Baylor / Fresno State - FSU coach fires first verbal shot

[spooky]

Looks like the Fresno State coach is a little hacked about having to come to Waco. They beat Oregon State Monday, and drew a great crowd of 4500. Unfortunately, they had 1400 at their first round game, and averaged 1400 for the season, so BU won the hosting rights. So the FSU coach takes the mike after the game and has this gem for the fans:

"At 6:30 tomorrow morning we're getting on a plane and going to Baylor and I don't like it!" exclaimed Fresno State Head Coach Stacy Johnson-Klein, "I hope we kick their asses!"

Not to revisit the classy/classless debate we've had before, but this doesn't seem to me to be the "proper" thing for a coach to say in public. Not to mention the locker room material it gives the Lady Bears.

What's y'alls take on this - uncalled for or fiery and good motivation?

[This message has been edited by spooky (edited 03-25-2003).]

[YCN]

I believe that it is fiery motivation. Unfortunately, the motivation won't be traveling to Waco.

Severe advantage: Baylor.

Can we say NIT semifinals?


[This message has been edited by YCN (edited 03-25-2003).]

[Row6Seat10]

It doesn't matter whats said or where it's played, Baylor still wins by 15. Fresneck State could pack their house and it still wouldn't be enough to hang with Blackmon, Young and company.

You suppose Kim Mulkey-Robertson will say something about kicking their ass after the game? Or maybe one of her players.

[Press]

Isn't there some connection with Stacy Johnson-Klein and LaTech? Maybe I'm thinking of another coach?

[spooky]

From the Fresno State site:

Johnson-Klein was an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech for the last two seasons, helping the Lady Techsters to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

"Prior to Louisiana Tech, Johnson-Klein was the head coach at Cameron University, a Division II schools in Lawton, Okla. In three seasons there, she produced the first winning season at the school in over a decade and improved her team's GPA to 3.27, which ranked No. 20 nationally."

"Johnson-Klein was an assistant coach at Oklahoma from 1993-96, where she recruited a top 20 recruiting class and helped the team to a 22-9 record in 1994-95, at the time the best season in school history. The Sooners won the 1994 Women's NIT championship."

Big 12 connections and Louisiana Tech connections. looks like Johnson-Klein and KMR didn't coach together, but basically J-K was Kim's replacement. Could be a real soap opera in the making.

[Bob_Ballew]

Attendance certainly helps with the site selection for each round, but I was under the impression that each school bids on the opportunity to host. Everything revolves around dollars and cents.

Go Lady http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/bu.gif

[catladyok]

Zo, I think you're right. It's all about the money. I'm not certain, but I am under the impression that the hosting schools for the NCAA 1st and 2nd rounds actually pay the money up front. Then they hope to get it back in ticket sales later. (Hey, folks...please set me straight if I'm wrong. I just heard this on some sports talk show.) It might be the same in the women's NIT.

Coach Kim won't have to say a word. The players will give Fresno State their answer on the court!

GO BEARS!

[Cowgirlfan]

Three things...

First of all, THAT is classless. I apologize to KMR for calling her classless -- I still don't like her, but she isn't as low as this woman.

Secondly, if she really feels that way, she should say it to her team in the locker room. I have seen bulletin board material backfire WAY too many times. A perfect example of that type of thing is KMR's run in Gallagher last year. If she hadn't done that, I don't think OSU would have been fired up enough to beat them this year.

Finally, this woman was one of the favorites for the OSU job until she took herself out of the running. Thank God we hired a classy woman like Coach Goodenough instead of her.

[Bob_Ballew]

Cowgirlfan, thanks for the apology about KMR, that is class. Somebody that I work with here knows Julie Goodenough really well and says she is a great person.

The local TV station actually showed a clip of the Fresno State coach making her comment about kicking asses during her post game remarks on the court.

[This message has been edited by Zo3157 (edited 03-26-2003).]

[Jennifer]

Isn't Fresno State where Lauren Selmon transferred to from Baylor? I guess she won't be making the trip back to Waco.
Wow, can't believe such statements from a Coach in public. That's bulletin board material if I ever saw it.

