A women's basketball mystery

[Phil]

There are hours left before the next game, so I thought I'd share last night's dinner conversation, but rewritten as a mystery.
In the actual dinner conversation last evening. I outlined the circumstances, and asked other at the table to identify the women's basketball powers. The group did pretty will identifying most, but missed on the top teams.

I thought I would change the setup, giving you a summary of the results, and asking you to guess at the circumstances. It may be easy, but I thought it was mildly interesting to imagine that the situation may in fact, actually be true.

I was doing some charity work, and felt I was at the end of the earth. 21st century America seemed so far away. It was, almost literally, a different world.

One day, I mentioned my interest in women's basketball to a group of kids. "Tennessee", one of them yelled out, and startled, I responded. "yes, they are one of the powerhouses of women's basketball. Who else do you know?

"Notre Dame", "Irish" several voices responded at once. "Wow" I said, who else?

"Louisiana Tech" came the quick response.

"Rutgers", "Georgia", "Duke" followed rapidly

"Auburn", one of the exclaimed, and another child looked sheepish, like how did it take so long to mention Auburn. "Yeah, Auburn" she repeated, quietly, but with reverence and awe.

I asked, "What about Connecticut?"

"Conn-ect-i-cut" one of them responded quizzically, sounding it out like this was the first time they had ever used the word. Puzzled looks on all the faces, and they slowly shook their heads. "Nope, one declared, never heard of them"

So the puzzle is to determine the circumstances which made this conversation perfectly plausible, and factually accurate.

 

[msf22b]

The conversation took place in 1990.

 

[semper]

These are kids without access to media...and all live with their grandparents...

 

[VAUConnFan]

I might have agreed with MSF22B, if Notre Dame and Duke was not in this conversation. Teams like Stanford, Texas, and USC would have also had to be included in 1990. If it was the AIAW era, then Immaculata and Delta State are in the conversation. For me, then, there is no plausible answer other than to surmise that this person was dreaming about this conversation.

 

[Bestiarius]

I'd say this discussion occurred in 1986 or 1987. Before UConn became a powerhouse. If I remember correctly, all the teams mentioned did well at that time. La Tech was national champs.

 

[Phil]

Interesting guesses, but this conversation could take place today

 

[CaptnWes]

The didn't know Connecticut is UCONN

 

[Moose]

All those are programs have had, or have, head coaches that are women (although Georgia is a stretch). Uconn, I don't know who coached before Geno....

 

[Samanthabrown3]

All those are programs have had, or have, head coaches that are women (although Georgia is a stretch). Uconn, I don't know who coached before Geno....

It was a woman coach, too. Jean Balthasar.

 

[Ghz]

I might guess that these are schools that have all lost in the championship game. Their national championship shirts and hats would either have been destroyed or donated to places outside the United States. UConn has never lost in the championship game.

 

[CL82]

I might guess that these are schools that have all lost in the championship game. Their national championship shirts and hats would either have been destroyed or donated to places outside the United States. UConn has never lost in the championship game.

Not bad. I was going to go with the dinner was held in Tennessee, but I like your answer better.

 

[Phil]

I might guess that these are schools that have all lost in the championship game. Their national championship shirts and hats would either have been destroyed or donated to places outside the United States. UConn has never lost in the championship game.

You got it. They are printing up National Championship t shirts to sell at the end of the game now. They make a version for both UConn and Louisville. They don't destroy the "wrong" ones, they donate them to some charity ( I believe, I don't have firm details) who distrbutes them to needy kids in the middle of nowhere, my guess is central Africa.

So I'm imaging that the is some village where kids where shirts proclaiming National Championships that never happened.

As UConn has never lost (so far) in a Nationla Champ game, there are no shirts with Connecticut or UConn. Most of the others who lost on some year are also teams who have won, but Auburn is the big exception, having come in second three consectutive years, with no wins.

Let's hope the tradition continues, and a lot of kids get Louisville NC shirts, but not in NOLA.

 

[triaddukefan]

You got it. They are printing up National Championship t shirts to sell at the end of the game now. They make a version for both UConn and Louisville. They don't destroy the "wrong" ones, they donate them to some charity ( I believe, I don't have firm details) who distrbutes them to needy kids in the middle of nowhere, my guess is central Africa.

So I'm imaging that the is some village where kids where shirts proclaiming National Championships that never happened.

As UConn has never lost (so far) in a Nationla Champ game, there are no shirts with Connecticut or UConn. Most of the others who lost on some year are also teams who have won, but Auburn is the big exception, having come in second three consectutive years, with no wins.

Let's hope the tradition continues, and a lot of kids get Louisville NC shirts, but not in NOLA.

I'd love to get my hands on a Duke WCBB National Championship T-shirt. I would wear it out in public too... provided it was black or gray and a size XXL.

 

[Bestiarius]

Phil, that was a fantastic puzzler. A real forehead slapper.

 

[DobbsRover2]

Phil, that was a fantastic puzzler. A real forehead slapper.

Yes, tremendous. I guess the UConn men don't have any name recognition either then wherever the MCBB NC losers shirts are sent.