The interpersonal skills of a team are so vital to being successful.  The cell phone, PDA, texting world is robbing our team’s of the learned skill of simply being able to talk to your teammate.  As simple as that may seem, if players don’t hang out and talk, they don’t get to know each other as well.  Knowing each other builds trust, care and concern for each other.  If they don’t know each other as well, they don’t communicate as well.  We all know if they don’t trust & communicate as well, we don’t play together as well.  Care and concern means… “I got your back.”  That is priceless on a team, any team, any sport.

I’ll take it one step further… with all of this, the communication, the getting to know each other, the trust.  There’s a greater lesson than basketball in all of this.  If all those things are missing, or under developed,  from a young person’s life – they won’t fully develop the “people skills” needed later in life to be successful after basketball is over.

I’m not just some UFO* coach that is clueless to this.  I am guilty… I text, email, IM, blog, twitter, surf the web on my iPhone WAY too much.  We can’t just give the reason, oh I have to it’s recruiting or networking.  Everything has a “reason,” don’t allow “reasons” to become “excuses.”

I applaud and respect the decision of the Georgia Tech PLAYERS to take this approach themselves.  Note the approach of coach Paul Hewitt, “suggestion.”

Today’s student-athlete’s, the millennials, rarely can have anything forced on them.  (The millennials… That’s a topic for another post…)  But Hewitt has their minds in the right place and helping them make a mature decision for the betterment of the team.  Teaching them some selfLESSness and making them choose it themselves.

Outstanding!

It paid off in a first round upset of Oklahoma State.  Let’s hope it continues.

from Associated Press

Georgia Tech players plan to give up their cell phones once again — this time before the NCAA tournament.

The Yellow Jackets have already reaped the benefits of muting distractions this postseason.

Georgia Tech players relinquished their phones before last week’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and then made a run to the championship game.

But some of the players were skeptical when they first heard coach Paul Hewitt’s suggestion. However, success has made believers out of them.

So the Yellow Jackets (22-12) are adopting the self-imposed ban again.

Senior D’Andre Bell says the move helped the Yellow Jackets become closer as a team. The players talked more with each other instead of texting with friends and family members.

“I felt as if we were a family for the first time,” Bell said, adding there were tangible benefits on the court. “Trust. More selfless moments out there on the floor.”

Some players had to be won over by the idea that they needed to spend time away from their cell phones.

“I don’t want to say we never talked,” said guard Iman Shumpert. “Not having your cell phone, though we didn’t anticipate it having that much of an effect, I think it did have a really big effect.

“Guys are hanging out or getting sleep. It definitely makes you hang around each other, because we’re the only people we can talk to.”

Bell said he expected the strategy would be successful.

“I wasn’t surprised at all because anytime we were at the dinner table all you could hear was texting, buttons being pushed, looking down at the phone,” Bell said. “Now it’s fun arguments or insightful discussions about who we think is better in sports or where we came from or why we think a certain way. We really got a chance to learn about each other.”

Bell and other players say that led to better communication on the court and may have been a factor in freshman Derrick Favors emerging as a more vocal and confident player in the ACC tournament.

“He’s an introvert,” said Bell of Favors. “He normally walks with his head down and walks slow. He was walking with his head up. He is exuding a whole different persona, even off the court.”

Bell shook his head in disbelief when he said Favors “was actually talking” on the court.

“He was involved in these conversations. He actually started some of these conversations,” Bell said.

“This is the most he has ever talked. In the game he was like ‘Hey I was open. Give me the ball. When I do this, this is what that means.”

The 6-foot-10 Favors, the ACC’s rookie of the year, had a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds in Tech’s 65-61 ACC championship game loss to Duke.

Hewitt said he only suggested the ban and then left the room when players voted.

Bell said the vote was not unanimous but all players turned in their cell phones.

Hewitt said his idea for the cell phone ban was just his latest attempt to bring the players together.

