When did you become a fan of your favorite WBB team?

[mred]

I'm not sure if we've had this thread before...

I actually grew up a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes (ick). I generally picked teams opposing my older brother; he decided during the 1984 Super Bowl that the Dolphins would be his favorite NFL team, and I started following the 49ers because they were the opposition. He was a Cyclone fan, so I was a Hawkeye fan. Still, the Cyclones were my second-favorite school, and I rooted for them when they weren't playing the Hawkeyes.

Just after my family moved to Ames in 1992, I remember watching Iowa and ISU play a MBB game, and I realized I was rooting for ISU. That was the beginning of the end... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, I didn't care about WBB at the time. This was the "dead era" of ISU WBB (defined as any era before Fennelly) and I could probably only name a handful of current/former WBB players. I did watch a lot of high school GBB (especially 6-on-6).

I remember when ISU made it to their first NCAA tournament, when players like Tara Gunderson were seniors. I reacted the way many ISU fans did: "Our WBB team is actually good? Cool..." The big turning point for me was one day late in 1997 (my freshman year at ISU), when ISU played Iowa. The game was televised locally and nothing better was on. I watched with my parents and my girlfriend (now wife) as ISU upset Iowa stunningly easily. We all thoroughly enjoyed watching it, so we decided to go to a game just after New Year's. After all, it was only $4 for adults and $2 for students. (How times have changed...) ISU barely snuck past Missouri, and we enjoyed every minute. We went to most of the games that season, and over the next three seasons you could count the number of home games I missed on one hand. It would take more than both hands to count the number of away games I attended (Kansas, Nebraska twice, UNI twice, Drake, Iowa twice, Creighton, Big XII tournament, neutral games in Cedar Rapids, etc.)

[cycofan]

Much like you MRED, I was somewhat oblivious to women's bball when I was in school in Ames (somewhat earlier than you)! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif I lived across the street from Hilton as a freshman in 1989, and ventured over to see the Iowa/ISU women's game. I would guess that there were 300 people there, the level of play from the Cyclones was awful, and I didn't go back.

The next time I went to Hilton for a women's game was the first year that they hosted first and second round games. I confess to have primarily going to the first round to see Vivian Stringer bring her Rutgers team back to Iowa (I also grew up a Hawkeye fan)!

I went back for the heartbreaking ISU loss to Rutgers in the second round, and the rest, as they say, is history!

[KSUron]

I grew up in Nebraska so there is no doubt who my favorite team USED to be. Due to exposure to some terrific women high school players in Nebraska that we got to see as adults my wife and I became women's basketball fans. We moved to Kansas three years ago and met the Ohlde family and of course Nicole.

I can tell you exactly when I became a Kansas State fan. I was on Interstate 135 on my way to a meeting in Wichita. I was listening to the radio and heard an announcement that Nicole Ohlde and Laurie Koehn had signed with KSU. I did not have one thing to wear that was purple but before I got home I already had my first K-State hat and shirt.

Since then my wife and I have been impressed with the KSU WBB people and their sports information and ticket people. We are now Wildcat WBB fanatics. I haven't quite made the shift in football though, but I'm getting there. Our daughters think we have crossed some serious ethical lines in becoming KSU fans.

[TXSNOS]

I became a girls' basketball fan while in high school in the mid '70s. All of my best female friends played. It was half-court 3 on 3 back then. I went to almost all of their games, home and away. Go Edna Cowgirls!!

When I came to the University of Texas, I followed the women's team in the late '70s and early'80s by reading articles about them in "The Daily Texan." It wasn't until the NCAA Championship game in 1986(?) that I actually saw them play and that was on TV. I was just blown away by the athleticism that those women displayed. Clarissa Davis, Andrea Lloyd, Beverly Williams, Yolanda Wimbish, just to name a few. This sounds a bit sexist, but before I actually saw them play, I didn't know women could do those kinds of things. I started going to games the next year (1986-87) and became a season ticket holder a year or two later and have been ever since. I have been to a number of NCAA regional tournaments and have been to two final fours. I'm hoping that Stacy, Heather, and the gang can get Texas to another final four, so I'll have even more reason to go to another one!

HOOK 'EM!

TXSNOS

[elfdenmom]

I went to a couple of Texas Tech games before the nineties, but can't really describe myself as a fan until the 1991-1992 season. I went to an afternoon game in 1991 and was absolutely blown away by Sheryl Swoopes' moves and shooting. The rest of the team wasn't too shabby either. The rest is history. I went to as many games as I could manage and soon became a season ticket holder. Since my husband wasn't interested in wbb, I had to go on my own, and it was quite a commitment when I started going to the night games on my own. Haven't looked back since, and now count myself as a rabid LR fan.

[YCN]

Like elfdenmom, I can trace the roots of my interest in women's college basketball back to Sheryl Swoops. At the time my Dad and I both became big fans of her play. I'd never ever seen a woman playing basketball at that skill level, and it didn't surprise me one bit that she hoisted her Tech team on her back to win the national championship.

I think I commented to my Dad at the time that I'd seen plenty of NBA players that didn't play with nearly the skill and intelligence that she had (and has) in her game.

After that, my nascent interest in the game sort of waned until I was able to see Coach Coale's Sooners play when Stacey Dales was a sophomore. I was instantly hooked on their positive, intelligent and intense style of play, and mesmerized by the personas of the Sooner players and head coach.

And now I'm a bigger fan of women's basketball than ever. From just that one seed it has grown not quite to an obsession, but a very healthy interest in women's basketball at more than the college level.

Who knows, in 10 years I might be a completely insane nut about this sport. I know I already enjoy it immensely - maybe even more than men's basketball at any level. There is something inherently fundamentally sound about women's basketball that I find lacking elsewhere. In the NBA they are starting to see a lot of foreign players succeed because they do exactly what is expected at high levels of the women's game. They play with solid fundamentals, and they play for the team.

