ESPN Regional Schedule

[swok34]

http://sports.espn.go.com/page2/s/tvlistings/01wcbbsked.html


Those sob's, WHY did they put the OU/TTU game on as the 2nd game, unlike last year, where Duke, the #1 seed got to play in the early game.........

[YCN]

You could always look at the bright side; at least the start is an hour earlier this year.

But I wonder why it is that the West Regional has to be the last to start each year? Why is it that the East and Mideast regions always get the early games?

[Jennifer]

It's ridiculous that they make these teams play such late games.
Well, OU has done this before and will do fine.

Boise is in the Mountain time zone, right? So that's a 10:30 game CST, 9:30 where they'll be.

They should have put Stanford as the late game...oh well, OU and Tech can play with the card dealt them.

[swok34]

YCN, because of the time difference.........though at least this year, both teams will be playing out of their norm time, unlike last year. I'm starting to think "conspiracy"....first OU get's no TV time at all, while the rest of the #1 seeds have each been on ESPN or ESPN2.....now they relegate us to the last game of the night, that I've found myself nodding off in.

but, that's ok, OU actually does better with little spotlight....
kinda like sneaking in the back door.... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

and yes, Bark, I'll be watching another one of those brew-the-coffee-at-midnight ballgames.... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Jennifer]

It seems to me that it would be more logical for the West coast teams to play first--then it's still a decent viewing time elsewhere. Then when the East coast plays later in the evening, again it's still decent viewing time everywhere else.

[YCN]

Just a comforting note regarding ESPN's scheduling - on the mother channel in the 3 hour empty slot between games they are showing 4 back-to-back episodes of Big League Challenge, followed by a one hour Sportscenter; while on ESPN2 they have the scintillating lineup of Yachting, Volvo Open Race, Leg 4; Motorcycle Racing, EA Sports Supercross Series; Timbersports Series, and Horse Racing, the Lane's End Spiral Stakes.

No wonder they make them play such late games! (sick!)

[Bark]

Swok says:
"and yes, Bark, I'll be watching another one of those brew-the-coffee-at-midnight ballgames.... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif "

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

I'll be watching the OU/Tech game too. Guess after the game, I'll have breakfast.

[Bball Girl]

Geez this is a conspiracy....if these were men...would they make them play this late? Heck no!

[grojc]

Is Boise mountain or Pacific time? I'm pretty sure its Pacific. If its Pacific, an 8:30 start is not very late my friends. No UT fans were complaining about the 8 PM start in Austin the other night. I don't know where the since of entitlement is coming from in all these posts. If OU wins the whole thing and has undefeated seasons, they'll get the coverage. Unfortunately - the networks are going to promote the teams with the name recognition. Its like that in every sport. I assume all the whining is just a way we deal with our anxiousness?

[Jennifer]

grojc--the issue with the timing is if the game is 11:30 EST time, that's 10:30 Central Time, which is what the Tech and OU girl's body clocks are adjusted to--which IMO is late to play a bball game. But as I added earlier, they did this last season and at least have that experience under their belt and will be fine!

That's quite a difference from the 8:00 start time in Austin (or the 8:30 start times OU had in its regional games).

And I don't call this whining, nor am I anxious about anything.
I don't think anyone has a sense of entitlement by suggesting that the games be played at a 'normal' time.

[Jennifer]

I just checked, Boise is in the Mountain Time Zone.

[AirLonghorn]

OU will get plenty of television exposure when they reach "The Final Four." Everyone in the country needs to have the opportunity to see Dales play. What an enjoyable player to watch!

[schooner2]

Time won't matter much since we are playing Tech. Game will start at 10:30 Central time. What a ridiculous time to play basketball. Since when did everyone on the west coast start staying up so late everyday?

While we are at it, we should petition the NCAA to just have this game played in Amarillo or Childress or Dallas. That way, the game will be a sell out even on short notice. Both teams won't have to travel far. Just be much more enjoyable that way!

[grojc]

Originally posted by Jennifer:
I just checked, Boise is in the Mountain Time Zone.

Are you sure? the panhandle of Idaho is Pacific.

[grojc]

Originally posted by grojc:
Are you sure? the panhandle of Idaho is Pacific.



My bad, I finally checked were Boise was. Now, I do agree that 9:30 is kind of pushing it. Sorry all.

[KSUron]

Yes Boise is Mountain Time. Heck even Ontario Oregon is on Mountain time. The line is north and west of there. (Ontario is about 60 miles west of Boise. You can start Mountain time in Nebraska and go all the way to Oregon. Trust me I've done it MANY times. Happy trails to you.

[Jennifer]

Yes, I am sure. Idaho is split in two as far as time zones go. Northern=Pacific, Southern=Mountain.

[vickie1ok]

Wait a minute! These women are 18-22 years of age. They are young puppies in prime physical condition. I'm 48 years old and in not so prime physical condition. If I can fly for 24 hours to China, get a good night's sleep and go a full day the next day on China time, these young pups can surely adjust to a 1-2 hour time difference. The coaches need to be sure to not make a big deal of this, because when you think about it, it is stupid. Both teams have to play at the same time. Strap on the shoes, bow up and show who is the best team. Period. No excuses!

