 by thelinsterVideo Blogs
More Video
Navigation |
TV Alert: NCAA Women's National ChampionshipThat rumbling you heard Sunday night was the sound of thousands of jaws hitting the floor as Stanford beat the University of Connecticut 82-73 in the Women's Final Four. (If you were in the vicinity of a UConn fan, you likely heard much more, but we can't print that kind of thing here.)
Unlike many playoff games in which the outcome can be blamed on poor officiating or injuries or just a bad night for the losing team, this game was a simple case of the better team winning. More precisely, the team with Candice Wiggins. Every time UConn stepped up its game, the ball went to Stanford's Wiggins — and she finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds. She certainly was not alone in outstanding play, but, as I said a few weeks ago, Wiggins is a wonder to behold.
That game was followed by two hours of alternate scowling and breath-holding as Tennessee and LSU went at it. The game was a defensive battle — and the lowest-scoring game in Final Four history at 47-46. It wasn't pretty, to say the least. I am a Lady Vols fan through and through, but even I was sad to see the look of disbelief from the LSU bench as Alexis Hornbuckle put the ball in the basket with less than a second left, giving Tennessee the one-point win.
Tonight (8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) is the National Championship that most of us expected to be the Tennessee vs. UConn game that we didn't get to see this season. And many of the experts predict that the surprise finalist, Stanford, will win. Two notable exceptions are scout.com publisher, Clay Kallam, and ESPN.com columnist Mechelle Voepel, who picked Tennessee. The game has been dubbed "Ace vs. Ice," thanks to the nicknames that stars Candace Parker and Candice Wiggins have for each other based on the spelling of their first names.
Parker, who won the Naismith Trophy this year, is dealing with a sore shoulder that puts her game as less than 100 percent. How healthy she is may determine the game's outcome. (And, yes, Stanford beat Tennessee earlier this season with a healthy Parker.) Check out Kallam's article for a player-by-player analysis. Personally, I'm sticking with the Lady Vols for the championship. But whatever happens, we can count on two hours of great basketball. What do you think? Who's going to cut down the net tonight? Submitted by on April 8, 2008 - 3:00pm. |
User loginActive TopicsRecent blog posts
Recent comments
|
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Lady Vols ...
All the way. Pat Summit is a sports goddess, and I put my money on her.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
It's always our self we find in the sea
100% Agreeance.
Any team coached by Pat Summit (let alone with Candace Parker) is a team to be reckoned with. Stanford may have the momentum, and Stanford may have the under-dog thing going for them, but you can't count UT out. That team is the definition of clutch.
My money is on the ladies in orange and white, all the way.
(btw--thelinster, thanks for the nice images!)
LegallyOut
Stanford
They beat Tennessee with a healthy Parker and they beat the best the best team, Connecticut, in the final four.
Tennessee might win, but unless Parker plays 100% they won't win. I would love to see them pull off the UConn three-peat. They still have another year to go, but they can do it.
I'm a Vols fan...
...and I picked them to win it all in my bracket, but Stanford's playing some inspired basketball right now and based on their play in the semifinals, I can certainly see them winning it all.
I gotta say, Geno Auriemma has always rubbed me the wrong way, so I wasn't that disappointed to see UConn lose in the semifinals (though I had them winning in my bracket and advancing to the finals).
The Tennessee-LSU game was pretty incredible--I'm torn as to whether it was the best defensive game I've ever seen or the worst offensive game I've ever seen.
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
let's go!
it's all about those vols.
this is my second favorite time of the year(first being wnba finals). it's like christmas.
WNBA Finals
I have Atlanta and Seattle in my finals. Atlanta hasn't even played a game yet, but the team looks incredible on paper.
I like the Draft more than the Final Four. I can't wait to see where Nicky Anosike goes.
WNBA Draft
Gotta go with the ladies from The Farm
I'm with Stanford!!!
what I want & what I think will happen...are 2 different things
I've been a Lady Vols fan for as long as I can remember, and while I'll be decked out in my Vols attire cheering for the orange, I have a sinking suspicion Stanford is going to take home the prize this year. Unless Tennessee as a whole (not to mention Candace Parker's shoulder!) have a big time turnaround, it just seems like Stanford has peaked at the exact right time in the season. Meanwhile, it seems like Tennessee has fallen into stand around and watch mode, especially on offense and the boards... their weak side help was totally missing in action the other night against LSU too.
Not sure I would call that Tennessee/LSU game anything short of an all around ugly win, but a win none-the-less. I thought the offense on both sides was horribly sloppy and while there were some great invidual defensive plays, the team defense was atrocious - especially Tennessee's. :/
But...never underestimate the power of coach Summit and the type of program she puts together year in and year out...if any team can turn things around it's a Pat Summit coached team!!!