And I love team basketball. That's exactly why I have been disillusioned with a lot of men's basketball, because athleticism doesn't equate to basketball, it equates to me.

And I guess compared to most people I'm just a newbie to the sport.

[carolann]

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif This sounds a bit sexist, but before I actually saw them play, I didn't know women could do those kinds of things.

O.K. Here it is. When I was a child (a girl), I amused myself by making up games that involved physical skill. For example (parent's don't faint)-- I would take all the swings off the swing set, and then jump from a chair and grab the swing set bar. Of course, I kept moving the chair back farther and farther. This game ended when I enticed a friend to join me. She promptly missed and broke her arm. I also designed a little obstacle course in the back yard that included jumping over ropes tied between 2 trees, going under saw horses, and so forth. My friend and I would race through the course. By highschool, I spent the entire "P.E." period trying not to actually break a sweat or mess up my hair! Not being seen naked in the shower or changing clothes after gym were also high priorities. I thought my P.E. teacher belonged to another species. If any girls played sports in my highschool, particularly team sports, I didn't know about it! I knew one girl who was a diver, and a little light tennis and golf weren't out of the question (cute outfits were a must, of course). My college didn't have sports other than club sports. I had no interest in athletics, television, or other such lowly entertainment. Gee, wasn't I fun? Yes, indeed. I was learning to drink coffee, and go to 'art films'. When I moved to Austin in the 90's, I couldn't believe my eyes the first fall Saturday that I saw all those people wearing those weird orange and white shirts. So, I didn't watch anyone, men or women, play basketball until the nineties when I moved to Austin. A friend took me to a game and it seemed like a nice little diversion. I never saw Clarissa Davis, Kamie Etheridge, et al, play in person. I have watched tapes of the 1986 final four games. At first, I just knew the players were running up and down the floor, trying to put the ball in the basket. Since then I've learned a little about screens, picks, flops, charges, and so forth. I'm still behind most of you in my knowledge of the game. I have fun and I enjoy getting to be an armchair analyst whether I have the expertise or not. I also have fun wearing my Texas garb, jumping up and down, and generally acting the fool in the stands. Oh yes, the first time I went to a basketball game, I thought it was very rude for people to clap when the opposition missed a free throw!

Now you know the whole truth, and if you ever paid any attention to any of my posts, you won't anymore!

[Buffsfan22]

Newby to this board, but an ESPN board veteran. Love this site now that I've found it.
Originally from Pittsburgh, where women's athletics were an afterthought while i lived there anyway. Then I moved here to Boulder in 92.
I started out as a huge Buff volleyball fan. I payed attention to Buffs basketball and went to an occasional game, but I became a fan of UConn instead.
But last year I got season tickets for the first time and fell in love with the Buffs. I'm hooked for life now.
Funny to me that we're being written off this year after graduating our starting backcourt. I picked some year to quit rooting for UConn, huh? lol.
I do think (assuming we return a healthy Linda Lappe) that we'll have the best frontcourt in the conference if not the nation. I don't think we lose anything with Kate Fagan replacing Roulier at the 2, and I thought from the first five minutes I saw her play last season that Veronica Johns-Richardson, who will takeover the point, will be the best player we've ever had here.
I'm glad the Buffs are being overlooked (again!) I'm more excited about this year's team than I was last years. VJR isn't just a great athlete, she's a really smart kid as well and she has had a year to learn the system. Y'all will know her name well by season's end.
Texas Tech and Texas are going to be tough to get by, but I like our chances.
Sorry K-State fans, don't mean to slight ya, but your team didn't impress me when they came here, or in the tourneys.
Anyway, I think the B12 will be the toughest again this season and when not playing the Buffs I wish all the B12 teams well.

[Press]

Growning up in West Texas, sports/entertainment consisted of football, more football or girls basketball. My family was a huge supporter of gbb. As far back as I can remember, my sisters played and we went all the girls HS games. We also traveled 70 miles to watch Wayland Baptist Flying Queens in Plainview, almost every home game, if on the weekend. The Flying Queens were IT, back then and put on a show. We even went to some of the Lubbock Monterey games to the the Etheridge sisters play because they were SO good!

My first experience with Coach Sharp is back in the late 70's when she brought her Lockney HS girls team to our hometown tournament. No doubt, they were very good.

When I got to Tech in the early 80's, Coach Sharp was an assistant coach and I was one of about 150 people sitting in a folding chair, courtside. Tech always had a good team, but spent most of time trying to figure out a way to beat Texas. We waited a long time but it eventually happened. From that point forward, it was Swoopes, the National Championship, and the rest is history.

Thanks to the Internet, it's much easier to follow the teams and we can talk wbb 24/7/365, and I love it!





[This message has been edited by Press (edited 07-10-2002).]

[TXSNOS]

I had the pleasure of seeing Sheryl Swoopes play in a high school all-star game. She ran circles around everyone. She broke my heart when she left the University of Texas, but I'm still a big fan of hers anyway. Her cat-like body control is amazing.

TXSNOS

[This message has been edited by TXSNOS (edited 07-10-2002).]

[KSUron]

Originally posted by Buffsfan22:
Funny to me that we're being written off this year ---

I'm glad the Buffs are being overlooked (again!) I'm more excited about this year's team than I was last years. ---

Sorry K-State fans, don't mean to slight ya, but your team didn't impress me when they came here, or in the tourneys.

Not to worry Buffsfan22. We are not writing off the Buffs this year. Also bear in mind that for various reasons you did not see anything close to what the KSU ladies can do when they were out there. When our two top point guards went down with injuries we struggled for a while, but I can join you in saying that oponents that overlook either of our teams this year will do it at their peril.

But most of all: WELCOME to the board KV. I'm glad you found us.

