03-13-2013, 01:32 PM
The team Tara was assembling included Toni. She, like Amber, can maneuver and drive to the basket or stop on a dime for a quick and deadly jump shot. The fact we have done so well without Toni (All Pac-12 last year), speaks to the other players developing and stepping up - but also to the coaching.
I really hope Toni can play in the NCAAs. 2 years ago - her freshman year, when she got hurt in the 2nd round of the NCAAs against St. Johns - I thought immediately that our chances to make the Final Four had gone down with her. We made it to the Final Four - but in the end, I think her injury was the difference in us not winning the National Championship. I have no doubt that we would have beaten Texas A&M. She would have been the difference maker.
UCLA is a really good team and they can give anyone in the tournament fits. I hope they show how good they are - and beat some of those East Coast teams and their fans. They gave Cal (the No. 5 ranked team in the country at the time) fits and dominated them. For us to beat UCLA in the Championship with all of the things hampering us was a great team achievement. I think it will help us going forward. We seem to often lose close games so to pull this one out at the end - showed true grit and determination. Now it also shows success and achievement going into that next close game.
Looking at last year's brackets, I don't see that the No. 2 seeds got placed close to home. Duke (ACC), ranked #6 was sent to Fresno for the West Region to face Stanford (ranked # 3) instead of very nearby Raleigh. Maryland (ACC), ranked # 5 was the next closest to Raleigh (but not by much) and was sent to Raleigh to face Notre Dame (Big East), ranked # 4, instead of Kington, RI where they were the closest of all the No. 2 seeds. Tennessee (SEC) and ranked #8 is also closest to Raleigh and was sent to Des Moines to face Baylor (Big12), ranked #1 instead. Kentucky (SEC), ranked #7, which is closest to Des Moines was sent the second furthest to Kington, RI to face nearby UConn, ranked #2.
Based on current rankings, we might face Duke in the West Region Finals and Cal might be in the UConn/Bridgeport Region. Hard to say where UCLA and Colorado end up - but Colorado is hosting the 1st & 2nd rounds like us. I think they have a really good shot at being in the Sweet Sixteen. We could have 4 Pac-12 teams in the Sweet Sixteen.
I really hope Toni can play in the NCAAs. 2 years ago - her freshman year, when she got hurt in the 2nd round of the NCAAs against St. Johns - I thought immediately that our chances to make the Final Four had gone down with her. We made it to the Final Four - but in the end, I think her injury was the difference in us not winning the National Championship. I have no doubt that we would have beaten Texas A&M. She would have been the difference maker.
UCLA is a really good team and they can give anyone in the tournament fits. I hope they show how good they are - and beat some of those East Coast teams and their fans. They gave Cal (the No. 5 ranked team in the country at the time) fits and dominated them. For us to beat UCLA in the Championship with all of the things hampering us was a great team achievement. I think it will help us going forward. We seem to often lose close games so to pull this one out at the end - showed true grit and determination. Now it also shows success and achievement going into that next close game.
Looking at last year's brackets, I don't see that the No. 2 seeds got placed close to home. Duke (ACC), ranked #6 was sent to Fresno for the West Region to face Stanford (ranked # 3) instead of very nearby Raleigh. Maryland (ACC), ranked # 5 was the next closest to Raleigh (but not by much) and was sent to Raleigh to face Notre Dame (Big East), ranked # 4, instead of Kington, RI where they were the closest of all the No. 2 seeds. Tennessee (SEC) and ranked #8 is also closest to Raleigh and was sent to Des Moines to face Baylor (Big12), ranked #1 instead. Kentucky (SEC), ranked #7, which is closest to Des Moines was sent the second furthest to Kington, RI to face nearby UConn, ranked #2.
Based on current rankings, we might face Duke in the West Region Finals and Cal might be in the UConn/Bridgeport Region. Hard to say where UCLA and Colorado end up - but Colorado is hosting the 1st & 2nd rounds like us. I think they have a really good shot at being in the Sweet Sixteen. We could have 4 Pac-12 teams in the Sweet Sixteen.