If Stanford does win, I won't be bitter...you've got to give them credit for putting together an amazing year!
lady vols all the way!
they're going to take it home again this year! i was like yelling at the tv during the lsu game but i can't do the same tonight cause i have to work :(. all in all i think it will be a great game. and for those who say tennessee will lose cause they lost earlier in the season keep in mind that they lost to lsu as well... then beat them twice when in counted... with parker hurt.
Go Stanford!
Cardinal Wins
Parker's inspirational, but Stanford has heart and fantastic teamwork. Plus everything we have today in women's basketball can be traced back to 1996, when Tara VanDerveer coached the US women's team to the Olympic gold medal, which led to the founding of the ABL and WNBA. She's a great coach and she treats her players with respect, which can't always be said about Pat Summitt. So I'll be rooting for Stanford, all the way.
Yes Go Stanford
Routing for the underdog!
Seeing as I live a stone's throw away from Stanford Univ. I have to go with the underdog to come out on top. Watching Candice Wiggins lead her team on this crazy journey this season has been no less than amazing! There will definitely be tears in my household tonight - either of joy when they win, or sorrow if they loose.
Stanford
My girl is a Stanford alum and crazy Stanford fan. Even though I was in law school at UCONN during their heydey and usually root for them, I was actually rooting for Stanford to beat them the other night.
So, as much as I respect Pat Summit, I'm rooting for Stanford to go all the way.
I was, however, so bummed to see the UCLA men wash out in the semifinals.
ACE vs. ICE
GO PARKER
Go Lady Vols
Parker will bring home the victory
www.myspace.com/madonna3
:o(
!%@$@^#&*#I#@*@*&@^!&*@#(@)@)@)*@&!^%$%$@%!^$@!*
and a whole bunch more explicatives that I can not post here! UCONN fan all the way and I am totally pissed that they didn't make it to the finals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *hmph* But what can I say, Wiggins brought it that day.
LADY VOLS FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Standford you are going down!
shameless.
Me Too
Ain't nothing wrong with that...
Why is she with Shelden Williams anyway?!
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
Summit/Parker
I Bet Geno's Mad
The entire squad came to play. This is the most balanced scoring effort I've seen from the Lady Vols in a while; it's pretty amazing. Tennessee's just hitting on all cylinders.
They've been aided, of course, by Stanford's complete collapse. What the hell happened to them in the last 48 hours--this doesn't even look remotely like the team that beat UConn.
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
Candice Wiggins
Stanford definitely is a better team than the one that showed up tonight. But Candice Wiggins is a class act, isn't she?
CONGRATS VOLS!!!
Number 8!
Now that's what I'm talking about! Go Lady Vols! Can't wait to see those seniors play at the next level! And Coach Summitt proves once again why she is the best in the game.
Patient: There's like this longing ... this pull. I mean, does that make me, you know, like, some kind of...?
Maeby: Homosexual.
Tobias: Maeby, please. She's right, though, you probably are a homosexual.Boooooya!
When the chips are in, never vote against the Summit.
welp, the better team won
Turnovers are yummy pastries, right? Not gifts to the other team? The Lady Vols had the stamina to give hard defensive pressure, and that seemed to rattle the Stanford team. They kept it close, and I have to give props to Wiggins, who has been tremendous presence on the team in her 4 years at Stanford. But they did get outplayed today. Congrats to Tenn. Lady Vols on their championship! They definitely earned it.
*sneefle for Candice W. though*
ACE vs. ICE
I've been a Lady Vols fan
ACE vs. ICE
I hve to admit...the girl is good but she was a damn fool if she thought she would lead Stanford to a win this year....it just was NOT happenind under no chance! For the lLady Vols...it was all out starters(seniors) last game together...n we TOOK IT!
Stanford
I was so rooting for Stanford to win. Since they took out UCONN. Freaking Heartbreaker. It was pure torture watching that game. What, 20 turnovers in the first 29 minutes when they only had 1 turnover in the first half aganist UCONN. As I said before. Break my heart.
Scio me nihil scire
Heartbreaker
The loss would not have been so heartbreaking if Stanford had played their best and simply been outplayed. But they couldn't get their game together at all last night. Alas. Tennessee rattled them right from the start. What a depressing game.
Shannon Bobbitt was on Fire!!!
It was such a good game!! i really enjoyed it. I was definitely cheering for Candance and the lady Vols the whole time! haha
~Ceci
pure heart
I agree, that game was painful to watch. I was pulling for Stanford from day one of the tournament. Candice Wiggins is hands down the best player I have seen come along in a long time. huge bummer. much respect to Tennessee though. they played killer defense.
this is why i love women's ball...pure heart:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6vfmyHV4sFA