7:41 p.m.
UConn is being thoroughly outplayed in the first half, trailing 34-28 with 3:37 to go. The Cards look much hungrier, but more importantly, they’re hitting open shots.
Maya Moore’s finally getting some touches, and she has six quick points to show for it. But Stanford seems to be knocking down a lot of tough, long shots. And they’re hustling, after a Moore layup, Jayne Appel beat every UConn player down the floor and got an easy lay-in of her own.
The Cardinal look mighty impressive on offense, and Wiggins hasn’t even made a whole bunch of impact yet, even though she has nine points.
Back with more.
7:32 p.m.
At the under-8:00 timeout, Stanford leads it 25-20.
In the very brief time since the last TV timeout, Candice Wiggins hit a long 3 for Stanford, Tina Charles hit a nifty post hook and Lorin Dixon had a high-arcing 7-footer for UConn.
Strange to see Maya Moore actually out of a game, but she subbed out for the last 2:00 or so. She’s back in as of now. Moore has not scored yet and has only taken one or two shots.
From the fan side of things, there’s gotta be some kind of war between UConn’s blue-and-white guy and Stanford’s ‘I’m gonna yell really loud while you take a free-throw guy.’ I know, you’re thinking, everyone has a guy that yells during free throws at basketball games. So I’ll tell you what - you sit in front of him.
Back with more.
7:25 p.m.
Stanford has come out brilliantly in the first half, and they lead the Huskies 22-16 with 9:54 to play. I had a whole thing up about how Stanford was getting contributions from everywhere on the court, and the Huskies were running very predictable sets resulting in long jump shots. Then the internet took it away from me. Oh well. I’m paying $16.50 for this?
I can still say that, though. All five players in the game for Stanford have scored already, and but for hitting the defensive glass a bunch in the last few minutes, the Huskies could be further behind.
Every break and bounce is going to the Cardinal, it seems, as the Huskies just can’t get quality open looks for their shooters. Instead they’ve had to rely on 12-footers from Tina Charles and Charde Houston, most of which haven’t fallen. Still, it’s just a six-point game and if UConn can get the ball in the post, it appears as though they have an advantage with Charles against Appel or Pedersen.
Ketia Swanier has two fouls, which is a huge blow for the Huskies’ shallow backcourt.
Back with more.
7:02 p.m.
Lots of seats out here. And except for a bunch in the middle section, a lot of filled seats too. The side I’m sitting up has a fair number of orange, purple and cardinal shirts. UConn fans, as usual, going with the traditional “wear whatever the hell you want” team colors.
If you don’t mind the lack of objectivity for just a moment, there’s something just unbelievably cool aobut how your school’s fight song in a Final Four. There’s no other feeling like it, unless of course you hear that fight song as they cut down the nets on Tuesday night.
With that out of the way, let me dutifully report that the ceiling leak is falling down onto press row, not onto the court. Shouldn’t be any problems, though you never know.
So sorry, Mechelle Voepel of ESPN, whose seat is covered in a puddle - you’ll just have to pack up and move somewhere else.
Also, props to the Stanford cheerleaders, who knew every word of Alien Ant Farm’s (or Michael Jackson’s, if you’re 30) “Smooth Criminal.” Impressive.
It is just about gametime and I’m pumped. I hope you are, wherever you are. I’ll be around at the media timeouts.
Starting lineups:
UConn (Greensboro No. 1 seed - 36-1, coach Geno Auriemma): PG Ketia Swanier (5-foot-7 senior, 6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg); SG Renee Montgomery (5-foot-7 junior, 14.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg); SF Maya Moore (6-foot-0 freshman, 17.8 ppg, 7.6 ppg); PF Kaili McLaren (6-foot-2 sophomore, 5.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg); C Brittany Hunter (6-foot-4 senior, 5.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Stanford (Spokane No. 2 seed - 34-3, coach Tara VanDerveer): PG Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (5-foot-10 sophomore, 5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg); SG J.J. Hones (5-foot-10 sophomore, 6.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg); SF Candice Wiggins (5-foot-11 senior, 20.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg); PF Kayla Pedersen (6-foot-4 freshman, 12.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg); C Jayne Appel (6-foot-4 sophomore, 12.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
I’m sorry everyone, that post title is just awful. Though I suppose, given that each team has an All-American in the fold, it’s somewhat appropriate.