[DblT81]

My life or something like it by DblT81:

Basketball was always big in our house growing up. My dad played some college ball. Being short, slow, and not able to jump, my high school playing career was spent mostly on the bench where I dreamed of being a sports writer. [When I got to college, I found out that to afford that dream car/house/lifestyle I wanted, another career might pay off better.]

Similar to Press, growing up as a sports fan in West Texas, girls basketball was important. [The Amarillo Globe News beat the pants off the Lubbock Avalanche Journal in the reporting on girls basketball, BTW.] When I went to Tech around the same time Press was there, I went to a few LR games since some old HS foes played for Tech. But I didn't go to many games because I couldn't get anyone to go with me and going by myself would have been uncool.

The career and family took me away from Lubbock. I followed the Tech team by reading box scores in the paper since stories were rarely written about wcbb games. Then Sheryl Swoopes happened and Tech was on TV more and more. And Sports Illus began writing about her and wcbb. Like Elfdenmom, the '91-92 season was the starting point of me being a somewhat rabid fan. The internet has made it even more fun and interesting because now I listen to all the games that I can't watch live or on TV.

Many old time Tech fans blast those they call "band wagon" fans who have only followed the Lady Raiders since Swoopes. For those of us who live outside of Lubbock, it was difficult to be a big fan until TV and the internet made it possible to see and hear more games and read more info.

[RaiderPower1]

Well, let's see obviously being "only" 18 I couldn't have been a big fan during the Swoopes era when I was 8. I don't get the "band wagon" fan thing either. I've never been called one but I know people would think that because I just started being a fan when I could understand the game 6 years ago. Now, I am one of the biggest BASKETBALL fans out there. I never played with my school but I did play 4 years for a recreational league here in Lubbock during HS. I also go to the Gus Macker tournaments in New Mexico and the Hoopla tournaments they have in NM. I have coached 9-12 grade girls for a recreational league here in Lubbock for 3 years. I enjoy alllll levels of basketball but I probably like TTU womens' bball more. I can tell you that I'll support any team that is in my hometown or closest pro team to it. I like all Texas Tech sports, Dallas pro teams (Cowboys, Rangers, Mavericks), and my (now former) HS sports. I have for the longest time wanted to be a sports commentator specifically basketball and football and I have been told by my college professors that I would make a good one but the job market ain't all the big right now. I will be moving to Dallas for my education but we are still getting the season tickets and I am still coming home to see some games. I'll probably even make it down to Waco to see the LRs. We will head to Hawaii to see them on their tournament over there. I'm a pretty dedicated fan and I support them through thick and thin. I'm a really big fan even if some will call me a "band wagon" fan just cause I started liking the LRs postSwoopes but hey it's not like I could support them before them. There will always be Red and Black in my blood though even when I move to UT Dallas. Go Lady Raiders!!

[Cycurl714]

I have to blame the 1996 Olympics for gettting me interested in women's sports in general.
Then during the 98-99 season I began seeing about the cyclones on the local news and I was curious. Then I saw the Sisters beat UCONN in the tourny and I was hooked.

[swok34]

I became a fan of OU during the season that Stacey sat on the bench red-shirting with her torn ACL.....?5 seasons ago.

I had been following the LSU women's team in Baton Rouge for about 3 years before moving to Oklahoma.....and watched the championship game back on CBS when that's all the TV that was available. I can't say I was as avid a fan when following LSU as I am now and have been for these past 5 OU Seasons.

I, like Carol, probably act like a fool screaming, and through the years, have seen folks move and never, ever sit behind me http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Though as you have all mentioned, the internet has changed the environment for the fans of women's college basketball. I attend most of the games of the OU softball team, though the information on the internet is far and few.

[Bevo]

I was a freshman at UT during the 1986-87 season and totally ignorant of many things, including the fact that the Lady Longhorns were coming off their undefeated season and National Championship of 1986, were stocked with All-America caliber players and were set to host the Final Four that year. Armed with this lack of knowledge about WCBB but having been a fan of high school basketball, I accompanied some friends over to the Erwin Center one winter evening and witnessed a 91-65 rout of the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks. Clarissa Davis dropped 29 points on the 'Hogs that night and grabbed 11 rebounds. I remember thinking (in one of the understatements of the decade), "wow, they're really good". Those were some heady times for the Texas program.

Later that season I watched TV coverage of the 'Horns regional final victory over Rutgers and the National semifinal loss to La Tech. Even so, I didn't become "hooked" until the next season, when I attended a preseason exhibition (along with over 10,000 other people) against the Soviet National team. That 87-88 team, with Davis, Beverly Williams, Yolanda Wimbish, C.J. Jones, and Doreatha Conwell rivaled the 1986 group in terms of athleticism and ability. Theirs was an exciting, uptempo, full-court game. Unfortunately, Davis went down with an ACL tear 9 games into the season and they lost to La Tech again, this time in the regional final.

The program has certainly had its ups and downs since that time and it appears we're on the upswing again. Like others have said, the increased TV coverage of the game (even though the focus is usually on UConn or Tennessee) and the internet allow even the casual fan to be much more informed than back in those days. I certainly appreciate the discussions and information that we have on this forum and have become a broader fan of the game and the conference as a result.

[Jennifer]

Well, having grown up in Oklahoma in the 80's, I was always an OU fan, but of course back then football was the only college sport I knew of. Well, I did go to some MBB games in the late 80's to see Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock play.
I can actually name more OSU players from the late 80's/early 90's than OU, not because I was a fan, but maybe because they were better during that time and some bigger named OK recruits went there that I would see play in the HS state tourney--Liz Brown, Shelly Blessing, Clinette Jordan, Stacy Coffey.

