12 March 2013
Heart-Breaking Basketball Day
Earlier today it was announced that Sue Bird will miss the 2013 Storm season. She is going to have surgery on her knee.
The only good that I can see of this is that -- with Lauren Jackson gone, too -- they're going to stink this season, which means they can get a top draft pick in 2014. There are a bunch of players I know are good that will be eligible in 2014: Stefanie Dolson (UConn, center), Bria Hartley (UConn, guard), Chelsea Gray (Duke, guard), Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford, forward), and my personal favorite, Odyssey Sims (Baylor, guard). The first time I saw Sims play -- Baylor @ Stanford in November 2010 -- I knew I wanted her to play for the Storm. I think it's worth noting that the only game Baylor has lost in the last two years was when Sims was injured and didn't play -- not Briney Griner.
Tonight was the final game of the Big East Tournament. UConn vs. Notre Dame, just like the last two years. This time, though, Notre Dame won. With 18 seconds left, with the shot clock off, it was tied and UConn had the ball. But they couldn't keep it (they didn't even get a shot off!) and Notre Dame made their last shot.
In the last two seasons, UConn and Notre Dame have played four times: twice in the regular season, at the Big East Championship game, and in the Final Four. In 2010-2011, UConn won the first three and lost the Final Four game. In 2011-2012, Notre Dame won all but the Big East Championship. I'm hoping this season is a mirror of the 2010-2011 game, and UConn can pull out the win the big game. They certainly have the potential. They lost the first game by one point, in triple overtime the second, and by two points tonight.
The only good that I can see of this is that -- with Lauren Jackson gone, too -- they're going to stink this season, which means they can get a top draft pick in 2014. There are a bunch of players I know are good that will be eligible in 2014: Stefanie Dolson (UConn, center), Bria Hartley (UConn, guard), Chelsea Gray (Duke, guard), Chiney Ogwumike (Stanford, forward), and my personal favorite, Odyssey Sims (Baylor, guard). The first time I saw Sims play -- Baylor @ Stanford in November 2010 -- I knew I wanted her to play for the Storm. I think it's worth noting that the only game Baylor has lost in the last two years was when Sims was injured and didn't play -- not Briney Griner.
Tonight was the final game of the Big East Tournament. UConn vs. Notre Dame, just like the last two years. This time, though, Notre Dame won. With 18 seconds left, with the shot clock off, it was tied and UConn had the ball. But they couldn't keep it (they didn't even get a shot off!) and Notre Dame made their last shot.
In the last two seasons, UConn and Notre Dame have played four times: twice in the regular season, at the Big East Championship game, and in the Final Four. In 2010-2011, UConn won the first three and lost the Final Four game. In 2011-2012, Notre Dame won all but the Big East Championship. I'm hoping this season is a mirror of the 2010-2011 game, and UConn can pull out the win the big game. They certainly have the potential. They lost the first game by one point, in triple overtime the second, and by two points tonight.
Labels: Seattle Storm, UConn basketball
# posted by mamurd @ 9:06 PM 