Welcome and good evening to scenic, stormy and wet Tampa Bay, Florida. Yes, I know the “Bay” part refers to the actual body of water and not the town. But…
The roof is apparently leaking at the St. Pete Times Forum. I’m stuck back here with a bowl of popcorn and a bunch of things to sift through, so I’m not sure if it’s on the floor or not. Somewhere, Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene’s knees are collectively shuddering.
The NCAA is apparently saying it won’t delay the game, but I’m sure we’ll get a release on it in the next half-hour or so.
Dangerous playing surfaces aside, it is quite something to be backstage at a Final Four. We are just about an hour away from tipoff for UConn and Stanford and there is a buzz among the media, from the dining room to the tunnel outside.
By the way, if you’ve never been to Tampa, come. It’s like what I imagine San Diego would be, except with humidity and daily thunderstorms. The city has been an excellent host. My top three things about Final Four weekend thus far?
1) Watching Yankees games on Devil Rays TV. Hey, if the women’s Final Four game notes begin with two straight comparisons to the men’s tournament, then the actual games don’t have to be #1 for me. Anyway, it’s odd watching Derek Jeter advance the runner to 3rd with one out without hearing the Yankee announcers anoint him the greatest living ballplayer.
2) The weather. Eighty degrees and sunny (at least most of yesterday, and probably tomorrow) cannot be beat. Sure, it’s been awful all day, what with the massive thunderstorms, but we have work to do anyway.
3) The setting. The arena just has that feel that something big is happening. I can point to the spot where Trajan Langdon slipped in March 1999. The lower seats all have white cushions on them. The arena is bigger than any other women’s venue I’ve ever seen. And how do you not get pumped up for 21,000 screaming fans, no matter what the sport?
Anyway, stay with us, as the liveblog will be up and running a few minutes before 7, and we’ll take you through the game with my observations, plus any other news that occurs in the postgame conferences.
Strap yourself to the couch, people. Two teams go home, two will play for the biggest prize in the game Tuesday night.
Back with lineups (no surprises if the preliminary lineups are true; you could probably guess them right now if you’ve been reading any coverage) in about 45.
Welcome to the wonderfully air-conditioned media room at the St. Pete Times Forum. Yep, it’s Final Four Weekend here in Tampa, Fla., and there is truly some excitement in the air. And heat. Can’t forget the heat.
I won’t bore you with the details of the massively inconvenient Hyatt Regency, but things are just peachy (orange-y?) on this 80-degree, 90-percent-humidity Saturday in southern Florida.
There is quite a bit of excitement for women’s basketball around here. There were nearly as many fans for today’s open practices as there were for the games in Greensboro. That’s not entirely an exaggeration, either.
The city appears to have done an excellent job in promoting the Women’s Final Four. You can’t look anywhere in our particular hotel without seeing the ubiquitous orange/palm-tree logo. The fan festival outside the St. Pete Times was really quite exciting, as players signed autographs and various foodstuffs were being grilled. I’m very impressed with how Tampa is going all out, unlike in, say, Greensboro or Bridgeport.
Also, apropos of nothing, I believe that the peel of the orange (in the on-court logo) is where A.J. Price tore his ACL two weeks ago. Just saying.
—————————————————————–
Huge update today, as it’s Media Day at the SPTF, and all four teams have made their respective statements to an astounding amount of national and local press. Just about anyone who has ever talked about women’s basketball on ESPN (or any other national platform) is here, as are the various great newspaper scribes from around the country.
Miscellaneous notes from early Saturday:
–Candice Wiggins of Stanford won the Wade Trophy this morning, and thus is recognized as the “top player in Division I” women’s college basketball - and thus validating our pregame primer listing Wiggins as the best Candace (Candice) in the tournament.
Wiggins will be the primary threat for the Cardinal in tomorrow’s national semifinal with UConn; she’s scored 40 points twice in the NCAA tournament, including the Elite Eight win over Maryland.
