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Full Court Top 25: Week of February 8, 2010
By Christopher Thompson
Correspondent
Only two Division I teams remain unbeaten—Connecticut and Nebraska. Another seven teams are undefeated in conference play. Of those only three are in the Top 25, No. 2 Stanford, No. 7 Xavier and No. 23 Gonzaga. The other unbeatens are Hartford (America East), Princeton (Ivy), North Carolina A&T (MEAC), and Fresno State (WAC). These four teams are a combined 1-11 against major conference teams. Only Hartford was able to beat a major conference team, a 62-50 win over Louisville. Princeton has lost only two games all season, to UCLA and Rutgers. Fresno State has lost five games, four to major conference teams and the other to No. 25 TCU. Hartford may be able to get an at-large bid if it loses in its conference tournament but the others will have to win their conferences and get an automatic bid if they hope for a date at the Dance.
Credit: Original Artwork by Lee Michaelson/Full Court Press©
Jacki Gemelos Makes a Long-Delayed Collegiate Debut
By Clay Kallam
Correspondent
A hint on this move. A glimpse on that pass. A flash of the brilliance that made Jacki Gemelos the most prized recruit of the Class of 2006.
Most of the high school Class of 2006 is now the Class of 2010. Most of the basketball-playing Class of 2006 can look back on a career, whether satisfying or unsatisfying. Jayne Appel, who grew up not that far from Gemelos in Northern California, and played with her in the summer and against her in some epic prep matchups, is thinking about a second trip to the Final Four, and whether she’ll be the second overall pick in the WNBA draft.
But Jacki Gemelos was better than Appel. There’s not a doubt about that, as Gemelos was the 2006 Gatorade Player of the Year, and ticketed for the University of Connecticut – until she changed her mind in the summer before her senior year, and seriously ticked off one Geno Auriemma. He was furious that she shifted her allegiance to Mark Trakh and USC, which shows just how good she was. After all, would Geno go public about getting spurned by anything less than the best recruit in all the land?
That was then, however. Thursday, in a mostly empty Haas Pavilion, Gemelos returned to the court for the first time since, well, 2006. It was March 1 of that year when Gemelos tore her ACL in a high school game. Since then, she’s had three more ACL tears.
SEC 2009-2010 Midseason Report: A Conference on the Rebound?
By Bob Corwin
Correspondent
Like the economy, the Southeastern Conference is showing signs of coming back to a loftier status after the very down 2008-2009 season when it posted its worst showing (6-7) in the history of its NCAA Tournament participation since the event began in 1982. However, also, like the economy, the SEC has a long way to go to reach the preeminent stance that it once held. More of the league’s teams are in “up” rather than “down” mode this year and those on the ascendancy include Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Color Auburn, Florida and Vanderbilt as clearly down from last year regardless of current conference position with the others on about the same level as in 2008-2009.
Can any team from this conference get to the Final Four? Obviously, Tennessee has the best shot, but they have as much chance as maybe eight or ten other teams around the country. Put them in the “three to whatever” group! Georgia and LSU would be greater long shots.
Let’s take a look at how the league as a whole, and the individual teams, are performing as they head into the final month of regular season play.
Lawson to Connecticut, Penicheiro to Los Angeles in WNBA Off-Season Free Agent Moves
By Lee Michaelson
Publisher
Several WNBA teams saw roster changes this week as clubs raced to sign the league’s top free agents. Kara Lawson, who many considered to be one of, if not the most, valuable players dispersed from the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs, signed a three-year deal Tuesday with the Connecticut Sun, where she will join former UConn stars Renee Montgomery, also recently agreed to come home to Connecticut, along with the number one pick in this year’s WNBA draft in a deal that sent Lindsay Whalen and the number two draft pick to the Minnesota Lynx. The Sun also re-signed Lithuanian star Anete Jekabsone-Zogota.
On Wednesday, the Sacramento Press reported that Lawson’s former Monarchs’ teammate Ticha Penicheiro, a 12-year veteran of the league, has agreed to and will soon sign a contract with the Los Angeles Sparks, once Sacramento’s chief rival. Though that transaction has not yet been confirmed on the WNBA’s web site, the Press account quoted the native of Portugal as stating she was “looking forward” to playing with the Sparks’ front line of Candace Parker, Delisha Milton-Jones and Tina Thompson and that the right thumb that had been surgically repaired last November was nearing full recovery. Though Penicheiro may have lost a step or two over the years, she brings a wealth of experience and good judgment to the point guard position that has been the Achilles heel for the Sparks for the last two seasons.
Yesterday, the WNBA reported that the Atlanta Dream had signed Belarussian star Yelena Leuchanka. The 6-5 center, who played collegiately for West Virginia after a stint in juior college to perfect her English, saw limited minutes off the bench for the Charlotte Sting in 2006 and the Washington Mystics in 2007, before being picked up by the Dream in the expansion draft in the team’s inaugural year (2008). However, Leuchanka, a four-time member of the Belarus National Team, sat out 2008 to prepare for the Beijing Olympics, and since then, the Dream has reportedly had a difficult time getting pen to paper. This year, they have finally sealed the deal, although Leuchanka’s additional to a front line that includes Sancho Lyttle and Erika De Souza (both WNBA All Stars last season) may be more depth than the current 13-member roster can afford.
