Why OU can't win, according to the "experts"

[vickie1ok]

The ESPN experts, that is (see link below). Yeh, I know UCONN is great and deserving of the accolades they have received. But I'm getting a little tired of this mantra which has all media types mailing the trophy to Storrs. Stacey Dales wasn't the same player in December she is now. The game in December had a whistle blow about every minute. And, OU played them fairly tough.

Somehow, I don't think Sherri is conceding anything. Go Sooners; shock the media world!

link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/wbasketball/ncaatourney02/story?page=experts_uconnou

[ChipperF1]

Vickie,

I would agree to a point that everybody has the trophy FedExed to Storrs already. Much of the press is giving Connecticut the run and feel tonight that they will complete the season with a championship.

However, I do not agree with your contention about the media people your link provided me with. I find all the analysis ESPN did here as even handed for at least two of the analysts here.

Mechelle Voepel knows our league, and knows the teams. Her take I agree with. Oklahoma's perimeter play has to be there tonight. Anything Caton Hill and Jamie Talbert can do positive is a big edge.
Beth Mowins I also agree with. She mirrors my thoughts almost exactly. Oklahoma has to be the Oklahoma team I saw all season. The 15-1 in conference Oklahoma that was aggressive, smart and tough. If the Sooners play sissy-candypants tonight, they will lose.

Nancy Lieberman knows what she's talking about, sometimes. She's picked UConn no question. Can't fault her for that. She makes some very points.

Ann Meyers could find her butt with a flashlight and an hunting dog. She's barely watch Oklahoma play and it shows

Michele Tafoya. Getting any opinion from her is a waste of bandwidth

Now Chipper's take: My take is built upon something my uncle always told me.

"The most dangerous person in a society, is the person with nothing to lose."

Oklahoma has nothing to lose. If the Sooners get beat, they are merely the next victim of the UConn Bullet Train. If the Sooners play well they'll get a lot of respect even in defeat.
Connecticut has everything to lose. If UConn wins, they go down as the best womens college basketball ever. And its a title they'll earn if they win tonight. They are 38-0, they've been the focus most of the season. Those kids are locked in on championship.

The one thing. The only thing that bothers me about all the media attention surrounding the game is the belief that UConn will win because "They are on a mission", and that "no one will get in the way of that mission"
The Oklahoma kids have a mission of there own, too. The Sooners are starting 4 seniors. These kids saw the Phoenix rise in Norman. They know what losing is. They seen what winning can be. UConn "mission" has nothing to do with what Oklahoma does. I've never cottoned to "we lost because the other team is on a mission and there's nothing we can do."
Their mission is not Oklahoma's concern, and I think if the Oklahoma kids look at it that way, they'll be fine.

Oklahoma most do the things they do. They must be aggressive on both ends. Attack at both ends, and there big players, Dales and Caulfield have to show up. In my mind, Rosalind Ross will be the kid everybody will talk about if Oklahoma wins. I believe she'll be the X-factor that UConn doesn't account for. How wonderful it would be to have Ross have an MVP performance with all the things that she's gone through.
Folks, that is a "mission", too.

However, as much as I like the conference and want Oklahoma, my eyes have seen too much Connecticut to think they'll lose. The Sooners will play a strong game, but the Huskies just have the field covered. This team has a group of five-tool players. The start 5 five-tool players. All those kids can shot. All those can put the ball on the floor. All those kids can defend, and they can all make adjustments. UConn can play this game anyway you want to play it and win. Take away transition? No problem, we go triple post inside and bang away. Pack in on Swin, Tamika and Ashja? No problem, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi can both bang away from outside or attack mid-range and force you to extend.

One thing I don't agree with from Oklahoma fans. Sorry folks, for Oklahoma to pull an '85 Villanova tonight, they do have the play a perfect game. The Sooners have to raise above the best they've done this year. They have a chance to do it given how they've handed Big 12 play (something the national media hasn't given enough respect to. When you go 18-1 in the most competitive conference in the nation, you are more than ready for what comes next.)
The Sooners cannot look to the Huskies to lose this game. Connecticut will bring their A-game. Those kids are locked in on one thing, the championship. For OU to win, they have to bring an A-game plus a little bit more. I know Oklahoma's A-game is very formidible, but my reason for projecting a UConn victory surrounds that little bit more. I don't think Oklahoma can throttle up another 10 percent to match UConn.

Win or lose. No one can continue to beat that same old drum about the "overrated" Big 12. That is dead as the dodo bird. Tonight is only the beginning.

[vickie1ok]

Chip, I never said in my post the ESPN commentators were biased. If anything, I think Michelle Voelpel is biased towards OU because she covers the big 12. I'm saying quite simply 95% of the media types think OU is going through an exercise in futility tonight. And apparently, you do as well. Hey, It's a free country; you may be right, but I think Sherri's team will show up and play anyway, if that's allright. One and 1/2 years ago, no one thought Oklahoma would beat the mighty Florida St. in the Orange Bowl either.

As to whether OU has to play a perfect game or not, define perfect. True perfection is never missing a shot, never turning the ball over, etc. Do they need to play their best? Yes. Do they need to play 10% better than their best? No. In the earlier game, they were competitive without Stacey Dales in for much of the game, they didn't shoot well, and couldn't play strong defense because of the close officiating. I do agree that I also expect UCONN to bring their "A" game.

Everyone talks about guard matchups, but are focusing on the offense. I think the defensive guard matchups will be key. How well LaNeishea, Stacey and Roz defend will be key.

Regardless, we'll tip it up tonight and see...

[YCN]

Well, the storyline for tonight's game is written in stone.

UConn is the unbeatable "greatest team in women's college basketball history" and OU is the talented but undermanned "hopeless underdog".

It has been a mantra of the press for months now that everyone should just give it up, nobody can beat the Huskies. They are better than OU at every position; and while they won't have a huge advantage in the backcourt, they will dominate the inside game. Their execution is the best ever in women's basketball, and although OU is a fine team - probably the second best in women's basketball - theirs is the impossible dream.

I like that scenario, because it has occurred on several occasions, and in most cases, surprisingly enough, the impossible underdog has actually won.

I read somewhere recently that 12 men's basketball teams have reached the NCAA championship game undefeated, but only one has won it. Now I don't know if that is correct, but I have little doubt the the huge favorites haven't fared at all that well.

But what I especially like is that there isn't any pressure on the Sooners tonight, because if they lose everyone expected it.

On the other hand, the Huskies have the weight of greatness on their (admittedly strong) shoulders.

I suppose I should go ahead and say UConn wins without a struggle, but I just can't say it. It doesn't have as much to do with history though, as it has to do with the class and character shown by the OU team this year, and their outstanding run in the NCAA's.

In around 3 hours we will know which team is champion, but from my perspective, I fully expect the Sooners to win.

BTW, it's great to be in the NC game and not feel any pressure. I sure don't feel it, although I am really excited for the opportunity that has been earned by this OU team. I believe that they are definitely up to the challenge.

And should UConn win, then what everyone was saying is really true.