–Speaking of Candaces, that girl from Tennessee won the AP Player of the Year award today. Final voting:
| Candace Parker, Tennessee;40 |
| Maya Moore, Connecticut;5 |
| Sylvia Fowles, LSU;2 |
| Candice Wiggins, Stanford;2 |
| Crystal Langhorne, Maryland;1 |
It’s Parker’s second straight award, the fifth by a Tennessee player. Her victory also makes her the third to win multiple AP PotYs (Seimone Augustus, LSU in 05 and 06 and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee in 98 and 99) since the award was first handed out in 1995.
Of course, both Candaces, along with Maya Moore, LSU’s Sylvia Fowles and Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, were named to the AP All-American team earlier this week.
–Geno Auriemma won the AP Coach of the Year award. Here’s how that voting looked:
| Geno Auriemma, Connecticut | 13 |
| Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina | 11 |
| Elaine Elliott, Utah | 6 |
| Deb Patterson, Kansas State | 6 |
| Van Chancellor, LSU | 3 |
| Tara VanDerveer, Stanford | 3 |
| Pat Summitt, Tennessee | 2 |
| C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers | 2 |
| Keitha Adams, UTEP | 2 |
| Lisa Bluder, Iowa | 1 |
| Wendy Larry, Old Dominion | 1 |
The AP has handed out 14 CotY awards including this year’s. Auriemma has now won five. No other coach, including Pat Summit, has won even two.
–UConn fans will be heartened to know that Mel Thomas and Kalana Greene were doing pull-ups in their respective lockers. Both look in tremendous condition, though obviously their knees aren’t physically able.
Everybody in the locker room - the seniors especially - looked thrilled and happy, as this is obviously a new experience for all the players. Most of the players grew up watching the Final Four, and they seem to be looking forward to the rest of the country watching them.
–Most of the Tennessee questions addressed Candace Parker and her shoulder injury. Both Parker and Summitt spoke at length about the time-consuming rehab, but Parker will be ready to play Sunday night. What’s disconcerting for Lady Vols fans is that Parker is obviously still in pain; she could not say with certainty that her shoulder would be fine, just that she was ‘confident’. Her answers seemed to indicate that it still bothered her.
Also, if I have some free time this weekend, I simply have to let you all in on the Ballad of Pat Summit and Her Feisty Raccoon. The story of the Tennessee coach valiantly struggling against the King of the Jungle (as I understand raccoons are nicknamed) is just too much.
–LSU coach Van Chancellor is looking forward to the Tennessee-UConn final. Well, not seriously, anyway. He knows he’s got arguably the toughest matchup on the court with Sylvia Fowles, and the funniest Southern wit of any coach I’ve come across.
–Stanford’s Wiggins is quite the bubbly personality. She is overjoyed just being here, as she was immediately after the Elite Eight game (”Oh my God, I’m sorry, America!”). Wiggins is someone that truly gets it, and I’m sure she’ll be a media favorite when she moves on to the WNBA. We folks tend to like outspoken, intelligent speakers who can offer real insight.
And finally, after the jump for your perusal, the full press conference text for UConn, transcribed to you by reporter’s best friend ASAPSports. You really have to love any organization whose job it is to make my job easier (and allows me to go one-on-one with the players).
This quote in particular I think sums up Maya Moore perfectly. Of course, make sure to check out the rest of the press conference for comments on just about everything Final Four-related:
Geno Auriemma on Maya Moore
“Maya Moore came to Connecticut because I got to know one person during the recruiting process, and that was Maya Moore. And that’s all I ever wanted to know and that’s all I ever wanted to show her. All I ever wanted to let her know is what Connecticut had to offer her and what her four years at Connecticut would reward her with.
And I told her that nothing else was ever going to matter. It doesn’t. It won’t, and it never will.”
By the way, ASAP apparently cut out the veiled shot at Tennessee (”Maya Moore came to Connecticut simply because she’s much smarter than the average recruit. She didn’t fall for the tricks; I didn’t recruit her mother, I didn’t recruit her boyfriend.”]