Two other teams added stability to their line-ups this week, as the Chicago Sky re-signed free agent Dominique Canty and the San Antonio Silver Stars re-signed free agent and reserve center Ruth Riley.
Lowe’s Senior Class Award Finalists Announced
By Lee Michaelson
Publisher
The 10 national finalist for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior Class Awards were announced today. The finalists, selected by a media committee from the preseason list of 30 candidates announced in October, includes: Jayne Appel (Stanford); Amy Beggin (New Mexico); Joy Cheek (Duke); Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee State); Tyra Grant (Penn State); Kelsey Griffin (Nebraska); Allison Hightower (LSU); Ashley Houts (Georgia); Ashley Sweat (Kansas State); and Bianca Thomas (Ole Miss).
The award, which recognizes excellence both on and off the court, focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages them to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have demonstrated noteworthy achievements in four areas of excellence—classroom, character, community and competition.
Fan balloting to determine the ultimate winner begins today and concludes March 22. Fans can cast ballots on the award’s official web site, www.seniorCLASSaward.com or by texting WBBALL to 74567 to vote for their favorite finalist. Fan votes will be combined with votes from coaches and the media to determine the recipient of the award.
Past recipients include Sue Bird (Connecticut, 2002), LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State, 2003), Alana Beard (Duke, 2004), Kendra Wecker (Kansas State, 2005), Seimone Augustus (LSU, 2006), Alison Bales (Duke, 2007), Candice Wiggins (Stanford, (2008) and Courtney Paris (Oklahoma, 2009).
“It’s an honor to be considered a finalist for such a great award because it also takes into account what you do in the community and in school and not just on the court,” said finalist Alison Hightower, an Academic All-American and LSU’s leading scorer who has regularly volunteered in East Baton Rouge Parish schools throughout her collegiate career, encouraging students to work hard and stay in school. “We’ve always been proud of what we do in the community as Lady Tigers. To have the fans involved in the voting is great because they are the ones who see us not only out on the court but in school visits and community service projects.”
The Big Ten As I See It: Weekend Upsets Show There Are No Truly Bad Teams in the League This Year
By Sharon Crowson
Correspondent
If obscure records were kept, the Big Ten likely set one on Sunday. The bottom five teams in the standings all played teams currently in the top six. All five second division teams upset their first division counterparts.
The league coaches have said all season that there is great parity in the conference this year. That can be a code for overall mediocrity but, in this case, it doesn’t appear to be so. Ohio State may be the only team in the league capable of competing with top teams nationally, but there are no truly bad teams in the Big Ten this season.
Tickets on Sale for Women’s Final Four
By Lee Michaelson
Publisher
Those who didn’t snag tickets to the 2010 NCAA Women’s Final Four in the annual lottery are in luck. Additional tickets have been released and are now on sale through Ticketmaster, the NCAA announced this week.
The 2010 NCAA Women’s Final Four will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on April 4 and 6. The game is nearly always a sell-out.
“With the Alamodome serving as the host site for the championship games, we have a unique opportunity to make more tickets available through this supplemental offer,” said Sue Donohoe, NCAA Vice President for Division 1 Women’s Basketball. “It gives us the flexibility for seating beyond our original seating capacity.”
Individual all-session tickets, providing access to the two semifinal games at 6 and 8:30 p.m. on April 4 as well as the National Championship game on tipping off at 7:30 p.m. CST on April 6, are priced at $100 for upper sideline seating and $ 75 for upper end zone seats. They can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-NCAA-TIX.
The San Antonio Local Organizing committee also has suite packages available, including either 14 or 16 all-session suite tickets, game programs, parking, guest passes and invitations to the VIP Tip-Off event on Saturday, April 3. Packages are limited, and may be ordered online at www.sanantoniosports.org/womensff2010 or by contacting Elena Stout at 210-820-2127.
Both the NCAA and the WBCA (which holds its annual convention in association with the championship week) have a variety of workshops and other activities on tap in addition to the games themselves. The WBCA’s High School All-American game is one of the highlights of these related events.
For further information on Final Four activities, and on the preliminary and regional rounds on the path to the championship, visit www.ncaa.com/finalfour.
Texas Tech Loses Talley
By Lee Michaelson
Publisher
Kaylan Talley’s playing career has come to a close due to chronic knee problems, Texas Tech head women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry has announced Monday.
The Lady Raiders had high hopes for the sophomore center, a native of Waco, Texas, who arrived at Tech in the summer of 2007 after playing her freshman season at Clarendon College. However, due to a series of knee injuries, Talley has never been able to suit up. Prior to the start of the the 2007-08 season, Talley tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her right knee and sat out the year. Then prior to the 2008-09 season, the 6-5 center tore the ACL in her left knee causing her to miss that entire season as well. This season, Talley had knee surgery on the left knee again and while undergoing rehabilitation has not seen any playing time. Monday, Texas Tech announced that Talley would close the book on her basketball playing career.
“Kaylan was a big part of our plans on our front line the past three seasons,” said Curry. “She has done everything in her power along with our medical staff to get back to the court, but her body will just not allow her to do so. We support their decision and she will continue to be part of the team until she finishes her academic goals.”
Talley will continue her education at Texas Tech and remain part of the Lady Raider basketball program in a non-playing capacity.