Losses can point to women's sports' gains

[swok34]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/brennan/2006-03-23-losses_x.htm

[labcoatguy]

"These are important games this week," Frese said. "I don't think fans want to watch games that are 40-38 with a lot of turnovers. We're at the point where these definitely need to be great games." Better than 60-38, which is closer to the plurality of women's tournament games this past weekend.

It's nice to have an article like this claiming that there is more parity than ever in women's basketball, but I don't think it's true. Of the Sweet 16, only two teams (5 Utah, 8 Boston College) weren't supposed to be there, according to seeding (compared to 6 for the men). There were 36 out of a possible 48 games that were won by 10 points or more, compared to only 22 by the men (including the double ot win by BC over Pacific).

And even more "scientific" proof: My score in ESPN women's tournament challenge of 490 is in the 60th percentile, while my score in the mens tournament challenge of 440 (50 pts less) is in the 86th percentile. Women's ball is "more predictable" because of less parity.

[Bball Girl]

From here on out

May every game (except whoever beats UConn and Tennessee)
* go into OT
* be won at the buzzer
* have scores above 70
* have turnovers (total) below 20
* have fouls (total) below 20
* no injuries
* no technicals or intentionals
* FG% of 45%+

[sybarite]

There isn't a great deal of parity just yet in women's basketball. But, we are no longer talking about one or two teams having a chance to win it all. This year, there are about ten teams that were thought to have a good shot at winning the title. Instead of it being UConn vs Tennessee, I think it is a scramble once we hit the Elite Eight.

[brolewis]

From here on out

May every gameNo, no, no, the statement should be:

From here on out May every game (except who Baylor and OU play)...

[OhMandy]

There isn't a great deal of parity just yet in women's basketball. But, we are no longer talking about one or two teams having a chance to win it all. This year, there are about ten teams that were thought to have a good shot at winning the title. Instead of it being UConn vs Tennessee, I think it is a scramble once we hit the Elite Eight.

Then you have to ask if it's because UConn and Tenn has come down a notch or other upper level teams have raised their level?

I'm more inclined to believe it's because UConn and Tenn has come down a notch.

[Jimi]

It's nice to have an article like this claiming that there is more parity than ever in women's basketball, but I don't think it's true. Of the Sweet 16, only two teams (5 Utah, 8 Boston College) weren't supposed to be there, according to seeding (compared to 6 for the men).
What this proves is that the women's committe does a better job of seeding. I know this is true because I hear everyone including SDS say that BC's win proves that the committee commited a bad seeding mistake. Clearly the men's committee makes a lot more mistakes.

The committee's excellent seeding job is futher proved by the fact that when fans of the women's game fill out their brackets they know they can rely on the committee so they tend to follow the seeding much more than men's fans can.

I love stats and arguments thereupon. :D

[sybarite]

Since other programs are now viable options, all of the All-Americans are not going to UConn or Tennessee. I guess that means that they are coming down, but it also means that the others are rising.

Since Title IX's effects are now being seen, I think it is more that every team is rising. I doubt that the Tennessee team of ten years ago could beat any team in the top twenty now. There is a great deal of improvement in overall development due to greater participation.