So check out the press conference. But that should do it for most of today’s festivities. Perhaps we’ll get into the WBCA High School All-American game (featuring UConn commits Elena DelleDonne and Tiffany Hayes), and if so perhaps a liveblog will ensue.
Otherwise, we’ll be enjoying the sights, sounds, random thunderstorms and palm trees of Florida for the rest of the evening. The DC blog will be back sometime well before Sunday’s 7 p.m. tipoff, and of course will be liveblogging throughout the UConn-Stanford game.
See you later from Tampa, where I have a feeling “Rocky Top” is going to get really, REALLY obnoxious before this weekend is over.
Well, that was quite an emotional scene, both on the court and off.
I’m back in my hotel room, feeling a little sick and exceedingly tired. But the Huskies are finally back in the Final Four, at the expense of rival Rutgers. Standing in the locker room this year was, of course, more cheerful than the dank, quiet locker room in Fresno. But it was also much more reserved than I expected. No champagne - not that most of the players are over 21 - no outward partying, just a lot of joy.
And relief. Can’t forget relief. It’s amazing how relieved everyone, from senior Mel Thomas to first-timer Lorin Dixon, looked.
Now the Huskies have a date with destiny and the Stanford Cardinal Sunday night in Tampa.
Wait … did I say destiny? Nah, just a great basketball team living up to their potential. That’s all you can ask, really, as an observer. Anything from here on out is gravy. The Huskies can finally, for the first time since 2004, say they’re better than sweet, better than elite.
Phew. I’m exhausted. Not as exhausted as I will be when our flight takes off at 6 a.m. (and lands in Windsor Locks at 10 a.m.). But exhausted enough.
It’s time to close up shop on the blog for a couple days, barring any important developments. We’ll be back late Friday night in Tampa, Fla. - God willing - to bring you so much coverage, you won’t even believe how much coverage we’re going to have.
Oh, and before I go - and after the jump: courtesy of DC photographer Ryan Sayers (whose other photos can be viewed at www.quietflightsphotography.com), a few assorted photos of the celebration, including an emotional shot of Mel Thomas embracing Geno Auriemma.
Enjoy this one, Husky fans. Good night from Greensboro.
10:58 p.m.
It is all over. UConn returns to the Final Four, 66-56 over Rutgers. The Huskies are the champions of the Greensboro Regional and advance to their eighth Final Four since 1995. They will play Stanford in Sunday night’s national semifinals in Tampa.
By the way, I think it’s on record on the blog that I predicted a 10-point UConn win. Damn, I’m good.
This flight home just got a lot easier. Back with more after the celebrations, net-cutting and press conferences.
10:54 p.m.
Epiphany Prince has fouled out with 37 seconds left, with UConn leading 58-51 and almost assured of a trip to the Final Four. This is a stunning comeback, and you really have to admire the way both teams have fought in this game.
Matee Ajavon knocks down a long 3-pointer to bring it within 60-54. Rutgers is a fightin’ bunch and UConn will need every point it can muster. Two FTs and Heather Zurich’s layup make it 62-56 with 18 seconds left. One more FT should do it.
Montgomery hits it, and it’s 63-56. And now the clock is ticking until UConn’s first trip to the Final Four since 2004. You’ve got to feel fantastic for the four seniors right now.
10:48 p.m.
Hey, I’m an idiot. Maya Moore just bagged the biggest shot of her young career, and maybe the biggest UConn shot since Barbara Turner’s game-winning 3 against Georgia in ‘06. A 3-pointer that put UConn ahead 52-49. It’s now 54-51 with 1:43 and Ketia Swanier forced a Rutgers turnover. UConn ball, The pendulum has swung. Stay right here.
10:42 p.m.
UConn briefly took the lead, but right now it’s Rutgers with the momentum. We’re tied at 49-49 with 3:37 to play. UConn’s had a string of bad possessions (again) since Kaili McLaren’s layup put them ahead for the first time. Epiphany Prince responded with a 3-pointer with 5:17 left.
Rutgers forced an awful shot clock violation on UConn’s last possession, and the Scarlet Knights will have a chance to take the lead in crunch time. What a wild game this has been.
