Big East Finals? Yes, please, thank you!
Meanwhile, there’s a lot of basketball being played, including BG going all “Simple Minds” on us as she drops 50 and a dunk. La-di-dah.
From Lynn Zinser at the Times: In Women’s Basketball, a Season of the Powerhouses
If there was ever a year when men’s and women’s college basketball were more different, well, it’s hard to remember it, and Monday summed it up in one nice little package. The women’s game is all about powerhouses, about Baylor’s Brittney Griner’s being one in and of herself, scoring 50 points and dunking on Kansas State; about Notre Dame elbowing Connecticut out of its usual spot atop the Big East hill; about UConn hyperventilating because it hasn’t won a national title in three whole years. Gasp.
Lots of experts chiming in on what’s going to happen over the next week and a half or so:
Mechelle on the SEC: Tennessee is No. 1 seed in SEC tourney
Tennessee’s seniors had their moment Thursday in Knoxville, Tenn., when the Lady Vols clinched the program’s 17th regular-season SEC title with a win over Texas A&M. Kentucky’s seniors had their moment Sunday, when they defeated Tennessee in front of a packed Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
So which seniors will be the ones celebrating next Sunday in Duluth, Ga., at the conclusion of the SEC tournament? Those from Tennessee, Kentucky, or another school?
Might that other school, asks Mechelle, be wearing purple? Red-hot LSU heads to SEC tourney
There are a great many things more strenuous for a soon-to-deliver pregnant woman than coaching at the SEC tournament. LSU’s Nikki Caldwell didn’t seem fazed by it last year as her team made it all the way to the championship game.
Still, a couple of us reporters — admittedly nonparents and so a bit squeamish about such things — kept nervously looking over at Caldwell back then in Nashville, Tenn., as if her little one might just suddenly appear on the sideline.
It turned out, though, that this baby knew exactly what she was doing. Justice Simone Fargas was born exactly a year ago — on March 6, 2012 — which was three weeks earlier than her projected arrival time.
Slightly hidden (thanks, ESPN.com) Cara Capuano notices It’s TOURNAMENT TIME for SEC Women’s Basketball!
“Anybody who loves basketball… loves this time of year.” That, the opening comment from Georgia head coach Andy Landers to the media who participated on Monday in a conference call leading up to the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Kelly at Full Court riffs on a similar theme: Race for SEC tournament title is wide open
One thing is clear heading into this year’s Southeastern Conference Tournament: There is no clear favorite. The conference has six teams ranked in the top 25 — No. 7 Kentucky, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 12 Georgia, No. 17 South Carolina, No. 13 Texas A&M and No. 22 LSU — and any one of these squads has a legitimate chance of winning the tourney.
Busy V also has: PSU out to end Big Ten tourney drought
Penn State ran into an emotional senior night last Thursday at Minnesota … and the Gophers handed the Big Ten leader just its second league loss.
Penn State was in a similar situation Sunday in the regular-season finale at Nebraska. It wasn’t just the seniors that the Huskers were bidding a fond farewell to (although they still have the Big Ten and NCAA tourneys to play, of course).
Sharon Crowson at Full Court asks, Can the Big Ten stick to the script in the conference tournament?
Usually, it’s hard to recap a season in less than a long article – but this year’s Big Ten conference play can be summed up in one word: Strange.
All right, maybe three words: Very, very strange.
Maggie Blogs: I bonded with my dad over love of game
At FullCourt, Rob offers up: ACC Tournament has contenders but Duke and Maryland on course for rematch
There are a lot of wild cards in this year’s ACC tournament. Sure, Duke dominated the regular season at 17-1 and finished three games ahead of the nearest competitor, but they did most of that with Chelsea Gray at the helm. Gray is now an unpaid but highly vociferous assistant coach, making it her personal mission to channel her energy and savvy into frosh Alexis Jones. Still, Duke has looked highly shaky at times, especially on the boards. Teams like UNC and Maryland feel like they have a real shot at knocking off Duke, while regular season underachievers Georgia Tech and NC State lurk as potential dark horse teams. For those latter two squads, winning the ACC tournament is the only way they’ll be playing in the NCAA tourney.
Michelle’s on the West Coast, and offers up this: Huskies hope for home turnaround – Washington holds Pac-12 tournament advantage at Seattle’s KeyArena
Washington coach Kevin McGuff insists his team didn’t circle these dates on the calendar, that they stayed focused on what was immediately in front of them, not way ahead on the horizon.
But that horizon is now what’s next, and Washington has a distinct opportunity to disrupt the balance of power in the Pac-12. Summoning the ability to take advantage of that opportunity is the trick.
The Pac-12 tournament is moving to Seattle’s KeyArena, home of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and one of women’s basketball’s most dedicated fan bases, this weekend. The Huskies are hoping to take advantage of the hometown crowd.
