[81alum]

Some updates from the press.  The big question is the health of DeShields:

The ankle "doesn't feel good at all," DeShields said Monday. But "they are going to have to basically to take me down and strap me into a chair to stop me from playing."

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_254...no-4-north

On Sunday, DeShields rolled her right ankle early in the first half, then later re-aggravated a left knee injury. She has been getting treatment for her injuries.  “It’s a game-time decision and we’re hoping she’s going to be out there on the floor,” Calder said. “If she’s not out there, we’re prepared to play without her if that situation arises.”

It sounds a little like rope-a-dope to me.  I presume she will play and that the hoopla over her injuries is overblown.  But she could be like Karlie--nursing a bad ankle or knee that slows her down a little but doesn't stop her from playing,

A few notes from the press conference on game strategy.  It sounded as if we were still not decided as to who would start guarding DeShields, but that there would obviously be help.  Tara's description of North Carolina was interesting:

“They’re a little bit unpredictable in a dangerous way,” VanDerveer said. “They make a lot happen with their athleticism, in transition, on the glass, creating one-on-one shots. We are just opposite teams.”

She said that as you watch some teams, "you can tell what's coming," but not UNC.  "They do a lot of things on instinct...good instinct" whether it is trapping or blocking etc. and sometimes this led to surprising situations where she said "Really?"  "It works for them" she said, but you could tell that she would never coach a team in that manner.  Tara is not about spontaneous play, and she is looking at a team that has taken a bunch of highly talented but inexperienced frosh and largely turned them loose.

It sounds like they will be denying Chiney, as per usual.  One thing I loved about her game on Sunday was that she got the ball at the top of the key and drove to the basket.  She probably will need to do that again:

The less she touches the ball the better,” UNC freshman forward Stephanie Mavunga said.  Mavunga’s teammates are confident they can get it done.  “I love tough challenges, and she’s definitely one,” 6-2 forward Xylina McDaniel said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/col...story.html

[81alum]

Some updates from the press.  The big question is the health of DeShields:

The ankle "doesn't feel good at all," DeShields said Monday. But "they are going to have to basically to take me down and strap me into a chair to stop me from playing."

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_254...no-4-north

On Sunday, DeShields rolled her right ankle early in the first half, then later re-aggravated a left knee injury. She has been getting treatment for her injuries.  “It’s a game-time decision and we’re hoping she’s going to be out there on the floor,” Calder said. “If she’s not out there, we’re prepared to play without her if that situation arises.”

It sounds a little like rope-a-dope to me.  I presume she will play and that the hoopla over her injuries is overblown.  But she could be like Karlie--nursing a bad ankle or knee that slows her down a little but doesn't stop her from playing,

A few notes from the press conference on game strategy.  It sounded as if we were still not decided as to who would start guarding DeShields, but that there would obviously be help.  Tara's description of North Carolina was interesting:

“They’re a little bit unpredictable in a dangerous way,” VanDerveer said. “They make a lot happen with their athleticism, in transition, on the glass, creating one-on-one shots. We are just opposite teams.”

She said that as you watch some teams, "you can tell what's coming," but not UNC.  "They do a lot of things on instinct...good instinct" whether it is trapping or blocking etc. and sometimes this led to surprising situations where she said "Really?"  "It works for them" she said, but you could tell that she would never coach a team in that manner.  Tara is not about spontaneous play, and she is looking at a team that has taken a bunch of highly talented but inexperienced frosh and largely turned them loose.

It sounds like they will be denying Chiney, as per usual.  One thing I loved about her game on Sunday was that she got the ball at the top of the key and drove to the basket.  She probably will need to do that again:

The less she touches the ball the better,” UNC freshman forward Stephanie Mavunga said.  Mavunga’s teammates are confident they can get it done.  “I love tough challenges, and she’s definitely one,” 6-2 forward Xylina McDaniel said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/col...story.html