’m going to celebrate with all the people who’ve survived and all the efforts we’re making.
2) Tina Charles, UConn: Add Maya Moore = two best, statistically, ever at UConn. Leading scorer, rebound and UConn’s 71? On the same night in Big East tournament.?
Debbie: And she didn’t really start playing the way Geno wanted until mid-last season. Incredible feat.
3) Head scratchers: Georgia, Ohio State, Baylor and Texas A&M – losses.
Debbie: Conference play exposes you. Mississippi State’s Alexis Rack incredible performance v. Georgia. It’s fixable. Ohio State – on Lavender and Prahalis.
4) WNBA: All – Star game July 10th vs USA National Team
Debbie: Love it!
Hint: Doesn’t USA Basketball need an official podcast team?
5) Crossing paths with Ukari Figgs, Purdue assistant coach and thinking about Stephanie White: Poll Question: Favorite backcourt of all time?
Shootaround Special Guest: Hope4Girls Africa, led by former Fordham Rams Mobolaji Akiode.
B/D: How did you start?
MA: Wanted to use sports to give back to my country. Started when I played for Nigerian national team in 2004. Just saw so few opportunities at the collegiate and high school level. Now happening.
B/D: Biggest challenge?
MA: As an NGO – funding. And getting people to believe in Nigeria.
B/D: We know coaches rally – what do you need?
MA: Biggest issues is equipment. Please donate! Come visit and train, look at talent, maybe even recruit. Help our coaches.
B/D: Describe what the experience is like for girls?
MA: Helping them experience all the intangibles of sports. Recently, took 65 girls from across the country — they rarely meet each other. Had seminars on life skills, team building, education, healthy choices. Great experiences for them and participating coaches.
B/D: Joanne Boyle, Cal took her team last year, said it was life changing. How do you get involved?
MA: First step, talk to me – share ideas, how you want to help. My goal is to learn, too. Program in August — ’cause issue is when are coaches available. We just want to make this program as effective as possible.
Website: Hope 4 Girls Nigeria.
Jostens “Diamonds in the Rough:” The Kentucky Wildcats (but for how long unnoticed?)
Shootaround guests Part Deux: Radio Whiparound: Bob Joyce, UConn/WTIC.com and Mickey Dearstone from Tennessee/AM 990.
B/D: Most impressive about UConn?
BJ: The way they go about their business. There mission is to get better ever day and reach San Antonio.
B/D: What’s it like inside program?
BJ: Quiet confidence. Not arrogant. Blue collar, hard hat lunch pail kinda team. High tempo practices. Well prepared.
B/D: Is it fair to say TN’s back?
MD: Seemed so, then hit a funk three weeks ago. Intensity more from the coaching staff than players. Big gap between TN and UConn. UConn doesn’t want to just beat you — they want to kill you. That’s the mindset that Pat trying to get – not sure they’ll get that attitude.
B/D: On floor tactic changes? Or effort issues?
MD: Have gotten to know each other. Have to learn to take care of basketball. Shekinna Stricklen is playing out of position. Others have stepped up – Glory and Kelley. This team feeds off other players – one has good, other has good game. One has bad, other has bad game. Need guard consistency
B/D: Give us a Big East snap shot.
BJ: Looking forward to Notre Dame/UConn in Southbend. Then Georgetown, West Virginia and maybe Syracuse. St. John’s making some noise. Maybe 6 NCAA?
B/D: Surprised you about UConn?
BJ: Doty, Dixon, Hayes guard improvement post Montgomery exit. Improvement of Kalana Greene.
B/D: Does Knoxville feel a destiny/Final Four UConn v TN?
MD: Not yet. Gotten the turnover bug. You give the middle NCAA seeds the opportunities, they’re going to beat you (see Ball State last year). Have the capability. Must play better. ’cause you can’t give UConn second-chance shots or you’re going to get drilled.
B/D: Other teams you’d like UConn play.
BJ: Baylor’s coming up next season. This year – any team that has toughness and willing to smack UConn in the mouth. Remember, defense is the base of this team. And with rules/points of emphasis, they do a really good job of moving their feet on defense.
Werner Ladder “Rising above the Rest:” Big 12 Match ups – who will rise? Texas v Oklahoma and Nebraska v. Oklahoma State.
Debbie: Great crowd at Oklahoma and they’ve got the best guard. Nebraska – they are really rolling. If you can contain Riley – keep her to 20….
Notes from the Cocktail Napkin:
1) Best start in Big 12 history – Nebraska.
2) Texas big win over Baylor, West Virginia off to a great start, Georgetown ended 16 game winning streak (nice win for Marquette). Rutgers – really, really struggling.
Didja know that Tasha Pointer and CViv share same shoe size?
3) New intern: Shayla Scott from Pittsburgh.
4) Debbie has the french toast casserole recipe. If anyone wants it, ask Debbie. And if it’s your birthday, tell Debbie so she’ll play her trumpet for you.
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 