I remember being shocked when the OU program was cut in '90, as that was when I was playing HS ball. Then, I recall some people from my JUCO team going to watch OU/OSU in '93 and of course I cheered for OU, but I recognized more OSU players at that time (Stacy Coffey, Yogi York). And I think OSU won. The gym was near empty. We got prime seats; I think it was just a few fans and parents there.

I started paying more attention to OU when the Workman twins were playing. I watched them play some in HS (their Chickasha team beat Paige Sauer's Carl Albert team in Chickasha in '94; I also saw LaNeshea Caufield's Ada team beat the Workman girls and Chickasha in the 5A state final in '95--LaNeshea was just a freshman).

Then I went to grad school in Stillwater of all places from 96-98. I watched and cheered for OSU (it was difficult to learn to do) except for when they played OU. Then after I moved away, the internet helped me keep up on things and I've followed OU ever since. Unfortunately, I can't make as many games as I'd like, but I do make it to a few each year, and watch them on TV when I can.

[35TangoTango]

I've followed OU Mens' basketball fanatically since 1979 - ex booster club executive committee member, etc. The few women's games I watched (high school or college) convinced me that women had some genetic deficiency that prevented them from ever learning how to move without the ball.

Followed Coale's teams in high school (being from Norman), but never actually went to a game. Finally, Stacey's sophomore year someone got me to go to an OU Women's game with them. Woah!! This isn't your mother's basketball! Up and down the court, great ball handling, impossible passes, and a fast break that put the mens' team to shame! I went to several more games and I was hooked.

My wife and I have had season tickets for the last two years, and have become fanatics! Went to Boise this year for the Big 12 Invitational (saw 3 teams better than Stanford), then went to the wrong Final Four.

For next year, we told the Athletic Department they could sell our $1700 men's donor seats to someone else - we're concentrating on the Sooner women!

Why? Besides the obvious quality of basketball, we like the character of the players - these are the type of people collegiate athletics is suppossed to be about. We also like the feeling of cameraderie and combined effort that binds the whole big 12 together (as exemplified by this board, which has become my summertime obsession).

[kate dawg]

I started going to CU games when I was in middle school. My parents would take me, then coaches would too in high school. My husband and I are season ticket holders and rarely miss a game. Haven't been able to make it to any road games that involve plane flights, but I catch all of CU's games on the radio when they are out of town (only on 760 though, as 1190 doesn't make it to my neck of the woods).

I think they are far and away the class of CU (not just for athletics, but in every way), and I'm glad they represent the University, the town and the state as well as they do. Ceal Barry is a great coach and although Mandy Nightingale getting no love last year really irritated me, I love the team concept at CU. No superstars...just getting it done as a group, using what they've got and kicking butt with them, even if everyone else underrates them time and time again.

And I don't think VJ will be the point guard. It'll be Sy Stafford. VJ turns the ball over too much and plays lackadaisical (sp) defense. And Tera Bjorklund will be All-Big 12 and beyond.

[TXSNOS]

I agree about Bjorkland -- she's going to be a great player before she's though.

TXSNOS

[NorthForty]

I grew up a Hawkeye fan as well. One of my greatest early wbb moments was being at the Iowa-Ohio State WBB game when 22,000 plus fans showed up to support C. Vivian Stringer. When was that '84 or '85?

Thanks mred, I played for the Cyclones during the so called "dead era". I must admit is was lean but the recruits came and then Fennelly did. The Cyclones were on the way up before Bill showed up and I don't mean "Wild Bill". Only Chipper can tell you what a great recruiter Theresa Becker was.

[Cat-swishhh]

Let me start out by saying that it's all Chipper's fault that I'm here. He made mention on another board that he hung his hat over here on occasion so I checked you out, I lurked for awhile and finally decided this would be a good topic to get my feet wet with a post. If you get tired of my goofy posts, remember it's all Chipper's fault...he brung me over here. You decide if he gets bonus points or demerit points for pointing me in this direction. LOL!
KSURon needs a little backup support for his wonderful posts in regards to the Wildcats...so Ron, count me in. I'm similar to Ron in that I grew up in Nebraska and lived and died red as a kid, am a UNL grad, and only in the past 6 years have I switched primary allegiances to the Purple People from Flint Hills (having a daughter that had a wonderful experience as a student-athlete at Manhappiness did it plus a recent son-in-law who played for Bill Snyder at KSU). Unusual sidenote-my daughter married someone with the same last name as her first name...how odd is that. I still root very hard for the Husker Red because it is still home and personally know a lot of former players of Husker WBB due to my daughter's participation on summer traveling teams with them. My daughter concentrated on basketball and volleyball in high school and was recruited by DI schools in both sports. What was unusual in her case, was in deciding where to go to college. Most two sport athletes will pick a sport they want to play in college and then decide from the offers in that sport. My daughter said she was going to decide her choice by looking at all colleges irregardless of the sport and pick the one in which she felt most comfortable with the players, coaches, and campus. When she returned from her visit to KSU, we knew she was hooked on the Cats...who were interested in her as a VBer (K-State was going through the Brian Agler mess on the WBB side when this was going on). So her career took a turn to the volleyball court versus the basketball court much to her papa's chagrin. Then as dumb luck would have it, the VB coach leaves for Texas before she ever sets foot on campus, and she got the very good fortunate to be coached by Jimmy McLaughlin...and what a privilege that turned out to be. That Cat could coach and motivate his players to want to be their best....It was a very good time for both player and parents. Jimmy Mac has since moved on to Univ of Washington where he starting his second year of the reconstruction project there...leaving the Cat program in the very capable hands of Susie Fritz. President Wefald, former AD Max Urich, and the entire Volleyball staff made for a memorable time in this family's life. K-State has a jewel of a WBB coach in Deb patterson and it was fun to follow their rise to the upper ranks of the Big XII this year with their youthful players. I can remember Kendra Wecker making a recruiting trip to KSU for volleyball, in addition to her basketball and track talents. In any event, that is how the Cats eclipsed the Huskers as my favorite Big XII team.
Go Cats!
Go Huskers!

