Just realized how much I missed her analysis of women's basketball during the Olympics. Wish someone had added her to coverage as I would have loved to get her take on the team and the games. She has absolutely turned into my favorite analyst! I know she was disappointed not to make the team, but her comments after that came down were very positive. One of my favorite TN Vols. (Catch is catching her up!)
After watching Catch at the Olympics and listening to Kara, I've come to realize these are the real Lady Vols...and you kinda have to like 'em...
I have to agree that Lawson would've been a good addition. Hard to believe Peck got picked and Lawson didn't. No comparison, but maybe one agent is more connected or there are stipulations in their contracts. Perhaps Peck is freelance for ESPN and Lawson is staff? I thought Jeff Van Gundy, in his one appearance as an analyst, was the greatest in WBB history. I also liked it when ESPNU used Dan Hughes.
I like Lobo especially when she is doing color for a game. It plays to her strengths. In-studio, I think she is not as strong but is getting better. Lawson is excellent in-studio. (Has she done color or sideline for games before? If so I haven't seen those games but I would love to hear her live commentary.)
Have to disagree on Lawson. Too frequently she "states the obvious." She will start off her commentary by saying things like, "When you talk about Baylor, you have to talk about Brittany Griner. She does so much both offensively and defensively." What she does not provide, however, are the specific details. What type of offense does a program run? What defensive schemes does the program use? How do these vary based on the opponent? What are the individual skills/moves of a particular player? She frequently speaks in generalities without providing the specifics that her male counterparts (e.g., Jay Bilas) always provide. Now, perhaps that is not her role in the studio, but it should be (it is Jay Bilas' role, for example). Rebecca Lobo, when doing color commentary, will focus much more on Xs and Os. I find Lobo's analysis much more substantive. Kara is good at identifying who is good and who is effective, but Lobo excels at explaining why.
Interesting take on Lawson and Lobo. I will have to observe both more closely, but I think I agree with you.
I know what you mean about the 'sound bite' bit with Lawson, but when she is given more than 5 seconds to analyze I think she gets pretty deep. I like Lobo OK, but still prefer Lawson. And both of them are much better than most everyone else that ends up on the women's broadcasts.
Never thought about diff between Lawson and Lobo...... about Lawson's stating the obvious, though, I give her a bit of a pass.... on reasoning that many viewers are new to WCBB and need to be educated at elementary level.... perhaps
When Jay Bilas used to do WCBB he was phenomenol. I agree that Lobo and Lawson are very good, I'd prefer to see them doing more color commentary than sidelines or in studio. Ann Meyers actually isn't half bad. I wonder how some retired legends, including Leslie (whom I believe did Uconn-Tenn one year) and Swoopes would do.
Leslie has done broadcasting work intermittently since 2003, when she was the color commentator for the UConn-Tennessee game.