“I just didn’t think that we were connecting as much as I wanted to see and I’d been trying to find ways to get that all year,” Hewitt said.

The result took Hewitt back to his playing days.

“That was the most chatter I had heard at the back of the bus all year,” Hewitt said. “It was like the old days when I was playing. We played cards, we talked, we slept. That was it.”

Added Hewitt, holding his hands together as if texting, “It was none of this.”

Georgia Tech, the Midwest Regional’s No. 10 seed, will play No. 7 seed Oklahoma State (22-10) in Milwaukee. The Georgia Tech-Oklahoma State winner will play Sunday against the winner of No. 2 seed Ohio State’s game against UC-Santa Barbara.

It wasn’t easy for some of the players to spend most of the week without their phones. Even Bell, an enthusiastic supporter of the move, had to make peace with some of his friends when he returned to Atlanta.

“I had 87 text messages and I had about 10 voice mails,” Bell said. “When my phone is off, it doesn’t give me missed calls, but I had a lot of angry people on text messages.”

Those “angry people” will have to brace for another period of mobile detachment from the Georgia Tech players. Hewitt is not one to mess with a winning strategy.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Beth Mowins & Debbie Antonelli’s “Shootaround with Beth & Debbie” has become a mainstay in my listening library!

Their weekly podcast throughout the Women’s NCAA Basketball season is a fantastic source of all the inside scoop, analysis and insight into women’s college basketball.

Debbie Antonelli & Beth Mowins on the set for "Shootaround with Beth & Debbie"

This Shootaround Selection Show is the WBCA’s first VIDEO podcast of Shootaround with Beth & Debbie.  The show includes a breakdown of the NCAA DI Bracket, NotreDamus Predictions, Coach Interviews, and the Shooter of the Year finalists.

If you want all the insight into the Women’s NCAA Tournament don’t miss this opportunity to see the Shootaround Show in living color on your computer!

You can also subscribe to the weekly podcast by clicking HERE.

Download the Selection Show VIDEO podcast HERE:

]]> http://www.allbasketballreview.com/shootaround-with-beth-debbie-video-style/feed 0 http://www.allbasketballreview.com/womens-ncaa-teams-grad-numbers-outperform-men http://www.allbasketballreview.com/womens-ncaa-teams-grad-numbers-outperform-men#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:23:43 +0000 Jeff http://www.allbasketballreview.com/?p=2713 From Associated Press

Players on teams headed to the NCAA women’s tournament are graduating at a higher rate than those in the men’s field, a study released Tuesday showed.

An annual report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida also found that the graduation gap between white and black players is smaller among women than men.

There were 19 women’s teams that had a 100 percent graduation rate compared to six men’s teams. And 51 women’s teams graduated at least 70 percent of their players compared to 29 men’s teams.

Richard Lapchick, director of the institute, said overall graduation rates for men and women have continued to increase at a similar pace, so the disparity is not that alarming.

“For me, it’s not as worrying as the gap between black and white,” Lapchick said. “The gap between black and white, for me, is a continuation of a historical pattern that dates back to segregation when everybody was not afforded the same opportunities. In this case, women have turned the tables on past inequality and are getting recognized.”

NCAA spokesman Chuck Wynne said the collegiate sports governing body was “extremely proud” of the increasing graduation rates for women but did not address specifics about the gender or racial gaps.

“From baseline to baseline, our game continues to get better even as our student-athletes continue to excel academically,” Wynne said in a statement. “It’s a tribute to our student-athletes and coaches who work so hard to make it happen.”

Looking at just the women’s tournament, the report found that 50 teams graduated at least 70 percent of their white players, but only 40 teams graduated that same percentage of African American players. That makes for a 14 percent gap; the men had a 48 percent disparity in the same category.

Lapchick said the pull of the NBA and international men’s basketball leagues have put the emphasis on playing professionally and have taken the focus away from education.

