THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
LENGTH: 69 lines
Trying to find fault with the No. 2-ranked Old Dominion women's basketball team is like searching for a pimple on the Mona Lisa.
To Wendy Larry, then, falls what must be one of the most difficult tasks in college basketball - highlighting the imperfections in a team that just won a game by 37 points.
``We were outrebounded in the second half,'' the ODU coach said following her team's 94-57 rout of American University Sunday.
Lifting her magnifying glass again, Larry turned up another blemish on the masterpiece. After holding AU to 20 percent shooting in the first half, ODU permitted the visitors to connect on 39 percent in the final 20 minutes.
Horrors!
``We have a defensive goal each game,'' explained Larry.``We don't want a team to shoot the ball better than 35 percent in any half.''
Fine. But keep in mind, Coach Wendy played no starter more than 27 minutes.
Though the lead ballooned to 52 less than midway through the final period,
Larry kept the pressure on her team as much as on AU.
``When you know you're up by 40,'' said center Nyree Roberts, ``you have a tendency to relax a little bit.''
Not if Larry can help it. The 21st victory in 22 games increased ODU's average margin of victory this season to 31.8 points. Under these circumstances, ``It's a very difficult task,'' she says, keeping her team's concentration level at full strength.
``We've been dealt a hand,'' Larry says of a CAA schedule that offers almost no competition, ``and we play that hand.''
The last thing Larry wants is for ODU to start faxing in its CAA games, something it could get away with very easily. Her concerns are shared by coaches at Stanford and Connecticut, juggernauts that also leave skid marks on conference patsies.
This is a problem right now for women's basketball. When the best team in the CAA or Pac-12 or Big East is routinely 30 points better than everyone else in the league, the perception of the sport suffers.
Not that ODU's hard-core boosters care. The home team ran a layup line past AU in the second half. But in the bleachers, grown men gesticulated wildly and women wailed in protest at almost any official's call that went against ODU.
You have to be in awe of anybody who can stay this riveted on a production so lacking in true dramatics.
The fans do not touch Larry, though, when it comes to a display of intensity in the face of another laugher.
``Every game,'' she said, ``the feeling in my stomach is always the same. I worry that we're not ready, that we won't play as hard as we can.''
It doesn't help the rumbling in her tummy to be playing a team that ODU trounced only a few days earlier.
``These games are difficult,'' Larry said, ``because the expectations are so high ... to just blow people out.''
With 15 minutes to play Sunday, Ticha Penicheiro's flashy behind-the-back pass found Roberts for a layup that put ODU ahead by 44. The 3,039 in the fieldhouse roared. It was Showtime ODU-style.
Once again, high expectations were easily met. For the Lady Monarchs, the ride toward March couldn't be smoother. Larry's job is to make sure they don't enter the tournament on cruise control.
Won't happen, she says.
First, ODU's problem - not a bad one to have when you think about it - is nothing new for great women's programs. Secondly, she has complete faith in her players.
``I've seen this basketball team when it's been in tight situations,'' Larry said. ``I've seen how well it focuses.''
Meanwhile, Roberts reassured an inquiring reporter. ``It doesn't get boring,'' she said, ``beating people by 50 points.''