Sue Favor at Full Court adds: Cal or Stanford? Rivals expected to decide season series in Pac-12 finals
The Pac-12 Tournament is in a brand new city this year, and for the first time in many seasons, there could be a new champion too.
Seattle, with its large women’s basketball fan base, will play host to the 12-year-old tournament March 7-10, and though Stanford has won nine of the previous 11 titles, unlike years past, the Cardinal are not necessarily the favorite this time.
Since conference play began, Stanford and Cal have spent most of it ranked side by side in national polls, as numbers five and six or six and seven. They split the regular-season series, and both teams are surging lately, with loaded benches. In the end, each team ended Pac-12 play Saturday at 17-1, which gives Cal a share of the title for the first time in program history.
The Buffs are eager to begin their postseason
Graham ponders the mid-majors and says, Gonzaga remains as consistent as ever
There were 60 teams from the six major conferences that did not advance as far as Gonzaga in the 2012 NCAA tournament.
There were 62 teams from those same conferences that averaged fewer fans per game than the Bulldogs drew to the Kennel, as the 6,000-capacity McCarthey Athletic Center is affectionately (at least to home fans) known.
We might be a long way from a mid-major No. 1 in women’s college basketball, but there is at least equal distance between many, maybe most, supposedly major programs and the dynasties that rule the rest of the country.
As a freshman newly arrived from Germany a season ago, Gonzaga’s Sunny Greinacher had a rather visceral reaction to one of the best atmospheres in women’s college basketball.
Time for the WBH “WhadoIknow” Conference Champeen Prediction/Thoughts:
America East: Yes, it is hard to beat a team three times in a season, but I think Albany could have. Since BU ain’t invited, it’s the Danes.
Atlantic 10: Play it safe, say Dayton. But the 49’ers have intrigued me all season….
ACC: It feels like Duke has regained its equilibrium. I’m not sure it’s going to help them in the NCAA tournament, but it feels like they’re ready for the ACC. Unless UNC can kick it up a notch or three.
Atlantic Sun: What, you think I’m going to bet against the Eagles? Don’t make me laugh.
Big 12: Baylor is 18-0 in the conference. The #2 Iowa State team is 12-6. ’nuff said.
Big East: So, will three be the charm? Dunno – but Hartley is the key. Gold wins out in the BEast – but don’t know if it’ll happen in the NCAAs.
Big Sky:…is just a hot mess. Common sense would say Montana, but Northern Colorado has this edge about them.
Big South: This was “everybody else’s year,” and then Liberty said, “I don’t think so!.”
Big Ten: Machine Gun Maggie rules, especially if Co can keep the rest of her team present. (Congrats, coach Yori)
Big West: Pacific should win, but Hawai’i has been coming on strong.
Colonial: There are several bubble teams pulling like heck for Delaware. James Madison has proven to be a serious threat, but a healthy EDD is quite a force of basketball.
Conference USA: Will SMU hold up under the pressure of being in the spotlight, or with coach Stockton reclaim her Conference?
Horizon: I know it’s the Phoenix’s to lose, so I’m pullin’ for the Penguins.
Ivy: Yup, it’s the Tigers.
MAAC: “Down” year, my azzz… Marist rules.
Mid-American: Toledo should rule easily, but I’m guessing next year, Ball State will be exacting some revenge.
MEAC: Hampton and their band will be in the Tournament.
Missouri Valley: I’m going for the Blue Jays. It’s a birding thing.
Mountain West: Beth Burns has San Diego State at 13-1 in the conference, but my gut says Fresno.
North East: There are a lot of letters between Quinnipiac and the rest of the teams.]
Ohio Valley: You’d have just as good a chance making the correct guess using research as trying ernie-meenie-mynee-moe. Which is how I chose Tennessee Tech.
Pacific-12: Stanford has lost Kokenis for the tournament. That might just throw them off their stride enough for Cal to win the title.
Patriot League: There’s no doubt it’s going to be either Army or Navy. I refuse to pick, and think both should win.
SEC: Tennessee has had an amazing season, but injuries are the constant theme. That’s why I’m saying Kentucky.
Southern: The Mocs are back on top.
Southland: If they can survive the WHB curse, they (Sam Houston) can win the championship.
SWAC: I didn’t bet against her when she played for Houston, and I won’t bet against her when she’s coaching Texas Southern.
Summit: As in the MAC, the Jackrabbits should win, but next year they better keep an eye on IUPUI.
Sun Belt: There have been some surprising stumbles, but Middle Tennessee has the experience Western Kentucky lacks.
West Coast: The boys are #1 and the women will win the WCC
Western: Don’t yell at me, Jayda, but I’m going with Utah State.
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