The podcast is up! This is some of what you’ll hear.
Reflections on the Michigan State/Ohio State game – and a new joint: Harrison’s Roadhouse
Starting Five: Beth throws five questions at Debbie.
1) Top Point guards: Sam Prahalis, Ohio State: Difference maker
Debbie: Point guard that has the three w’s: Who to get it to, when to get it to them and where. She’s got a little stinker about her. Might this be Final Four year?
Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State – 43 on Baylor Bears
Debbie: Might be the first to lead the Big 12 in scoring three years running. 23pts game & leads lead in assist
Ashley Houts, Georgia
Debbie: Pound for pound, toughest pg.
Shekinna Stricklen, Tennessee
Debbie: Tallest, and has lost none of her rebounding
Courtney Vandersloot, Gonzaga, leading nation in assists
Top teams don’t count on one (UConn/ND)
Debbie: Geno and Muffet playing to the strengths of their team
2) Breaking down the Fighting Irish v Huskies
Deb: Devereaux Peters has to be a factor to try and limit Tina Charles. Extend soft pressure 3/4 court. I’m betting scoring v Connecticut much more difficult task than trying to defend their speed.
Beth: Familiarity and maybe first of possible four games?
3) Revisit the spin move/traveling points of emphasis. Jim Foster, Ohio State ready to write a book about it.
Debbie: He’s not happy. And a lot of coaches are calling. Officials are not necessarily happy. Double check on who’s on the rules committee.
4) All Time Starting Five: Virginia Cavaliers, Debbie Ryan
Monica Wright
Dawn Staley
Donna Holtz – all-time steals leader
Wendy Palmer
Heather Burge
5) Poll Question: Who’s going to be the Big 12 Player of the Year?
Shootaround Guests: Andy Landers, University of Georgia
B/D: What are you doing really well?
AL: Reasonably successful on defensive end, rebounding. Offensively, able to make plays when needed.
B/D: Talk about Jasmine James, four of eight years Rookie of the Week
AL: Terrific baskeball IQ. Understands the game and adjustments. Easy to coach. Plays hard. Came in as offensive player — great success — but developed into one of the best defensive freshmen we’ve had.
B/D: How has she helped take pressure off Ashley Houts?
AL: People have thrown everything at Ashley to try and take her out of the game. Jas can play the point and accepts the responsibility and willing to take some of the heat on Houts.
B/D: If you were measuring this team on amount of diet Mountain Dews you drink a day, where would this team sit on the M-D meter?
AL: This team has an even keel about it. Have had one borderline bad pratice.
B/D: Really? You’ve kept your patience?
AL: Interesting, considering the youth has pushed us to practice longer. Individuals, maybe, but it doesn’t spread.
B/D: Lot of people consider your success a surprise – do you?
AL: I do, too. 6 freshman – starting one and a sophomore, playing a walk on most every game, first of bench a frosh.
B/D: (Debbie) When we play two on two, between Teresa Edwards or Katrina McClain and you always pick T. I’d take McClain because I could outshoot Edwards
AL: But you can’t beat Edwards. Two of the great women’s basketball players of all-time.
B/D: How solid has Houts been?
AL: A lot made of freshman contributions, but this basketball team is riding on the shoulders of Houts, Porsha Phillips, and Angel Robinson. Houts is the key — she gets so much respect from the team. The example she sets.
Notes from the Cocktail Napkin
- Monica Wright, Virginia, all-timer scorer, passing Dawn Staley.
- Nine ranked teams lose? Miami Hurricanes upset Florida State which gets us a “Shootaround rewind”! – Check out the ACC preview show.
- Auburn upsets LSU – huge win away.
- Nikki Caldwell has UCLA in second place in PAC-10 – scare into Cardinal
- Biggest surprise? Not for me, but Nebraska on the national scene
- Best mid-major? Has Xavier solidified their spot?
- Can Griner get Baylor to Final Four? Not without injured Melissa Jones
- Can anybody beat UConn? No. Might challenge — Notre Dame, Texas A&M. Duke – good defense. Enough offense? Maybe Tennessee – who looks like back to the old ways
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 