[JK]

MAN!!! Am I feeling kind of old right now, or what?! I am EXTREMELY proud to say that I have been faithfully following my Lady 'Horns since the 1980-81 season (I was 16 yrs old at that time). Can you say Jackie Swaim, Terry Mackey, Cheryl Hauglum, Nell Fortner, Joy Williams, Esoleta Whaley, just to name a few? The next year, my favorite UT player of all time arrived on campus and helped elevate our program to another level and led us to the AIAW Finals as a freshman. Oh -- that was Annette Smith -- for all you "rookies." http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif I followed her high school career and was ECSTATIC when she chose to play for UT! The next year, my fellow "Class of '82" recruits were Fran Harris, Kamie Ethridge, and Audrey Smith (I also followed their high school careers and was turning back flips when they signed in Burnt Orange Ink). That same class led us to the undefeated NC in '86. I've got 22 seasons under my belt!!!!

[mred]

Originally posted by NorthForty:
I must admit is was lean but the recruits came and then Fennelly did. The Cyclones were on the way up before Bill showed up and I don't mean "Wild Bill". Only Chipper can tell you what a great recruiter Theresa Becker was.

I believe it. Fennelly won right away, and the players he had were mostly Becker's. Fennelly was fortunate to inherit players like Gunderson, Olson, and Grimm. My first year as a fan was when Olson and Grimm were seniors, and it was largely the quality of their play that attracted me to the team. I think if Becker had stayed a little longer (she resigned, but I don't know if she was encouraged to resign or she did it on her own) she probably would have been able to pull ISU up to the middle of the pack. She had the groundwork all laid out.

[This message has been edited by mred (edited 07-12-2002).]

[KSUron]

Originally posted by Cat-swishhh:
Let me start out by saying that it's all Chipper's fault that I'm here.

--- KSURon needs a little backup support

--- Jimmy Mac has since moved on to Univ of Washington where he starting his second year of the reconstruction project there...leaving the Cat program in the very capable hands of Susie Fritz.

Welcome to HoopScoop Cat-swishhh. Its good to have you here.

Lets just agree that anything BAD that happens on this board is Chipper's fault. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

I can use all the help I can get! And thanks for the good words.

Susie Fritz is another reason those of us in Clay Center, KS are big fans of KSU. As you know Susie, like Nicole Ohlde, is a graduate of Clay Center High and has her family here.

I agree with your comments about the KSU President and staff. It surprised me to see the positive attitudes and support of the KSU administration. Its been a nice organization to deal with. Thanks for your post.

[Buffsfan22]

Hi Kate Dawg.

Nice to see another Buff fan here.
However, I must respectfully disagree with your assertion that Stafford will get the nod at point over VJ.

"And I don't think VJ will be the point guard. It'll be Sy Stafford. VJ turns the ball over too much and plays lackadaisical (sp) defense."

In 158 minutes VJ had 14 assists and 11 TO's
In 181 minutes Stafford had 16 assists and 20 TO's.

I agree with you that VJ showed a few defensive lapses last season, while Stafford maintained a constant intensity on D.
Of course VJ's lapses hardly slipped Ceal's notice and she was yanked promptly everytime. By midway through the season I thought VJ seemed to have received the message.

You must also keep in mind also that in Ceal's offense the guards MUST be able to shoot the ball. VJ shot 50% and Stafford 23% from the floor. Then add that VJ can take the ball to the hole better than any guard we've ever had here...that first step of hers is so fast it should be illegal...anyway, if our team is going to be the best they can be, it'll be VJ at the point.

The info I have says that it's jr. college transfer Billingsly who will battle VJ for the starting job, not Stafford.

Anyway. GO BUFFS!

[mc6821]

1996. Been going (sporadically) to the Buffs men's games since the late '80s; the first WBB game I attended was the '96 CU-Stanford "Christmas break" game. Stanford killed us, BTW - they had a Final Four team that year. In spite of that the Buffs still had a great season and got to host one of the NCAA subregionals. That was the first time that I had ever seen NCAA tourney play in person, and that got me hooked. Now I am a season ticket holder and support the team in good times and in not so good times (didn't miss a home game in 99-00 B12 season - in fact, that particular team is still one of my favorites, believe it or not).

[KSUron]

Nice to see you on here again mc6821. I enjoyed meeting you at the B-12 tourney. Good luck to your Buffs (up to a point). http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by KSUron (edited 07-15-2002).]

[NoDakSt]

I really started followed the Bison from North Dakota State when I attended the University in the mid 80s. Some local high school players joined the team and I took up following them. In Fargo there is not a lot else to do in the WInter and the fieldhouse was always rockin' on those fold windy midwestern winter nights. Lots of good memories.

[unkiemark]

Having grown up here in Boulder I have had the opportunity to watch the Colorado women’s basketball team since its inception. However, I really became interested during the Rene Portland years. Although she had a brief tenure in Boulder I it was during her time that I really became interested in the program. Portland was followed by Sox Walseth who was the beneficiary of Portland’s recruiting. He was with the team three seasons before retiring from coaching for good - he had been the coach of the men’s team in the prior to being asked to coach the women. He still consults with Ceal Barry on the triangle offense.

Of course most people associate Colorado women’s basketball with Ceal Barry. I remember watching her first team struggle with her demanding style and thinking that she had them heading in the right direction. Discipline, off season conditioning, etc. set her style apart from her predecessors. And it was clear that this would be the style that would lead regular success on the court.

This past season was another affirmation of Barry’s coaching style and commitment to the program.

On a more personal note this season I was excited that my four year old nephew really enjoyed going to the games. It was very enjoyable to watch him clap and yell in support of the Buffs!

