Miami Herald: Wcbb Growing Beyond The Usual Suspects

[pap49cba]

"The days of Geno Auriemma’s UConn Huskies and Pat Summitt’s Vols rolling over the rest of the country are past. In fact, Tennessee hasn’t made the Finals Four since winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008."

LINK

 

[RS9999X]

Has Miami had anything of interest to say about WCBB since Octavia Blue?

A blast from the past...

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/14/s...basketball-miami-is-no-threat-to-huskies.html

 

[Icebear]

We'll see or maybe it is just wishful thinking.

 

[huskeynut]

Time will tell. However, many of us Boneyarders know the field is getting stronger.

 

[NCorBust]

Wow! UCONN and Tennessee are after thoughts! Yeah, Tennessee last won NCs in 2007 and 2008. That is a all of 3 years ago?! UCONN last won NCs in 2009 and 2010, not to mention 90 consecutive wins. That was a little over a year ago. Well, it is eaay to see why they just couple of teams in the mix, nothing special. It was so long ago. If Johnson and the frosh develop by January, Katy bar the door. I wonder what he will have to say when UCONN fields their 2012 team Dolson, Stewart, Johnson, Stokes, Tuck, Faris, Hartley, Banks, Jefferson, Lewis, Engeln, perhaps Doty and Buck. What will he say when they go undefeated for 2 years ... at least?

 

[sarals24]

Ha. I love how the writer uses "hasn't won since back to back titles in 2007 and 2008" as evidence of a program "slipping." I mean, I am not UT lover, but they made the Elite 8 last season. Notre Dame is perennially good, and while Texas A&M is more of a recent development, Baylor has also won a NC...so...I am not really sure what his point is.

Also, and totally OT but interesting, the Big XII has the most national champs, I think...Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and A&M. I don't think any other conference has four. Granted, Texas was back in '86 and Tech was in '93, but still.

 

[ThisJustIn]

Well, the writer DOES say this: This could be the year, though, that the Vols rise again

And, considering the expectations of TN fans (and the prognostications of many UConn fans) it's been tough since 2009.​

And yes, the field has gotten stronger -- but we'll see if it has staying power or just rotates names.​

 

[NCorBust]

Also, and totally OT but interesting, the Big XII has the most national champs, I think...Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and A&M. I don't think any other conference has four. Granted, Texas was back in '86 and Tech was in '93, but still.

Straight from the NCAA website:
YearChampionRecord
2011 Texas A&M (33-5)
2010 Connecticut (39-0)
2009 Connecticut (39-0)
2008 Tennessee (36-2)
2007 Tennessee (34-3)
2006 Maryland (34-4)
2005 Baylor (33-3)
2004 Connecticut (31-4)
2003 Connecticut (37-1)
2002 Connecticut (39-0)
2001 Notre Dame (34-2)
2000 Connecticut (36-1)
1999 Purdue (34-1)
1998 Tennessee (39-0)
1997 Tennessee (29-10)
1996 Tennessee (32-4)
1995 Connecticut (35-0)
1994 North Carolina (33-2)
1993 Texas Tech (31-3)
1992 Stanford (30-3)
1991 Tennessee (30-5)
1990 Stanford (32-1)
1989 Tennessee (35-2)
1988 Louisiana Tech (32-2)
1987 Tennessee (28-6)
1986 Texas (34-0)
1985 Old Dominion (31-3)
1984 Southern California (29-4)
1983 Southern California (31-2)
1982 Louisiana Tech (35-1)

 

[Ctpaul0825]

I miss Coach Fern, she cracked me up. Anyone remember Desma Thomas?

 

[alexrgct]

In 2006, UConn hadn't sniffed the Final Four in two years. Neither UConn or Tennessee had won it all since 2004. Tennessee hadn't won since 1998. Articles announcing the age of parity in WBB were written. We all know what happened next.

Bottom line, UConn and Tennessee are recruiting the greatest number of girls with the greatest chances to be game changers. No one has an opportunity to line up a starting five like MoJeff, Bria, KML, Stewart, and Stef in 2014 with girls the caliber of Tuck and whomever UConn pulls from 2013 COMING OFF THE BENCH. I guess in 2013, it will be time to rehash the "is UConn's dominance bad for WBB?" articles. You know, if your goal is to write myopic, reactive silliness.

