Congrats to the new Big XII champs!!

[Moooooo]

I have to admit that I was skeptical about this team after their loss at Ohio State; however, they've come together, learned how to play defense, and are playing every phase of the game well.

Congrats Horns on a job well done.

Yes, I realize we may have to share the trophy with K-State, but I'll enjoy this win for 24 hours, and have my Guns Up for tomorrow night's game in Lubbock. Call me selfish, but I don't want to share . . . http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Press]

Congrats http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif! I saw the last few minutes of tonights game and I see a lot of desire and confidence in this team right now. I think this could be a special month and good to see JC really happy.

(Did I just say all those nice things about UT?) http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[spooky]

Agreed. Congratulations to Texas on a great year. My Lady Bears have only been dominated twice all year, and both were at the hands of Jody and Co. I usually find it hard to pull for a Horn team of any persuasion, but this years group of ladies is very fun to watch, and should make major noise in the postseason.

[Moooooo]

Check out the picture of the team with their new trophy . . .

http://texassports.com/mainpages/wbb_index.html

[Texan]

This is a great team of young women. Not only are they talented, they are friendly and a true team. Congrats to this team for coming back from a hard start.

[Bobcat4956]

WOW!!!! CONGRTATS Lady Longhorns. Never would have thought it early in the year but they have really come together. Was not really surprised that we did not play better tonight. I was at the Tech game and I kinda felt like it took a lot out of us. But we maintained tonight against a fiesty Oklahoma team that has gotten a lot better.

[BenEClone]

If KSU beats TT, doesn't KSU win the conference, or is that just top seed.

If two teams are tied and they are from different scheduling divisions, the winner of the game between the two tied teams shall be the higher seed.

[35TangoTango]

Originally posted by BenEClone:
If KSU beats TT, doesn't KSU win the conference, or is that just top seed.

Just the top seed. When KSU beats Tech, KSU and UT will be co-champions of the conference, and KSU will be the number one seed in the tournament.

In 2000, there was a three-way tie, and all three were considered co-champions.

[JohnHenry]

Well, i'll be dipped in dogs#!%. They did it. No choking, collapsing, "PUI" or any other nonsense like that. They went out and just took the dadgum thing, riding their hoss Stacy all the way to Ponderosa of champions. Congratulations to my gals on a hard-fought win and a hard-won championship. The fat is now in the fire, as it were. As Alisha noted, it's 966 miles from here to Atlanta...

Some thoughts on this game:

--Stephens was nursing something sore in her left leg. She stretched on the floor before the 2nd half and was obviously playing in some pain. Hard to tell just what it was, but it sure as hell didn't slow her down much. I believe it was the reason she asked to sit down at one point in the 1st half, though.

--I am officially impressed with the Sooners and do NOT want to play them in Dallas. Not the same team that KSU slapped around in Norman back in January.
OU is a fine basketball team, VERY well coached, and refused to go away like I hoped they would. Midway through the 2nd, the Horns came to grips with this fact and went out there and proceeded to take the game. Dionnah Jackson can play anywhere for anybody and will be an All-American before she's through with college ball. What a playmaker - I was in awe of her game all night. Welch is very mature for a freshman and will be serious force in a couple of years. Maria is a tough cookie with a nose for the ball...
--Preston impressed me more than Schucky, but she didn't impress the refs, who I thought were a little tough on her. Nice moves and confidence, though. A little more upper body strength and look out...

--OU is also quick as a team & executed very well in spurts, but the inexperience showed on the turnovers. Their zone had us in a tizzy a few times, but if it was somehow meant to stop Stephens, it didn't work. Season-high 28 points, with OU collapsing on her most of the night. The pump fake she did around Schucky (I think) was priceless.

--Hard to believe Stacy picked up her FIRST FOUL in the 2ND HALF. Me thinks the refs were giving us too much credit at times...but it wound up being moot; once our shooters started hitting from downtown, it was goodnight for OU as the zone broke down and they were forced to adjust on the fly.

--Not surprisingly, we didn't hit the offensive boards very hard. This was somewhat due to team exhaustion (mental and physical), but props to OU's zone, and gameplan. The Sooners did a great job chasing down loose balls and rebounds, and Schreiber stayed out of the paint for the most part on the offensive end. She still pulled down 8 boards (team leader) while Stephens picked up 7. Most of UT's rebounds came in the 2nd half as OU windexed the glass nicely in the 1st.

--Jamie was obviously running low on fuel, missing 8 of her 10 shots and 3 OF 5 FREE THROWS (!!) Fortunately, we have Nina and Tai and Alisha who managed to pick up her 'slack', as it were...

