In digging through some older stuff of mine, I came across the official NCAA DVD of the 2005 women's basketball tournament. It includes both semifinals and the championship game. Thus far I have re-watched BU's semifinal against LSU, which we won 68 - 57. The game was close throughout the second half until near the very end, and early in the first half BU was down by 15, but had tied things up by halftime.
Here are few miscellaneous observations after viewing the game against LSU:
1. BU played a zone defense throughout the second half until the last couple of minutes. Given how devoted Mulkey is to man defense now, it was strange to see us playing zone.
2. Overall the BU team was very athletic, but sure didn't have good shooters. The announcer mentioned that the starting point guard, Chelsea Whitaker, had not made a 3 pointer all year. I don't remember her making anything longer than a layup in the game. Emily Niemann was the only real shooter on the team. Sophia Young hit mid-range jumpers in the game, but other than that it was pretty much layups and free throws. Niemann made a 3 and several baby hooks in the lane.
3. Dee Kantner was one of the referees for the game, so she's been drawing the assignment for the critical games for a long time.
4. Kim had shorter hair 15 years ago.
5. Abiola Wabara came through big on the offensive end in the second half. She was also the one mainly responsible for guarding LSU's star, Simone Augustus.
6. Recruiting has changed big time for Baylor since the 2005 team. Two starters, Wabara and Young, were hardly recruited by anyone other than Baylor, and Wabara was taken pretty much sight unseen when it came to her basketball skills.
7. It was kind of painful to watch Chameka Scott playing and to realize she's no longer with us. She died so young.
8. One often hears about someone having a high basketball IQ. Niemann demonstrated that in this game. By far she was the slowest person on the floor (probably including the referees), but she just knew how to play basketball. She did a decent job in the middle of the zone on defense, and she somehow found ways to position herself to make layups and baby hooks on offense -- LSU was determined not to leave her open to take 3s.
Here are few miscellaneous observations after viewing the game against LSU:
1. BU played a zone defense throughout the second half until the last couple of minutes. Given how devoted Mulkey is to man defense now, it was strange to see us playing zone.
2. Overall the BU team was very athletic, but sure didn't have good shooters. The announcer mentioned that the starting point guard, Chelsea Whitaker, had not made a 3 pointer all year. I don't remember her making anything longer than a layup in the game. Emily Niemann was the only real shooter on the team. Sophia Young hit mid-range jumpers in the game, but other than that it was pretty much layups and free throws. Niemann made a 3 and several baby hooks in the lane.
3. Dee Kantner was one of the referees for the game, so she's been drawing the assignment for the critical games for a long time.
4. Kim had shorter hair 15 years ago.
5. Abiola Wabara came through big on the offensive end in the second half. She was also the one mainly responsible for guarding LSU's star, Simone Augustus.
6. Recruiting has changed big time for Baylor since the 2005 team. Two starters, Wabara and Young, were hardly recruited by anyone other than Baylor, and Wabara was taken pretty much sight unseen when it came to her basketball skills.
7. It was kind of painful to watch Chameka Scott playing and to realize she's no longer with us. She died so young.
8. One often hears about someone having a high basketball IQ. Niemann demonstrated that in this game. By far she was the slowest person on the floor (probably including the referees), but she just knew how to play basketball. She did a decent job in the middle of the zone on defense, and she somehow found ways to position herself to make layups and baby hooks on offense -- LSU was determined not to leave her open to take 3s.