04 January 2011
Quote of the Day: John Walters
Remember how Sue Bird made that game-winning shot in the 2001 Big East Championship? I talked about it here, and the video is here. Here's John Walters description of the play, from The Same River Twice:
UConn has the ball and a one-point lead. Notre Dame, for the first time tonight, switches to a man-to-man defense. Sue is guarded by [Nielle] Ivey, who swats at the ball right in front of the UConn bench. It falls away and out of bounds with 16.3 seconds left. Possession is given to Notre Dame.
"No!" says Sue, shocked, to referee Angie Lewis. "Oh, my God!"
"It went off of you," the referee replies.
The Irish run the same clear-out play [as the previous possession] to [Ruth] Riley on the low block. Riley again uses the spin move but misses. However, a foul is called on Schuey [Kelly Schumacher] with 5.1 seconds left.
Sue immediately walks to the far end of the court to speak with Geno. "What do you want to do?" she asks.
"Just get it and go," he says.
Riley misses the first shot. Sue jogs down to the free-throw lane and approaches Swin [Cash]. "Just give me the ball," she says.
Riley makes her second free throw, tying the score at 76. Perhaps the Irish expect UConn to call timeout and set up a play. Instead, Schuey grabs the ball and inbounds to Sue. As Sue takes the inbounds pass crossing the lane, Swin sets a pick on Ivey, who is chasing Sue. The screen springs Sue, the fastest player on either team. Ivey is helpless to catch her.
Siemon finally impedes Sue in the frontcourt, forcing her to go left just beyond the three-point arc. Sue takes one more dribble, then a herculean leap of a jump stop. She is ten feet from the basket when she launches a fall-away jumper just beyond the outstretched arms of the 6'5" Riley.
The buzzer sounds as Sue stumbles awkwardly toward the Husky bench, twisting as she keeps her eyes on the ball. It kisses the front of the rim with a dull clang, then climbs over and into the basket.
UConn has the ball and a one-point lead. Notre Dame, for the first time tonight, switches to a man-to-man defense. Sue is guarded by [Nielle] Ivey, who swats at the ball right in front of the UConn bench. It falls away and out of bounds with 16.3 seconds left. Possession is given to Notre Dame.
"No!" says Sue, shocked, to referee Angie Lewis. "Oh, my God!"
"It went off of you," the referee replies.
The Irish run the same clear-out play [as the previous possession] to [Ruth] Riley on the low block. Riley again uses the spin move but misses. However, a foul is called on Schuey [Kelly Schumacher] with 5.1 seconds left.
Sue immediately walks to the far end of the court to speak with Geno. "What do you want to do?" she asks.
"Just get it and go," he says.
Riley misses the first shot. Sue jogs down to the free-throw lane and approaches Swin [Cash]. "Just give me the ball," she says.
Riley makes her second free throw, tying the score at 76. Perhaps the Irish expect UConn to call timeout and set up a play. Instead, Schuey grabs the ball and inbounds to Sue. As Sue takes the inbounds pass crossing the lane, Swin sets a pick on Ivey, who is chasing Sue. The screen springs Sue, the fastest player on either team. Ivey is helpless to catch her.
Siemon finally impedes Sue in the frontcourt, forcing her to go left just beyond the three-point arc. Sue takes one more dribble, then a herculean leap of a jump stop. She is ten feet from the basket when she launches a fall-away jumper just beyond the outstretched arms of the 6'5" Riley.
The buzzer sounds as Sue stumbles awkwardly toward the Husky bench, twisting as she keeps her eyes on the ball. It kisses the front of the rim with a dull clang, then climbs over and into the basket.
Labels: Seattle Storm, UConn basketball
# posted by mamurd @ 11:23 PM 