 

[Kibitzer]

Seems to me that the writer is trying to rev up hopes/expectations for UM fans and followers of other wannabes but I think she is mining a very thin lode.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

In 2006, UConn hadn't sniffed the Final Four in two years. Neither UConn or Tennessee had won it all since 2004. Tennessee hadn't won since 1998. Articles announcing the age of parity in WBB were written. We all know what happened next.

This is a good point. It has happened before.

Three ACC teams made the Final Four in 2006, with Maryland winning the title (and, as a Duke graduate, it still hurts to type that, over five years later). Since that time, only one ACC team has made the Final Four, and that was North Carolina in 2007.

So after one year of dominance by the ACC, five Final Fours have been played, and only one had a participant from the conference.

I think the key is how we (whether fans, board posters, or media members) define the word "parity." Is parity solely having different teams win the national title? Or is it about having different teams being "in contention" to win the title, whether in the Final Four or Elite Eight?

 

[Wonkster]

We'll see or maybe it is just wishful thinking.

I hope to hell it's not wishful thinking.

I hope Tennessee spends a couple more years in the doldrums. I hope Duke continues to underperform. I'd like Maryland to turn in yet another disappointing season. I hope Baylor unaccountably finishes 15th. I'd like to see Kentucky take a nosedive. I hope Vanderbilt wins the SEC this year in a game decided by a foul shot after the clock has run out.

I'd like to see UCLA surprise despite the coaching turmoil. I'd like to see Louisville terrorize everybody in the Big East (except UConn, of course). I'd like to see Texas A&M only lose 2 games this year, both to UConn. I hope Miami ruins everybody's season in the ACC this year. I'd like to see Cincinnati finish in the top half of the Big East.

WCBB needs the excitement to center around more than just 2 teams.

 

[Tonyc]

Another point. Recruiting for the past few years has been spread around to more teams. After TN grabbed their big class approx 4 years ago TN was without to many scollies to offer top players, thus pretty much out of the recruiting circle for a couple of years allowing other teams to compete for the top kids services. That coupled with more great women players, I beleive these two facts are why so many other teams are more competitive then before. Yes UConn continues to make headlines, with their unbeleivable record setting teams and will continue to do so for the next 5 seasons.

 

[NCorBust]

Excluding UCONN, the other Big East teams picked up 12 Hoppgurls top 100 players. Is this typical? Is this a better than average year for the other Big East teams? Both Notre Dame and Rutgers landed top ten players.

 

[Kibitzer]

I just read your post, Wonkster, about your wishes for certain teams to trip, stumble or fall. Now, how about telling us how you really feel about these teams, er, programs.

 

[NCorBust]

The Big East teams not named UCONN for 2012 managed to recruit twelve HoopGurls top 100 players. Two being top ten players, one each Notre Dame and Rutgers. For 2011 non-UCONN Big East teams recruited 14 top 100 players and 4 top 12 players, two each Rutgers and Louisville.

 

[NCorBust]

I see the reason for Wonkster's avatar! You are greedy little piggy!

I hope to hell it's not wishful thinking.

I hope Tennessee spends a couple more years in the doldrums. I hope Duke continues to underperform. I'd like Maryland to turn in yet another disappointing season. I hope Baylor unaccountably finishes 15th. I'd like to see Kentucky take a nosedive. I hope Vanderbilt wins the SEC this year in a game decided by a foul shot after the clock has run out.

I'd like to see UCLA surprise despite the coaching turmoil. I'd like to see Louisville terrorize everybody in the Big East (except UConn, of course). I'd like to see Texas A&M only lose 2 games this year, both to UConn. I hope Miami ruins everybody's season in the ACC this year. I'd like to see Cincinnati finish in the top half of the Big East.

WCBB needs the excitement to center around more than just 2 teams.

 

[Wonkster]

I see the reason for Wonkster's avatar! You are a greedy little piggy!

<= Meet Wonkster II, the two-snouted Chinese piglet born recently. He roots for UConn! He also roots for truffles.

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