“There’s that belief that so many men have had since they were boys that they would play in the NBA, Europe or somewhere else professionally,” he said. “There is a culture in men’s sports that focuses on playing professionally. The women’s game has historically had more emphasis on education” because going pro was less of an option.

Jarrod Chin, director of violence prevention and diversity at Northeastern University’s Sport in Society, said the gender gap is a social issue that goes beyond athletics.

“The educational gender gap has been increasing not only in sports, but overall,” Chin said. “We tend to think of women as more book smart, so we value education more with them. Men, unfortunately, we value athleticism more. So we don’t place as much emphasis on education.”

The report measures six-year graduation rates for the freshman classes that entered college from the 1999-2000 through the 2002-03 school years. The report relies on information provided by the NCAA and not federal graduation rates, which don’t account for transfer students.

The WBI is here!

I had no idea… I inadvertently slipped up and left out information on the Inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitational.  My apologies… as I was told, “Post Season is Post Season.”

So True.  I can’t agree more.  Especially for young teams, any teams.  No better way to set yourself up for a future run in the Big Dance than to make sure you are still playing in late March.  No matter what the tournament.  I never agreed with the critics that said, “I wouldn’t play in the NIT, WNIT, CBI or now the WBI.”

Why not?  Kids want to play games!  It’s post season.  There’s practice, preparation, competition.  Another group of student-athletes get to cut the nets down, still another learn lessons from losing in the championship.  All things that we are trying to teach and simulate in practice, but can’t.  No matter the tournament, this is valuable stuff.

If your school does not want to participate because it is going to provide extra expense to the athletic department budget, that’s understandable in these economic times.  It also should make you look at the overall commitment to women’s basketball, your team, your program.  It’s part of March Madness… Let them play!

The 16-team field is headlined by #1 seeds Memphis in the West and Appalachian State in the East. All eight first round games will be played on campus sites either March 17 or 18 with the winners advancing to the second round on March 20 or 21. The WBI semifinals are March 24 or 25 on campus sites with the championship game slated for March 28 or 29 at the site of the highest remaining seed.

Here you go… WBI Central!  Enjoy and good luck to all!

WBI BRACKET

WBI WEBSITE

In the West bracket:

#1 Memphis

#2 A&M-Corpus Christi

#3 Washington

#4 Wichita State

#5 Akron

#6 Portland Pilots

#7 Cal-State Bakersfield

#8 UMKC

In the East bracket:

#1 Appalachian State

#2 College of Charleston

#3 Louisville

#4 Towson

#5 Fairfield

#6 Bradley

#7 Morehead State

#8 Charleston Southern

I missed those things during the year and I am anxious to return to coaching next year, but the traveling I did was something everyone in coaching should get an opportunity to do.

For those “grinding it out,”  Good Luck!

The 2010 WNBA Mock Draft got a lot of you going!  Fantastic comments and debates going back and forth the last 4 days.  ABR has had over 3,500 visits in the last 3+ days!  Thank You!

NCAA Tournament Links:

MEN’S BRACKET

MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT  at a Glance

MEN’S NIT – DAY ONE PAGE TWO PAGE THREE (WITH CBI info)

WOMEN’S BRACKET

WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT at a Glance

*Not interactive or a “Tournament Challenge”, just a nice printable bracker for each.

AUTO BIDS

BigEast Championship Recap:

BIG EAST

ALL Conference Tournament Results:

ALL RESULTS

Top 25 Results:

TOP 25

AUTO BIDS

ALL Conference Tournament Results:

ALL RESULTS

PRINTABLE VERSION HERE

The 2010 WNBA Draft is just 25 days away.  Many things can happen before then with trades, player movement and free agent signings, but we’ll look at this draft-eligible class and see which college and European stars will be taking their game to the WNBA this summer.

Our Mock draft looks into the current WNBA roster of each team, assess their needs and predicts what college or draft-eligible European pros might best suit those needs and why.