The following are my all-time favorite Buffs. I am not saying that all of them are the best at their respective positions, but all made very important contributions to the program and obviously left an impression on me.

Bridget Turner G 5-8 Aurora, CO (Hinkley HS)
La Shena Graham G 5-4 Independence, MO (William Chrisman HS)
Isabelle Fijalkowski C 6-5 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Linda Lappe F/G 6-0 Morning Sun, IA (Winfield- Mt. Union HS)
Mindy Henry F 6-2 Merino, CO (Merino HS)

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/cu.gif




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MarkW

[unkiemark]

Okay - I have to weigh in on the chat about Veronica Johns-Richardson vs. Syretta Stafford :-)

I am a firm believer that JR will be a difference maker next season and at some point in the season be a starter. She has all the tools to be a solid leader and is a great athlete. She is not a refined basketball player yet, but with her work ethic I believe she will be a great player - I am just not sure when.

If the Buffs are to make the NCAA tourney next season she will need to make an impact.



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MarkW

[kate dawg]

Oh I'm back for more Syreeta vs. Veronica banter! Apologies to you people who don't give a hoot about CU. You can ignore this. Welcome to the new super-CU homer BF22. You are now, based on your preseason poll, clearly the winner in the Buff homer department.

To the debate: First, I'm a bit insulted that my new friend BF22 would say JR takes the ball to the rack better than anyone EVER at CU. Two words:BRIDGET TURNER. She was a Globetrotter for the love of God...literally! If you never saw her play, then I'll give you a get out of jail free card, but I know for a fact that anyone that ever saw Turner play will back me up on that one. That girl had more skills with her handles and her dishes than anyone ever has at CU and I'd venture to say most of the Big 12, with the only exception I'll allow being Miss Lynette Woodard.

As for the Stafford vs. J-R debate. You make a lot of good points. But I still go with Stafford. She plays the D. And she's the point guard. She WON'T have to score with the (apologies to ISU fans) CU version of the Big Three next year in Lappe-Bjorklund-Scott combination. I'd also like to point out that if you wanted to break down the minutes between those two, particularly statistically (which you can do at the CU website in the NCAA Tournament notes section) you'll see that JR had the stats she had in those categories because of who she got her minutes against...and with all due respect to JR, Bowling Green is a far cry from LSU and OU, where you'll see Stafford had a lot of her bad stuff go down.

I think Stafford's extra year will get her the nod at the PG spot...but don't count JR out at the two-guard spot. She'll push Fagan for that spot, but Fagan won't roll over either. I think she's more suited for the two than the one anyways. She's creative enough on the ball to do her own thing...if CB lets her. Plus she can play the three as well. That's all I have on this.

Mark...my top five:
Turner-she was MAGIC for WBB.
Nightingale-always in Shelley's shadow as a PG, but I love her game.
Scholz-a real bruiser...hard hard worker.
Mathern-if you combined the work ethic of Lappe and Nightingale, you still couldn't come close to her.
and I'll go with Lappe as my fifth. I can't wait for her to have another year healthy...or at least almost.

[This message has been edited by kate dawg (edited 07-15-2002).]

[ChipperF1]

Favorite team (all time) Northwestern 1989-1993.
I did some radio for the team when I was in school there (managed to cram a couple of degrees in there, too http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif)

But they were an awesome team. Co-champs in '89-'90. NCAA Tourney bids in '89-'90, '90-'91, and '92-'93 (including the greatest road trip ever..To Knoxville in the second round of the NCAAs). It was when Big 10 basketball really rose to the stage, with great coaches like C. Vivian Stringer, Lin Dunn, Don Perelli, and later Rene Portland and Nancy Darsch.
I went to my first Final Four in 1993, partly because I made the reservations thinking Northwestern would make a cinderella run. I ended up seeing Iowa and Ohio State going and cheering for them, being conference and all. But that #22 girl for Texas Tech stole the show from everybody. Seeing Sheryl Swoopes effort is still one of the greatest things I've ever seen in a sporting event. Her performance in the championship game is the most inspiring thing I've seen on a basketball court, and this is from a guy who was blessed to see be in the joint when Michael Jordan hit the championship-winning shot then walked away from the game.

Now how I became a fan of my favorite Big-12 team? I must say, that when it comes to the homestate, there isn't a college team I don't like. I like Nebraska and Creighton, and the Division II teams like UNO, UNK and Chadron State, and follow the NAIA teams like Hastings (2002 NAIA Champs!), and St. Mary's (who restarted their program last year). I have seen the good ol' days when I started watching. When all these team actually played each other with something at stake, AND when I wanted them all to beat Nebraska.

I started watching hoop when I was around 9. That was in the AIAW era, and in AIAW play everybody played everybody, and the games were fierce between all the teams in state. I liked Nebraska-Omaha the best of all. The Lady Mavs had some very successful seasons, and a couple of AIAW state championships in there, too. UNL folks always looked their noses down at the smaller colleges, so it was a joy to see UNO beat UNL.

A lot changed with the NCAA taking over womens sports. Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska-Omaha joined with the NCAA and UNO dropped into Division II, so the two teams wouldn't play much with anything at stake beside bragging rights.
In the meantime, I followed high school with a passion. There was some great talent in the homestate in the early 80s, one of those great players is now in Lincoln trying to get Team Enron back on its feet.

What made me a Nebraska fan was the day Maurtice Ivy, my cousin, and my hero, signed her letter of intent to play there. Most people really didn't notice (It's Nebraska, and its basketball who cared). But they were signing up some interesting local talent. They also got a hot shot from Alliance, Nebraska. Some kid named Amy Stephens, I hear shes a coach of some note now.