Speaking of wild, think Maya Moore’s nervous? Yeah, she has 4 points due to Rutgers’ stifiling defense, but she just dribbled away a chance at a gimme layup about a minute ago. Just the type of mental mistake that a freshman would make, but that you wouldn’t expect from Maya Moore. It would be an awful shame if UConn’s tournament came to an end because Moore picked game #37 to play like a freshman.
10:32 p.m.
Rutgers 46, UConn 44 with 7:49 to play.
The Huskies just got the benefit of what looked to be a pretty bad call, the ball going off (what I thought was) Renee Montgomery’s foot. Instead it’ll be UConn ball out of the timeout.
The Huskies are settling for jump shots, not boxing out Essence Carson (who is having a monster second half on the boards) and playing extremely impatient ball, looking to be the hero instead of working it for the best shot. This is exactly how Rutgers wants to play.
Still, to play this badly and only be down two? Geno’s gotta be thanking his lucky stars for that gift.
10:23 p.m.
Rutgers 41, UConn 36 with 11:22 to play.
As this game goes along, the more it reminds me of the 2006 Rutgers-UConn game at Piscataway. The Huskies are going through a massive scoring drought (one in each half), RU’s defensive pressure is tremendous, and easy shots are hard to come by. Right now UConn is getting beaten up in every facet of the game, and they didn’t score for more than 6:30. And despite that, Rutgers is wasting just as many second and third chances to drive a dagger through the Huskies’ hearts.
This game is a total toss-up. Who will hit the first big shot? For Auriemma’s sake, UConn better hope it has one last run in it, or they’ll relive the 2007 Big East title game nightmare all over again.
10:15 p.m.
In a game where every possession matters, the Scarlet Knights are dominating possession of the ball. They’ve gotten several second-chances, crucial for a team that doesn’t normally shoot the ball well. RU is crashing the boards at an alarming frequency and are outhustling the UConn players regularly.
Still, Montgomery and Swanier have combined for all seven of UConn’s points. It’s 37-34 Rutgers with 15:52 left. The Huskies should be wary, though. If it’s at all close in the last seven minutes, you know Stringer will throw every last ounce of energy her players at Rutgers in the form of the ‘55′ press. The longer UConn waits to take the lead, the more danger they’ll be in.
9:51 p.m.
The atmosphere is absolutely electric here as UConn slowly chips into Rutgers’ lead. Trailing by as many as 14, UConn has climbed within five (32-27) at halftime, after Kaili McLaren’s beautiful spinning post layup with 5 seconds to play.
UConn fans have got to be thrilled with that result. Rutgers threw everything they had at UConn for the first 15 minutes. Then the Huskies stepped up the defensive pressure, forced a couple of careless passes, and finally got out in transition.
The Huskies are back, at least for now. They’ll get the ball to open the second half, and they are going to need to be efficient, grab the lead and never look back. Getting the lead might be the most important thing UConn can do. It may force Stringer to overplay her hand, get desperate, and allow Moore to get untracked.
On the other hand, if the Huskies still can’t manage to figure out the awesome Rutgers press, Renee Montgomery is going to have to knock down some shots from the perimeter (or take it to the rim). Oh yeah, and find some way to get Moore the ball. UConn will not win this game if Moore gets two second-half points.
Here’s some stats to look at:
FG%: UConn 44.4 (12-for-27), Rutgers 50.0 (13-for-26)
FGs: Renee Montgomery/Ketia Swanier: 2-for-13; rest of team: 10-for-14
Maya Moore: 2 pts, 3 rebs, 3 FGs, 2 ast, 2 stl
3-point%: UConn 10.0 (1-for-10), Rutgers 37.5 (3-for-8)
Either way, this game has been loads of fun (despite the earlier histrionics) and it should come down to the wire. What more can you ask from the NCAA tournament? You’ve gotta love it. Stay right here, people. You don’t want to miss this.
9:38 p.m.
Things have stabilized a little bit, which is great for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights lead 29-17 with 3:17 to play in the first.
The really remarkable thing of this output - well, two things really - is how well RU is defending Maya Moore and how well Essence Carson is playing.