Spending eight years in the WNBA, sitting in on countless draft prep meetings and being involved in seven WNBA Drafts, as well as spending the last four years in the ACC, may not mean I’ll get it right but I’ll take a stab at it.

Let’s look at the First Round:

1           Connecticut Sun            Tina Charles            6-4            C            UConn

This is probably the worst kept secret and prediction in the basketball world right now.  Other than UConn finishing as undefeated National Champions, again.  A big reason for that… Tina Charles.  Charles is without a doubt the clear #1 pick and best overall player in the country.  Charles is tremendously gifted athletically and has a versatile skill set allowing her to play at both the high and low post.

ABR:

Add Tina Charles (6-4) to the Sun’s front line of: Chante Black (6-5), Sandrine Gruda (6-4), Asjha Jones (6-3), DeMya Walker (6-3) and Tamika Whitmore (6-2).  Whoa!… There’s not a better, more experienced core group of versatile posts in the East, perhaps the entire league.  Combine that with the chemistry of acquiring PTG Renee’ Montgomery (former Charles team mate at UConn) with the shooting of Jekabsone-Zogota (39.4% on 3’s) and Tan White (37.7% on 3’s) and Aisha Jones (31.3% on 3’s).  Defenses have a lot of issues to contend with in Connecticut.

2            Minnesota Lynx            Monica Wright            5-10            G            Virginia

ACC Player of the Year, ACC leading scorer, 6^th leading scorer nationally (3^rd All-Time Scorer in ACC History), ACC Defensive Player of the Year.  The accolades go on and on, but what impressed me the most is that she is a humble, wonderful, hard working and confident person.  A true joy to know and coach.  Wright is an explosive guard who gets her own shot, is tremendous in transition, has a killer pull-up and mid-range game and has improved her 3-point range every year.  She’ll fit in perfectly into the Lynx backcourt plans and will grow into a tremendous pro.

ABR:

The backcourt rotation of Lindsay Whalen, Candice Wiggans and Simone Augustus needs an explosive scorer.  I like Hamchétou Maïga-Ba and Kelly Miller, but neither has the explosiveness of Wright.  Look for Wright to be able to be the chameleon in that backcourt, helping at any of the three guard spots.

3            Minnesota Lynx            Alysha Clark            5-10                        F Middle TN State

Did Minnesota say scoring?… Look no further than Alysha Clark.  28.7 PPG, #1 in the Nation, 62.2% FG, 32.7% 3FG add in 11.5 RPG.  And how about this for the month of March… 40, 44, 48 in back-to-back-to-back games.  Are you kidding me?  DANG!  Clark has the ability to create her own shot, finish in transition as well as post up and score on the block against guards or forwards.

ABR:

My only question is if you Minnesota will burn back-to-back first round picks on two wings and pass up on a big or trade a pick for a young veteran player.  It’s not often you are blessed with two picks this high in the same draft.  The 2010 draft is only 4 or 5 impact players deep and Minnesota is potentially setting its’ roster for the next several years.  It may be hard to pass on Appel or Amber Harris with this pick.

4            Chicago Sky            Epiphanny Prince            5-9            G Botas Spor/Rutgers

Prince is tough, a proven leader and scorer and has the skills to be a point or an off guard in the WNBA.  She has experience in the pro game by electing to forego her last season of eligibility at Rutgers and play overseas for Botas Spor.  Prince is good in the pick & roll, has 3-point range, can finish with contact and has the ability to run a team.

ABR:

An underestimated aspect of Epiphanny’s game is her defense.  Coming from Rutgers, she learned to defend from one of the best.   She will defend with a fury and she will be able to lead those around her.  With the guard corps of Dominique Canty, Jia Perkins, K.B. Sharp, Erin Thorn and Kristi Toliver, Prince will have an opportunity to have an immediate impact in the Sky backcourt.