It didn't happen overnight. The team lost in '85, and '86, but you could see the talent building. Then came 1988. The team just exploded in the non-conference season and gave as good as they got in Big 8 play. It was a great year, ending with an NCAA tourney bid, and my hero getting Big 8 player of the year

After '89, I kinda lost touch. I went away to college, but I got see the lasses in red play my junior year against Northwestern. Karen Jennings was awesome that night, as was the backcourt. The Huskers won by 10, largely because of the size they had and the athleticism. Angela Beck had put together a solid team. It was no surprised that they made NCAA trips again in '92 and in '93.

When I returned from college and graduated, I did some freelance television work and I covered Nebraska and Creighton, which had also gotten very good in the early 90s. Both team were solid, and in '94 CU was on fire. 28 wins, 4 losses and ranked in the top 20. They had some doe-eyed young lass named Yori as head coach. In covering both, I also saw the very interesting personalities on both team, and that is something that draws me to womens basketball. The sports has some varied characters in it. From coaches to players, even officials.
This period really found me following the game with the passion I had as a tyke. The college scene was solid and the high school girls ranks where rapidly improving. Around 1995 or so, a group of kid started filtering into the high schools and really changing the game. For the first time in my lifetime, Nebraska talent statewide was effectively matching the best in the region and turning heads nationally. This time from 1995-2000 ended up being a great time to watch HS hoops, and seeing filled stands at the state tourney really confirmed that.

What sold me on liking Nebraska was a night in 1996. It was late in the season and the lasses needed some wins to stay in NCAA contention. The opponent on that late February Friday was Colorado. The Buffs were having their usual 25-win, highly ranked, turning up for the NCAAs look about them. But that night, it was war. The game started with Colorado setting the pace with their talent, but the Good Girls kept making plays. The game ended with a Nebraska victory in two overtimes. A couple of weeks later we're in the NCAA tournament, losing a tough one to Colorado State, thanks to some freshman hotshot named Becky Hammon, but that team was awesome for its character, and its characters. Point guard Liz Brenden (the type of kid you'd want on your side in a dark alley at 2 in the morning), swingman Tina McClain (So silky and never really got the credit she deserved), a silky sophmore guard named Anna DeForge (this is when she was really starting to get the feel), and of my faves center Pyra Aarden (She was the nicest sweetest person...until the game starts, then she became evil.)
To this day they are still my favorite Husker team, with the 1998 team (Sanderford's first and best) a close second. Although 1998 was the best year I've had as a fan. You had Nebraska really play above their station to get to the NCAA tournament. They played, in my mind two of the greatest games a Husker womens team as ever play (the WNIT final vs. Connecticut and the NCAA second round vs. Old Dominion). They lost both games but play spectacularly, leaving it all on the court. An added bonus was seeing a bunch of freshmen at Creighton turn what should have been a 20-game loser into a 17-game winner, included beating a ranked SW Missouri State with Jackie Stiles in all her glory, in one of the wildest games I've had the priviledge of covering. It took last years 24-7 effort by Creighton to surpass that 1998 season. Those girls were that fun to watch.
Also in 1998 was the best girls hs state tournment ever. When I look at the roster of that tourney, the foundation of a lot of future college success was there, including seeing a school from my old neighborhood win a state title (Omaha North, led by 11 points and 19 rebounds by guard Christy Neneman. She's Missouri Valley Conference player of the year these days.)


Now I live in Connecticut, where the entire state is crazy about this game and their UConn Huskies. It's easy to get caught up in Huskymania, and their games are fun to go to. The electricity of Gampel, the great teams, Geno, etc. Going to the 2000 Final Four and seeing Philadelphia annexed by the state of Connecticut was wild. It really showed how much the game had changed. It was the first Final Four I attended since '93, and the change was night and day. It seemed the Omni in Atlanta was half-full and quiet. The First Union Center in Philadelphia didn't have an empty seat. I saw scaulper getting up to $1,500 for a tickets. It was great to see womens basketball in a higher profile.

But THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET. I can still follow my teams and my leagues. This time for the Big 12 is exciting for a fan, even though Nebraska's pretty going to be the fop of the league for a few seasons. I wouldn't trade my lasses in Husker Red or Jays Blue for UConn, or anyone else.






[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 07-16-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 07-16-2002).]

[Buffsfan22]

Well Katedawg I'll try to be more respectful than you.
Shouldn't take much effort.
Just FYI, I know at least two folks who are closer to the team than you or I who are as equally high on the Buffs this season as I am.
I've no personal problem with your perfidy. So why be so jealous of my fidelity?
And just FYI, it was Ceal Barry who said the battle for starting PG this year would be between VJ and Billingsly.
But then, what would Ceal know about it?

That is where the largest disparity in our views of how good this team can be is found, meaning, how we perceive VJ. I believe she'll be the best Buff ever. That is my honest, humble appraisal.
Sorry it offends you. Try to get over it.
And no doubt this is just another skewed observation on my part, but it seemed to me the players who were the difference vs. Stanford last year were Lappe and Scott.
Belive me, I thought the world of Mandy and Eisha. I just think the replacement parts can be even better.
Anyway, we shall see.
Maybe you can root against them a few times in hopes my prognosis is flawed?

[KSUron]

Buffsfan22 let me help you out a bit re: Kate Dawg. She is a loyal long time member on this board and a loyal CU fan. On this board we have a history of refering to enthusiastic fans of a team as a "homer" and its not taken as a major slam. We actually like people to see things from their team's point of view and represent their team. Last year we went through a thing where various people were nominated as homer of the year. I am proud to say that I was included. I am sure Kate Dawg was not intent on flaming you. If she wanted to she could do it with more force than that.

I am happy to see cheerful disputes and disagreements on this board. It is fun to get differing points of view even to the point of argument. What is not fun is taking disagreements personally or taking personal shots at other posters. I don't think you have gone off the deep end but in my view you are approaching it.

Do feel free, however, to take any shots at me you want. I have a thick skin to go along with my thick head.