[schooner2]

That is true vickie, BUT, these 18-22 yr olds are playing a 40 minute game that demands them to be at their peak both mentally and physically. If they have trouble focusing then its good-bye. OU was just so out of synche last year against Washington and it was very, very tough to get on the right track after starting off-track.

I can travel to Germany and have a hard time focusing on a seminar the next day, but big deal. It doesn't cost me something I've been working a year towards and won't break my heart for the rest of my life.

But yes, I agree no excuses. They are doing something that requires more than I have to give everyday at work. But they also know what is required of them and just have to go do it. So, yes, no excuses. At least OU is playing Tech who is also from the same time zone. Things are pretty much equal. Just would rather have them play a few hours earlier to make 100% sure that everyone is at their peak.

Playing in the West bracket just sucks. And always will. But you can't complain cuz afterall we made the tourney and many teams didn't!

[This message has been edited by schooner (edited 03-19-2002).]

[YCN]

schooner, I observed the team pretty darn closely last year and OU started on a very, very gradual decline about a week after Jen Cunningham was hurt last year.

This team last year put their last drops of effort into their 15-1 conference season and the tourney, and struggled way more than they should have as hosts in the first two rounds last year.

I think it was a combination of a lack of quality depth, a team still maturing, and the mental and physical stress on a team far less prepared than they are this year.

This year's team is stronger and more fit and more mentally and emotionally prepared to deal with what they face.

I see no evidence whatsoever that in these respects this OU team even resembles last year's version.

[vickie1ok]

I agree with YCN in that OU's problem's weren't the time zone in Washington last year. BUt even if it were, it's up to the coaches to adjust players schedules. If necessary, go in a day early to "adjust" to the time zone. (sorry, I still have a hard time sympathizing with a 1-2 hour time difference given the time warps I have traveled through. We aren't asking them to travel to Germany on an overnight flight to play a basketball game when they arrive the next day.) Have a nap scheduled in the afternoon. And remember, the other team has to play at that time as well. No excuses!

[Jennifer]

No, no excuses...but I can still think it sucks to be playing late! I'm not a player, just a fan, so I know that doesn't matter much. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

I did hear Coach Coale say in a radio spot (or maybe I read it?) that she didn't regret a thing about last year and being sent West, because now they can use that as a learning experience--the late game, the adjusting to the time zone, etc.

I have also traveled through several time zones--but I can hardly compare going on a vacation to Europe and the adrenaline that kept me up nearly 24 hours straight (and then coming home and actually being glad to get home and see my dog and sleep in my own bed!) with the physical and mental aspects of playing an important ball game to help you get to where you've only dreamed of going. Two different situations. And at least they are playing someone from the Central time zone, unlike last year when they played Washington, who were on their normal 'body clocks'.

[vickie1ok]

We'll agree to disagree. I still think it's up to the coaches to adjust schedules. These are young finely tuned athletes, and 1-2 hours is nothing. The late start time was more of a factor, but Washington was not used to playing games at that time either.

So, what would be the alternative? Having all 7 teams duke it out in the midwest and Ames just so their time clocks aren't disrupted? I think teams would gladly go west or east in that case... Another factor which should not bother OU is they are traveling on a charter jet direct to Boise. Therefore their total travel time will be about 1/2 to 1/3 of what it would take regular folks traveling on scheduled flights from OKC.

[schooner2]

I'm not necessarily saying that it was the start time that caused OU to lose. I am saying it was very likely the straw that broke the camel's back.

It will never change because ESPN needs to fill their air time with games all evening long. Only way to do that is schedule these ridiculous start times. And only way that changes is for CBS or one of the major channels to air these games instead of ESPN. And apparently that ain't happening for some time.

[Jennifer]

Vickie--I think I said in an earlier post (or intended to) that since it's MST rather than PST--that's not a big deal. But it's the late start time combined with MST. A 9:30 game there is 10:30 CST.
It is up to the coaches to prepare them, and I don't doubt that they will be prepared, but as a fan I think it's unjust to have any teams playing so late. But TV does dictate, so that's the way it goes.
The East coast people will have to stay up really late to watch them--I'd think they would want to show the game when more people might actually watch (well, that's assuming the East Coast actually cares what teams this side of the Mississippi do, and they don't, so this is a moot point. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif)
ANyhow, I'm tired of this (and tired in general) so I'll shut up on this now and call it a night.

[Jennifer]

Oh yeah, I talked to a friend who lives in Boise (OSU fan, but he's going to the games, getting me a tshirt, and cheering for OU!). Apparently, flights to/from Boise are full as he wasn't able to get a flight to get his stepson back to Oklahoma for Spring Break. He finally figured out why flights were so full, and have been that way for quite a few weeks.