5            San Antonio Silver Stars            Andrea Riley            5-5            PTG Oklahoma State

Can the Silver Stars pass on Jane Appel here?  No one has her going this late.  Yes they can, unless they have a deal in the works were they draft Appel and trade her.  San Antonio has plenty of options and talent at the 4 and 5.  The recent trade the Silver Stars made bringing Michelle Snow to San Antonio allows them to “go off the board” a little with this pick and fill a different need.

ABR:

Riley is a jet-quick PTG, who loves to run and push the ball up the floor and can create open shots for others.  With guards Helen Darling (32 in August), Becky Hammon (just turned 33 March 11^th), *HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!, Roneeka Hodges (28 in July) and Edwige Lawson-Wade (31 in May) can all still play, but this allows the Silver Stars to start setting themselves up for the future as well.

6            Washington Mystics            Jayne Appel            6-4            C            Stanford

The Mystics could use another post player, and one of Appel’s ability would pay immediate dividends to the Mystics.  Opponents in the East will have to guard Appel on the block, leaving guards Matee Ajavon, Alana Beard, Marissa Coleman, Monique Currie and Lindsey Harding with a great deal of room to penetrate, score and kick for open looks.  If you were to tell Julie Plank and GM Angela Taylor Appel would be there at 6… they’d jump for joy.

ABR:

Jane Appel is the real deal.  She is easily talented enough, skilled enough and well respected enough to go anywhere with picks 1 – 5.  The situation of the first five teams needs and some question of just how much better is the already gifted Appel going to get drop her to #6 for me.  More than any other team, this would be a great fit for her.

7            Tulsa Shock            Amber Harris            6-5            4/5                        Xavier

If you are starting a team, as Nolan Richardson is, you look for a PTG and/or a post.  If Andrea Riley (the perfect home-town fit on all fronts for Tulsa) is gone, then the pickings are slim.  The Shock could also use a versatile forward.  Enter Harris.  Harris needs strength to play on the low block in the WNBA, but her perimeter shooting, her ability to drive and her shot blocking make her a nice complement to Kara Braxton (6-6), Taj McWilliams (6-2) and Olayinka Sanni (6-2).

**Amber Harris can elect to return to Xavier for one more season.  Sources say that she and fellow RS-Jr. Tashia Phiilips want to return to help Xavier to win a National Championship.  If they win it all this year (with UConn playing?… not likely) they may both jump to the WNBA this summer.**

ABR TRADE ALERT: Let’s play GM here. Nikki Teasley (PTG 6-0) is a Free Agent and the only true PTG on the roster.  If it’s me, I’m working like mad on three things:  1.) To trade up and pick Riley,  2.)  to sign FA Teasely and 3.)  to also try to sign FA Katie Smith (who has indicated she won’t play in Tulsa).  Couple Smith with the #7 pick and see if we can find another young PTG to run this team and lead a new franchise into the future.  Now Smith doesn’t have to do this. She’s an unrestricted FA, but if she did it might make a better deal for her, the league and everyone involved.  What team is out there that is very close to winning it all?  Who needs a proven champion, leader, scorer and team player like Katie Smith and the #7 pick?  Who also has a PTG worthy of this level trade.  Answer:  Indiana.  The Fever are on the verge of a championship in Indiana, they were so close last year.  Catchings, Smith, Douglas and Sutton-Brown might just get it done for Lin Dunn if this trade happens.  The #7 Pick and Katie Smith to Indiana for Briann January?  January is the PTG of the future in Indiana, but for a potential championship – the future is now.  I don’t know the ins-and-outs of Indiana’s salary cap, that’s for the bigwigs to figure out.  Rumors of the team moving last year means the Fever needs to win it now, not plan for “down the road.”  Even if Indiana has to flip picks and give Tulsa #11 – do it, add Harris or Kelsey Griffin to the Fever with that pick, strengthen your depth and put yourself in a position for a ring!