If Carson could consistently hit shots like she has tonight, she’d be the best player in America. She’s already an A+ defender, and combining that with 12 first-half points (per game, let’s say) would put her in the elites with the Parkers, Wigginses, etc. For tonight, she’s the best player on the court.
Moore has proven ineffective in using screens to get open. Rutgers will take an open 3 by ice cold Ketia Swanier and Renee Montgomery right now, gladly, as long as Moore stays away from the ball. Moore has 2 points, on a breakaway layup following a steal.
9:28 p.m.
Rutgers 25, UConn 11 with 7:33 to play. This is an unbelievably bad job by every UConn player and coach so far. Not that there’s much Auriemma can do. He’s got his seven players and not much bench to work with. There’s nothing for UConn on the perimeter, and Moore has nothing to work with, a credit to Rutgers’ defense.
‘Choke’ is a rough word to use, especially with so much time remaining. But the thought is there. Eleven points in 13 minutes is inexcusable, even against Rutgers. It’s Murphy’s Law here in Greensboro, as this becomes the Daily Campus Alarmist blog.
All credit, of course, goes to Rutgers. They’re forcing the tempo, getting open looks and not allowing UConn to get off in transition after made shots by pressing for 94 feet. It’s a brilliant strategy and if the Scarlet Knights’ stamina holds up, they can win this one going away.
9:20 p.m.
Very early, but it is absolutely danger time for UConn. Essence Carson knocks down her second triple of the game to give the Scarlet Knights an 18-8 lead, 11:24 left.
This is almost eerily similar to last year’s game against LSU in Fresno. The Huskies are getting nothing - less than nothing - from their guards, a little bit from their small forward and about break-even contributions from their posts.
I can’t emphasize how badly UConn is playing at this point. They are absolutely thrown against the wall by Rutgers’ full court press, which is just merciless. Stringer obviously had a surprise prepared for this game. Montgomery and Swanier look very much like their former selves in old seasons.
It’s not panic time yet, but the Huskies are playing right into Rutgers’ hands. They’re more athletic, better shooters, and it’ll eventually even out (or at least it should). But the Huskies can’t afford to fall behind much more if they want to have a chance in the second half.
The ghost of Sylvia Fowles and 73-50 are in the air in Greensboro at this moment.
9:13 p.m.
Bad news for UConn - Essence Carson is absolutely lighting it up for the Scarlet Knights. Carson has seven points in the first five minutes. Carson and Ajavon are the X-factors of this game, I think. If they can outscore UConn’s backcourt of Montgomery, Swanier and Moore, they will be in a great position to win it.
Rutgers leads 11-6 at the 15:03 mark.
UConn’s offense has been mostly impatient - Swanier in particular, who looks a little frazzled by Rutgers’ full-court press - and Rutgers has worked for shots (on most possessions). It helps to have Carson score, but right now it’s Kaili McLaren with four and Brittany Hunter with two. It looks like RU is going with Brittany Ray on Maya Moore, and she’s doing a fair job denying the freshman the ball so far.
Tina Charles and Charde Houston are in, and we’ll see if they can provide some rebounding and offense.
9:05 p.m.
We are courtside in front of about as loud a crowd as one could be if it were described as “sparse”. Greensboro Coliseum is the site, of course, and UConn-Rutgers is the game.
A trip to the Final Four on the line, and tensions are high. Nobody wants to go home, nobody wants their season to end. But someone’s will. Just like Texas A&M, which had too many careless possessions in losing to Tennessee.
The time for talking is over, the time for action is begun. It’s not as serious as C. Vivian Stringer described yesterday (a serious, friendly and gentle “war”), but this is why you watch basketball on any level.
STARTING LINEUPS:
No. 1 UCONN (35-1): PG Ketia Swanier, SG Renee Montgomery, SF Maya Moore, PF Kaili McLaren, C Brittany Hunter
No. 2 Rutgers (27-6): PG Matee Ajavon, SG Epiphany Prince, SF Essence Carson, PF Brittany Ray, C Kia Vaughn
Small change with Ray in place of Heather Zurich.
Full disclosure: I HATE the idea of Rutgers. Hate. Hate. Hate. I’ll do my best to keep it objective. Good game, everybody. Back during the game.
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