The Observer, March 31, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22
Women's basketball shines at Cleveland regional final
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Until this past weekend, I don't think I had ever watched a significant amount of women's major college basketball. Outside of watching the Case Lady Spartans, I hadn't watched much women's basketball at all.
That's why I was in unfamiliar surroundings when I volunteered to help out the media relations staff of Cleveland State University and the Mid-American Conference at last weekend's Cleveland Regional basketball tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. I had also never been behind the scenes at the former Gund Arena, so it is safe to say that I was a deer in the headlights early Saturday morning.
I soon learned the ropes, though, and volunteering quickly became an enjoyable experience. My first task was to hand a microphone to reporters as they asked players and coaches from Rutgers and Tennessee questions during the first press conference. What's amazing about these press conferences is that, since all the television cameras show are the athletes at the dais and the NCAA backdrop behind them, most people assume press conferences are held in nice meeting rooms of the arena. This might be in true in some places, but at the Q, the conference was held in a sectioned off area of the basement, with rather ugly pipes and white bricks adorning the walls and ceiling.
The first two games were played on Sunday. Rutgers and Tennessee played each other in the first game. Tennessee is arguably the premier women's basketball program in the country, led by legendary coach Pat Summit. Summit had her team, or at least two of its members, Candace Parker and Shanna Zollman, ready to play. The two players combined for 58 points to lead the Lady Vols to a 76-69 over Rutgers.
North Carolina won the second game in a thriller over Purdue, 70-68. The Tar Heels were led by mighty-mite point guard Ivory Latta. Her Purdue counterpart, Sharika Webb, tried to frustrate the 5' 6" Latta with intimidating, physical play. Latta, whose expression is usually joyful and exuberant, grew serious and determined in the second half. She was not going to be denied a victory, and she made the game-winning basket with three seconds left to advance her team to Tuesday's game.
Monday was much less chaotic at the Q, as there were no games and everyone, including me, had more of an idea where he or she needed to be. This was perhaps the most enjoyable day for me, as it was my job to escort the players from their respective locker rooms to the interview rooms for press conferences. The highlight was catching Summit and Zollman right before they entered the press conference to pour their drinks into NCAA cups due to the NCAA's tight branding restrictions. Obviously, this was not a job of utmost importance, but it's not everyday that you get to stand next to an All-American point guard and the most famous coach in women's college basketball.
Tuesday, going into the regional championship game, I thought Tennessee would easily defeat North Carolina. With the way Parker and Zollman played on Sunday, I didn't think the Tar Heels had a chance. However, early in the game, it was clear that North Carolina came ready to play. The Tar Heels' defensive pressure, led by the quickness of Latta, was suffocating. Zollman did not have enough time to get her shots, and Parker quickly grew frustrated by North Carolina's tough interior defense and missed shots close to the basket. Tennessee, though, managed to cut the lead to six to with just under four minutes to play and appeared to be taking the game's momentum away from North Carolina. Then, with the shot clock winding down, Latta pulled up for a long three-pointer. She calmly sank it, and the shot all but broke the back of Tennessee.
I have to say that the weekend gave me a new appreciation of women's college basketball. Off the court, the players and coaches seemed amicable and friendly. I wondered what Summit would be like during interviews and around the locker room. Despite her commanding presence, she did not seem the slightest bit arrogant or intimidating.
On the court, I was very impressed with the quality of play. Perhaps the fact that Tennessee and North Carolina are two of the top programs in the country had something to do with it. Regardless, the games were fast paced and I must say the women's shot selection was better than the men's. In other words, there were feweer ridiculous ridiculous, ill-advised three-pointers taken.
There are still many naysayers regarding women's basketball who won't watch because they feel the game is too slow and of lesser quality compared to the men's game. I must admit that for a long time that I was one of those people too. However, last weekend got me hooked. The women's game is a quality brand of basketball on its own, regardless of comparisons to the men's game. The popularity and publicity of the game will undoubtedly continue to rise, as the talent is already there.