8            Los Angeles Sparks            Kelsey Griffin            6-2            F            Nebraska

Griffin has destroyed the Big 12, ranked as the Nation’s #1 Women’s Basketball Conference by collegrpi.com She has an extremely high skill level – especially from the high post where she passes, shoots and will rebound the basketball.  The All Big 12 selection is a very good screener and her feel for the game and basketball IQ are exceptional.

ABR:

In Griffin, the Sparks get a tremendous compliment to Vanessa Hayden (C, 6-4) DeLisha Milton-Jones (F, 6-1) Candace Parker (F, 6-4) Tina Thompson (F, 6-2).  There is tremendous size, skill, experience and versatility with this roster.  Candace, Tina and DeLisha could play anywhere at the 2, 3 or 4, with some combination of Shannon Bobbitt, Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Betty Lennox, Ticha Penicheiro with them.  Interesting and dangerous potential in the West for new coach Jen Gillom.

9            Atlanta Dream            Jacinta Monroe            6-5            F                        FSU

Jacinta Monroe can run, defend, rebound, shoot the high post jumper and block shots. The Dream are a guard heavy roster right now with many “Tweeners” playing at the 3 and the 4.  Monroe would give them another athletic, around the basket player that has the ability and skill set to excel in the pro game from the high post.  She could really be a steal at #9 in the long run.

ABR:

Jacinta needs to add strength, consistency and range to her jump shot and has a tendency to disappear in games at times, but she’s long and talented and as she improves overall and establishes that she will work and play hard every game, she can take the place of the recently traded Michelle Snow.

10            Seattle Storm            Allison Hightower            5-10            G           LSU

Hightower brings a tenacious defensive presence to the game along with her offensive capabilities.  Playing for the Hall of Fame and legendary WNBA coach Van Chancellor she will be ready for the expectations that Brian Agler will have for her.  The Storm needs an explosive guard who can score.  Hightower doesn’t need to come in and carry the Storm with Jackson, Sue Bird and Cash but it would help if they can get a player at 10 that can help.  Hightower might just be that player.

ABR:

Hightower’s ability to break down a defense from either wing spot with her drive, pull-up or 3 will continue to improve and develop as she adds strength and experience.  This is a quality player to be available at 10 and one that could find her way on to an opening day roster.

11            Indiana Fever            Danielle McCray            5-11            G/F            Kansas

McCray is perhaps one of the most flexible players available in the draft.  Her versatility allows her to do a little bit of everything. McCray’s ability to shoot the basketball is tremendous and a great asset.  Any team, at any level can always use shooters.  She could add an extra outside presence for Indiana.  When adding to a roster with the 11^th pick, a player who may or may not make it to opening day, the ability to do it with an all around player is a key.  Those type of players, like McCray, can provide depth and play a variety of roles in practice and when preparing for opponents as they develop and adjust to the pro game.

ABR:

McCray’s greatest asset is probably the fact she might be able to be on the “unable to perform list” for 2010.  If she is not fully recovered from her knee injury and if the Fever can draft her, not having to worry about finding a roster spot for her while retaining her rights until 2011, that is a huge plus.

12            Los Angeles Sparks            Alexis Gray-Lawson            5-8            G            Cal

I just want to say Gray-Lawson tore us apart (at Virginia) in the NCAA Tournament in 2009.  She was tremendous.  That made a believer out of me.  This year she received her third All Pac-10 award, averaged 17.5 PPG, while becoming the career leader in 3’s at Cal.  She is a player whose competitive spirit and tenacity are undeniable.  Gray-Lawson gives the Sparks another scoring weapon that can also defend.  The bonus for the league and the Sparks is she played at Cal and is from Oakland.

ABR:

Gray-Lawson is a flat out scorer. She can be streaky from 3 (30.3%), that will need to improve, and is tremendous off the dribble possessing a very good mid-range game.  Gray-Lawson has the ability to take contact and get herself to the free throw line, 171 FTA in 31 games.

There you have it… the 2010 MOCK WNBA Draft.

Let’s hear what you have to say and why.

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT RESULTS