[BEVOFAN2]

Well my interest in College hoops didn't start developing until about 1997 and I must say that http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif is my favorite. But then again I am very biased, especially since I know Stacy Stephens very well.

I also know several girls that play within the Big 12 so its been really great seeing the girls develope from where they were in HS and AAU play. And continue to see the interaction among friends when they play against each other. The girls are very competitive on the court but its great to see the friendship and respect for one another that is there too.

The Big 12 have some great coaches and I've gotten to meet several of them and think highly of them also.

Hey http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/cu.gif how is Jen Warden doing with her new job? She is one nice young lady.

Of course I would LOVE to see http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif be number 1 in March, but I would absolutely be EXSTATIC if the Big 12 knocked out UConn, Tennessee. And the Big 12 become the Priemer Conference. Man, wouldn't that be great!!!!!!!!!!!

[Buffsfan22]

Thanks for the advise KSURon, but I only play defense when it comes to flaming, and usually I don't bother even to do that.
Generally, If someone wants to whip out a cigar, I choose not to light it for them.
I may be new here but I'm a vet of the ESPN board, (the "private" active one rather than the "public, rather inactive" one)
So I ask you to forgive me if my idea of "the deep end " varies from your own.
Seems to me your criticism of my response is typical "how dare the newby reply to a board vet in the same tone.
Honestly, it's the respectful tones of posts here that made this board very attractive to me.
I saw Kate Dawgs post diffenently than you did. If I read it wrong, I apologize. But you know it's rare when any two people read a piece of writing the same way.
Nevertheless, I ended up being more defensive (if not offensive in my defense) than I wished I had been.
That was the first time someone's tone here disappointed me and I could have handled that better.

And if you'll notice, I called myself a "homer" in my poll post.
My sense was that I was being "talked down to". I could be wrong.

"Feel free to take a shot at me..."

Seems to me you're looking to be "good guy" here and are expecting me to audition as villian.
Sorry, I'm not interested.

As offering of proof, I'll leave this board to you vets.

Peace.

[labcoatguy]

The place: Lloyd Noble Center
The time: a saturday afternoon in the fall of 1999
The teams: The Sooners vs the Lithuanian national team or something like that.

I was in the pep band, and Phylesha Whaley and Caton Hill and Stacey Dales and Neish Caufield and Sunny Hardeman were putting on an exhibition (pun intended.) I had always loved basketball when played well, and this excitement produced by the fairer sex thrilled me. But the band didn't. I really didnt like anyone in the band, which suited them just fine. Because of this and a few other factors, i missed out on tournament action and didnt return the next season.

SECOND TIME

The next season, my friend and partner-in-labcoat Tim and I decided to go see a game. It was vs. Texas Tech, so we were expecting a show down, and it was indeed a good game. Stacey Dales had somewhere close to a mole of assists, and Caton Hill was making no-lookers (practically) by the end of it. Tim and I were from that point irretrievably hooked. Less than a year later we were wearing labcoats and making asses of ourselves.

SINCE THEN

Number of losses witnessed first hand by us: 0
Number of wins (including exhibition games): 21
Number of times we've travelled over 80 miles to see a game: 3
Number of foreign flags purchased specifically for Womens Basketball: 3
Number of times we've been asked to sit down by people behind us: gotta be around 20 by now.

[Cat-swishhh]

I just wanted to say thanks to KSUron for the welcome. I am curious to what part of Nebraska was it that you grew up? Yep, I was aware that Susie Fritz was from Clay Center. My wife and I got to know her folks, the Wiemers, too. As a Cat fan it must of been an exciting and proud time last year to see Bramledge packed and jumping to boot. Sorry I wasn't able to take in any of the games first hand last year.
Also wanted Chipper to know how much I appreciate his posts even though I was teasing him some in my original post. His creativity on the keyboard is fun to read. Curious as to whether your cousin still plays much ball and what she is up to these days. Didn't get a chance to personally see her play but from what I have heard, she is the premier female hoops player ever produced in the state of Nebraska. To test your memory a bit Chipper, can you recall your favorite players from the Northwestern teams that you enjoyed watching. I am always pleased and impressed when an institution with an esteemed academic reputation (such as Northwestern) is able to field highly competitive athletic teams also. One final note...you had mentioned the Huskers losing to CSU and Becky Hammon...I have heard that Hammon attended summer camps in Lincoln and was interested in becoming a Husker but an offer never was forthcoming. Had you ever heard that story and if so, do you know how true it is?


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Splash!!!!

[swok34]

Number of times we've been asked to sit down by people behind us: gotta be around 20 by now

lol, labcoatguy.......I know how you feel. Maybe we should establish a "standing" OU section, don't you sit in the student section?

[tamn8or]

I started school at ISU in '91, pre-Fennelly. I remember people making jokes about the women's team, and their major claim to fame was that the coach was the sister of a TV "star". I dropped out of school in '94 and moved to San Francisco. My new roommate was a freaky-fanatic Stanford fan, a long time member of the Borg Collective. She brought me to a few games and I learned to love watching Wideman, Starbird, and Nygaard on the court. When I went back to school I made it to a couple of games, but after the raucous crowd in Maples the ISU games seemed too tame.

I started going to ISU games regularly after meeting and spending time with one of the players. That was the year we lost in the first round of the NCAA. I went to every game the next year, and bought season tickets the year after that. The last few years I've tried to make pretty much every game within Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Now I've been relegated to Big 10 Can't Count to 11 land and the University of Wisconsin. Thanks to the Internet, I can still follow my team.

[mred]

Originally posted by tamn8or:
Now I've been relegated to Big 10 Can't Count to 11 land and the University of Wisconsin. Thanks to the Internet, I can still follow my team.

So two of us ISU fanatics are living in the land of cheese? Granted, I live in the Chicago area only a few miles north of the WI/IL border.