[swok34]

Thank God we hired a classy woman like Coach Goodenough instead of her

I agree, I ran into Coach Goodenough and Lori Allen at the OU/George Washington game Sunday nite....that's pretty neat. And she's a very friendly person.

[breid]

Yes, Selmon transferred to Fresno, but is sitting out this year.

[Big12Bear]

well, up until the end of the first half, the coach was living upto her words.

Fresno was up 40-25 before the Lady Bears closed the first half on an 8-0 run to cut it to 40-33.

Richmond is surprising Auburn at Beard-Eaves Coliseum, 27-25 at the half.

[Big12Bear]

24-4 overall run for BU.

49-44 Baylor now! 15:25 left.

[Big12Bear]

BU wins 72-65!

att was 3253 and the announcers made it sound like they undercounted again.

Auburn beat Richmond 59-53, so they'll play Creighton. Now Mizzou, go get a win tomorrow night to guarantee a Big 12 team in the WNIT Championship game!

[Bob_Ballew]

The attendance had to be much more than 3253, it looked like the largest crowd of the season to me.

The first half stunk. Baylor's defense could not stop the Lady Bulldogs. Logan was on fire in the first half and scored 22 points. When the Bears went down by 15, I started sweating. Fresno State shot only 16% in the second half. Credit some tough defense by the Lady Bears.

[spooky]

It was another one-woman show by a point guard named Lindsey tonight, but just like Iowa St, the Bears survive. Lindsey Logan scored 22 in the first half, but zilch for the first 12 minutes of the second and finished with 30. She had no help from her teammates, and Baylor stepped up on her some, but strangely FSU didn't go to her at all in the second half. Why they didn't keep going to her I don't know.

Baylor did tie a WNIT record with 12 blocked shots.
Let's go Tigers! I'd like to see a Big 12 rematch.

[YemenBear]

Stephanie Blackmon is playing incredible basketball. Dionne Brown had a good first half. Melanie Hammerly played great defense in first half as well. I was surprised she didn't see action in 2nd half. Sophia struggled a bit, but kept FSU from focusing solely on Stephanie. Chelsea Whitaker did a good defensive job on Lindsay Logan once Baylor decided to key on her. Logan was money in the first half, sizzling from 3 point land then driving for layups when Baylor overplayed her. Very impressive performance from the FSU senior guard.

Fresno State came out with an excellent defensive game plan. They keyed on Baylor's inside play, not giving up anything easy. FSU played good, inspired defense. Bulldogs were two different teams in the first and second halves.

Baylor crowd was very enthusiastic. Great game to watch. Sure hope we get to play in the Ferrell Center again, but attendance figures are disappointing.

In defense of the Fresno State coach, it's only fair to consider her position. She's building a program and has their largest attendance ever against Oregon State in their second round WNIT game. Fresno State pulls in 4,500 compared to Baylor's 2,400 against Arizona State. If Fresno gets the host over Baylor, they're all but assured of drawing 5,000 plus. This is exactly the situation that helped the Lady Bears develop a respectible fan base. Get fans in the house and let them experience the excitement of women's basketball. Helps bring them back next season.

Plus she puts some fire in her players. They showed it in the first half of the Baylor game. They just couldn't maintain that level of intensity the full game. Yes, Baylor fans were all the more vocal because of her remarks. No way are her remarks aimed at Baylor personally. I think she was just frustrated and voiced it to the Fresno State fans at the 2nd round game. Doesn't make her a bad guy, at least not in my book. Shows some fire and excitement for the Fresno State program. I like her. I like her record and accomplishments. I think she also emphasizes the academic side to her players. Give her a couple of years and I think she'll be pushing Louisiana Tech for supremacy in the WAC.

Sic Em,

[spooky]

I'll have to admit I was kinda impressed with her tonight myself. The fans were all over her all game, with signs, boos, and I'm sure a few personal comments. She seemed to stay focused and positive with her team all night, and definitely stayed composed. She led a great turnaround with this year's team, but I will be really interested to see how next year goes - great momemtum from this year, but losing 5 key seniors.

In the post-game comments, she admitted she probably made a mistake with her choice of words, and had a great quote: "I'm not Bobby Knight - but tonight I think I know what it feels like for him."