My favorite moment of the evening was the sight of Fred Applin, furiously exhorting the crowd to stand up and make some noise in the 2nd half when the game was still tight. He had a point. Jesus, we were playing for a championship, and we were locked in a life-and-death struggle against a very good team - get up and be a real home crowd, for heaven's sake. Give your team an edge!
He, the team, and the rest of that staff had worked too long and too hard to see it all go to pot without at least a show of enthusiasm. The way this team has laid it on the line this year, they deserved it. You go Fred. We need more of that. 7,300 is plenty if they're all hollering...and look at the fruits of their labors now...

http://texassports.com/images/wbbimages/2002_03/012/trophy_340_20.jpg

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

[This message has been edited by JohnHenry (edited 03-06-2003).]

[anntaylor]

Great synopsis, JohnHenry.

I, too, was very impressed with OU. Very quick, good shooters & very well coached...and they are very young. Certainly a force to be reckoned with next year (if not sooner...no pun intended!)

I think the crowd (with Fred's help, of course!) was a factor in the second half. We finally pulled in more students & hopefully can continue to do that next year.

[BenEClone]

This maybe an overstatement, but, I think valid - Texas seems to have a tendency, at times, to play up to or down to the level of the opponent. They are certainly not alone in this. The effect is to keep lesser opponents, such as OU, in the game longer and runs the risk of a late run and a loss to a lesser team. They have the capacity to realize the level of competition and change levels in the second half as they did. On the plus side - UT can play up to the best teams in the country.

[JohnHenry]

Disagree. OU is talented, and very well-coached. They may be a "lesser" team to UT, but not by much.
We didn't play down to NU, KU, A&M, BU, MU, CU....maybe to OSU in Stillwater, but they also kicked it up a notch that week AND they were at home.

Dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence, Ben.

[Raider Red]

In order for you longhorn fans dreams to come true, you better have your red and black on tonight with your guns up.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by Raider Red:
In order for you longhorn fans dreams to come true, you better have your red and black on tonight with your guns up.

Nah. They need to have their purple on and join the "Haze" so that they have a clear path to the championship game. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

(Do you suppose I can get away with that "the devil made me do it line one more time) http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Jimi]

Seriously, congratulations to the Longhorns on their well earned Championship. With a bit of luck I hope KSU can come up and share it with you. Either way it is a great accomplishment for Jody Conradt and the Texas Team.

[ksuhoopster]

Real Quick Y'all,
I want everyone to rember at the start of this season, KSU played UT, who won ? If you don't remember let me refresh ur memory http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ksu.gif did win that game. So tonight if and win we beat TT (it won't be easy) i belive we are the champs. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[ksuhoopster]

O Yeah,
Way to go Longhorns ! I won't mind shareing that trophy with them (there a great team)

[Moooooo]

How sweet it is!!!!! No sharing allowed this year . . . http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[RaiderPower1]

Tournament is a toss up this year but it will most definately be one of the top 3 seeds....

[swok34]

I agree, RP...it will certainly be interesting http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[DblT81]

Guns Up! for the sole Big XII Champions! It is quite an accomplishment to go 15-1 in this conference.

Congrats http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif

[DBLTFarmer]

Congrats Horns(I cant believe Im saying that) http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

I do believe you have the best team in the big 12. You have the best shot to win the tourney and I just hope that Tech gets another shot at you!!

[YemenBear]

The team that finished in sole possession of first deserves its accolades. Congratulations to the Lady Longhorns.

Personally, I'm relieved Baylor is not in the Lady Horn bracket of the tournament. Two teams won't meet unless it's in the championship game. And yes, I would LOVE for that to happen. Fully expect Texas to be there. I don't look beyond TAMU, K-State, or Tech. In fact, I hope Baylor plays all three. I like our match-ups and chances to win much better against these potential opponents than I do against the t-sips.

Bring on the tournament! Now if I can just get the company to quit messing with my flight schedule home. Might not reach DFW until 14:00 on 11 March.

Sic Em,

[Bball Girl]

Congratulations Longhorns...and quoting Coach Sharp, you owe us one for this. Truly...y'all have earned this year and we'd love to see you in Dallas.

[Bevo]

Congratulations Longhorns! Big XII Champions!!!

Conference record: 15-1
Home: 8-0
Away: 7-1 http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Yes, the early road losses did pay off!
vs. Southern division: 10-0 http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif It's a sweep!
vs. Northern division: 5-1

One goal accomplished, several more to go.
Way to go, ladies! You earned it - one game at a time.

Now it's time to take this road show to Big "D" and bring home another piece of hardware.

http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif Texas Women's Basketball
Just Call Them "Champs"

[ChipperF1]

Congratulations Texas.

"Texas Fight" reigns supreme...and perhaps will in Atlanta.

[elfdenmom]

Congratulations Longhorns on a great run and a great year. Dadgum it! That hurt!

[swok34]

Congratulations to Texas.....may the wind sweep you all the way into Atlanta.