[swok34]

my whole point in starting this conversation was this:

Last year, Duke was the #1 seed in the West and they played the early game that would start about 8 pm central time.

Why is it switched this year? Stanford and Colorado are more adapted to a 10:30 pm central start time than either Texas Tech OR Oklahoma

And I don't agree that OU peaked after Cunningham's injury, Jamie Talbert stepped and in and played better offensively last year than what I've noticed this year..........and Stacey Dales flat out put this team on her back and carried it last year. Their strategy was different last year than this year.........if you have seen OU play, you know what I mean (can't be giving out secrets this time of the year). Having said what I said about Jamie; I think Jamie Talbert's defense and offensive rebounding are very key to this team this year........I think the OU team feeds off Stacey's energy and she WAS spent by that game......and yes, I do think the time zone affected them last year; they looked like zombies on the court.......
On Sherri Coale's radio show last week, she said BECAUSE they have experienced the west region and the time zone change, this team will be doing about 50 things different.......I have no doubt that the lessons learned from last year and the tourney still being a fairly new thing to OU, they will certainly adapt.

Southwest Missouri State was practicing at midnite to accommodate the time change..........

[two cents]

I pretty much agree with all the things that were mentioned as factors. Dales was exhausted after a grueling Big12 season and Olympic preseason. The whole team may have been drained. Washington had a two hour body clock advantage. But there was one more factor that I think may have made a difference. If I remember correctly, the team's hotel didn't have ESPN2 and they all went to a restaurant to watch and cheer for the other Big12 teams in the regional semis. I love Sherri Coale and the team for doing this in the spirit of camaraderie with their "Big12 sisters," as they put it. I remember Voepel writing about Coach Coale's son heckling a ref on TV which must have been pretty funny. But I wanted OU to advance as far as possible, so strategically, I wish they hadn't done this. They should have been laying around the hotel taking it easy instead of getting emotionally involved in games that didn't directly affect them. It had to be psychologically demoralizing to watch 3 consecutive Big12 teams go down to defeat. They did not look anything like the team I had seen in other games last year. I bet this year both teams focus on the business at hand.

Maybe, they needed to throw some late night pizza parties this week and set up a reverse curfew. Players can't go to sleep any earlier than....

[Jennifer]

Here's a good article that addresses alot of this discussion. Two cents, you hit the nail on the head (had you already read this? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif)

OU women expect last year's experience to help this year

2002-03-21
By The Associated Press


NORMAN - Coach Sherri Coale is banking on lessons learned a year ago paying dividends this
year for the Oklahoma women's basketball team.

The Sooners flopped at the NCAA West Regional in Spokane, Wash., last year, losing 84-67 to
Washington. Oklahoma was the No. 2 seed in the region, but fell into an early hole against the
sixth-seeded Huskies and didn't recover.

"It was just a terrible, terrible game," forward Caton Hill recalled. "It definitely wasn't our type of
play."

The Sooners (29-3) are again headed west this year, this time as the No. 1 seed. They were to
leave Thursday for Boise, Idaho, where they play Texas Tech on Saturday night in the West
Regional semifinals.

"I've got a legal pad full of stuff I learned from last year's tournament," Coale said.

For one thing, she said she "left too much to chance" when it came to the team's schedule in
Spokane.

"We just figured we'll go and they'll hang out and do what they always do and everything will be
fine," she said. "I found out that that was not the right thing to do."

The Sooners planned to arrive in Boise much later in the evening than they arrived in Spokane a
year ago. Coale said she plans for the days to be better tailored to prepare the team for the late
tip-off Saturday night.

The game will begin at 10:30 p.m. CST, similar to what happened last year. But unlike last year, the
team won't spend Saturday watching other games in the tournament.

Coale said game day last year was "the longest day in the history of the world."

"The girls sat around and watched games where teams that were supposed to win got beat. With
every passing final score that came across the screen, they got tighter and tighter."

LaNeishea Caufield, who scored 30 points Monday night on Oklahoma's second-round victory
over Villanova, was 0-for-11 against Washington. Sunny Hardeman was 2-for-11.
All-American Stacey Dales got into early foul trouble and struggled to score 13 points.

Coale said the schedule this year will be "much, much more" structured than a year ago.

"More than anything, we'll talk about it and talk about all the things we learned from last year," she
said. "We have most of those players back this year, and them having been through it is as big
an advantage as anything."

Dales said the players may have gotten too caught up in the hoopla that surrounded that team
and its expectations. Now she is one of six seniors who feel they are better prepared for what
awaits.

"It happened for a reason," she said. "I think maybe the reason it happened was to help us this
year, and to go through this year in a little more successful fashion."

[two cents]

No, I hadn't read the article, but thanks for posting it. I just remembered what had happened last year. I appreciated the team's gesture, but regretted it for them. More than anything, the Big12 needed a Final Four team.

[swok34]

wow, twocents, your memory is a LOT better than mine. I actually don't even remember ever reading any of this; even last year.