1/13 – Coach Landers, Monica Wright, UConn v ND

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.

The Podcast of 12/9 – Archie Griffin and the Wade Trophy Voting

The podcast is up and this is some of what you’ll hear:

Starting Five: Beth throws Five Questions at Debbie:

1) What’s the most impressive thing about Archie Griffin and why is it important for former Wade trophy winners to get a vote like former Heisman trophy winners do?

2) To what do you attribute all the upsets that happen week in and week out in the women’s game? (Dayton, Wisconsin-Green Bay)

3) You’ve seen Brittney Griner up close and personal, what’s your take? (Podcast Heads Up: Check out Coach Mulkey on Brittney)

4) The All-Time Starting Five – Louisiana Tech:

Pam Kelly
Janice Lawrence
Kim Mulkey
Vickie Johnson
Angela Turner

5) The Pink Hats at Texas v. Tennessee moment. Credit to the young coaches: Kelly Harper, Beth Dunkenberger, Katie Meier, MaChelle Joseph put up the bucks so that Gail and Pat could wear the Pink Hats. Is this the start of a theme?

Poll Results – Looks like Debbie is going to Tulsa!

New Poll Question (vote): Who do you want to take a last-second shot?

Maya Moore, UConn
Danielle Robinson, Oklahoma
Allison Hightower, LSU
Dawn Evans, James Madison
Monica Wright, Virginia

Shootaround Guest: Archie Griffin, 2-time Heisman Trophy Winner

Beth: What’s the best part of being part of the Heisman festivities?

AG: Seeing the former winners. Meeting the new winner.

Debbie: Why do you think it’s important for winners to be part of the voting process?

AG: Integrity of the award. Participation and tradition.

Debbie: When you vote, how much to you weight character?

AG: A great deal. I want someone who’s a good representative of their University.

Debbie: What are the activities you’ll participate in while in NYC?

AG: College football Hall of Fame dinner, Wendy’s High School Heisman award, the announcement of the Collegiate Heisman award winner.

Debbie: Talk about Jantel Lavender – Ohio State’s Wade Trophy candidate

AG: Fabulous player. With Samatha Prahalis, they have a wonderful tandem.

Beth: Just seeeing all former winners at Heisman Show makes me wonder, what would the former Wade Trophy winners get out of participating?

AG: The reunions!

Debbie: Give us a Coach Woody Hayes word of wisdom

AG: The philosophy of “paying forward” – from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Compensation.” He wanted you to be a total person.

Notes from the Cocktail Napkin

• Front runner in Shootaround Shooter of the Year award: Dawn Evans, James Madison. 38pts in victory over Virginia – top 5 in country scoring and 3pointers per game.
• Pay attention to Top 5 scoring/rebounding Middle Tennsesse State’s Alysha Clark
• And what about Elena Delle Donne – 25pts a game for the Delaware Blue Hens
• But remember, Jasmine Thomas at Duke is putting up All American numbers
• And don’t sleep on the young Terps’ Diandra Tchatchouang (our favorite new name).
• What do you make of David Stern’s comments (A woman could play in the NBA)/LeBron rebuttal. Take it as flattery. This is the man who had the vision to develop the WNBA.
• North Carolina – 20 NCCA Soccer Championships in 28 years
• Penn State Volleyball – going for win #99 and #100. In a row. Looking to three-peat?
• World Cup Draw – US v England. Hmm…. England… Olympics. Hey! Beth and Debbie need a summer job w/USA Basketball! Hello Geno? Carol Callan?
• Speaking of Heisman: Beth Votes: Mark Ingram, Toby Gerhart,  Colt McCoy. Debbie votes: Colt McCoy

Next week: Coaches take a breather. Time to talk to some student athletes.

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.