Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 30, 1991 TAG: 9103300056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS LENGTH: Medium
That was by design for a women's basketball team that, for the past 12 months, has had its sights set on more important twine.
"I walked in the locker room after they had cut down the one net and they didn't even want to cut the other net down," coach Debbie Ryan said. "They were just sitting there. They did turn on the shower, thinking they'd get me before I went to the press conference. Other than that, it was like, `So, what's next?' "
Obviously, the Cavaliers knew what was next, a second straight trip to the Final Four. Virginia (30-2) will play Connecticut (29-4) in the first semifinal at 12:35 p.m. today at Lakefront Arena.
The second game, starting 30 minutes after the completion of the opener, will match defending champion Stanford (26-5) against two-time winner Tennessee (28-5). The semifinals and final will be televised nationally by CBS.
It is the first time the semifinals will be televised by one of the networks, although the women had to make a concession by holding the semifinals and final on back-to-back days.
"I don't particularly like that, but I do like the exposure," Ryan said. "If that's what we need to make the game better and expose people to the game, so be it.
"As long as it's not detrimental to the athlete, the changes we need to make for national TV are important. As soon as it becomes detrimental, that's when we need to say `no.' Of course, my team has never had it any other way."
Ryan was referring to her team's 75-66 loss to Stanford last year in the semifinals, when she felt the Cavaliers had left their best game on the practice floor the day before the tournament.
"I don't think we missed a shot that day [in practice]," Ryan said. "It's different this year. The [open] practice session will be two days before the game and I'll be traveling with the team, whereas last year I left early."
In 1990, the Cavaliers were a surprise participant in the Final Four, having upset reigning champion Tennessee in the East Regional, which prevented the Lady Vols from defending their title on their home floor in Knoxville, Tenn.
"We're excited this year," Ryan said, "but it's a controlled excitement. Last year, I was excited all the time. It was uncontrollable. I couldn't sleep.
"I wake up in the morning [now] and say, `We're going to the Final Four. Gee that's great.' A year ago, it was like, `I'm going to the Final Four. How am I going to act? Do I act cool? Do I back off?' "
Ryan planned to keep a close eye on the activities of junior guard Dawn Staley, who already has been voted player of the year in the country by three organizations.
"We will be distracted to the nth degree," Ryan said. "Dawn has two player-of-the-year [banquets] and she has to make a speech. Dawn, basically, will have no time for herself unless I make time for her."
Much of the pregame discussion has surrounded not the Virginia-Connecticut game, but the first confrontation between Ryan and her assistant from 1980-84, Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma has compiled a 121-55 record in five seasons at Connecticut and has the Huskies on a seven-game winning streak, longest of the Final Four participants.
"What Geno did for me was he challenged me every day," Ryan said. "He always had a lot of ideas. Geno may have helped me more than I helped him.
"We're both kind of characters, [but] I could never stay with Geno in one-liners. We don't have similar styles. As a matter of fact, we're almost opposite one another."
The Huskies are led by Kerry Bascom, a 6-foot-1 senior who had 39 points in an 81-80 victory over Toledo in the first round. Bascom averages 20.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and has made 49 3-pointers.
Connecticut has made 164 3-pointers as a team, including 82 by 5-8 junior Wendy Davis, third on the team in scoring with a 13.1-point average. Laura Lishness, a 5-11 senior, averages 14.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.
"They're excellent shooters, but as far as speed and quickness, they don't match up with us," Ryan said. "He's got to slow the ball down in order for it to be a good game. I have a feeling we'll have to force the tempo with a lot of pressure."
Auriemma seemed unimpressed with his team's overall play in its 60-57 victory over Clemson in the East Region final, but Ryan said the tapes reflected otherwise. Besides, UConn owns back-to-back victories over ACC teams North Carolina State and Clemson.
"I went through all that blowing smoke stuff with Lamar's coach [before the Midwest final]," Ryan said. "Nobody's going to tell me I've got the best team since the Cheryl Miller years [at Southern Cal].
"If you think I'm going to believe that, you're crazy, and neither is my team. We lost to Clemson two [actually four] weeks ago and we haven't forgotten yet."
by CNB