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January 30, 2008

Maya, Tina Named

Sophomore Tina Charles and freshman Maya Moore continue to gain recognition.
One day after being named to the 31-player midseason list of Naismith Award candidates, they were each named to the 20-player midseason list for the Wooden Award today.

Rich

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January 29, 2008

Weaving At Gampel/Ankles/Awards Lists

The members of the media in attendance at Gampel Pavilion today were treated to a dunking contest between Maya Moore and Tina Charles following practice. And then we talked hair with Charde Houston. That’s right, hair. Picture this … a bunch of guys standing around Charde asking her about her new hairdo. If that sounds odd, it was. And it’s something I won’t be telling any of my closest friends either.
Fans will be in for a surprise tomorrow night when Charde takes the floor. In just one day her hair has returned to great length. Weaves can be a women’s best friend when it comes to stylin’ and profilin’.
``It comes from the fairies,’’ she said before she realized that she was actually being interviewed about her hair rather than her play on the court.
She then continued.
``I just wanted my hair braided. It’s at a point now where braids just makes it grow under my natural state. So the only way to have a different hairstyle is either braids or ‘fro. So it’s time to change it up.’’
Ketia Swanier installed the weave Monday. ``She comes to me and she buys the weave and I put it in her hair,’’ Ketia said. ``That’s why my nails are short. I had to cut them (Monday).’’

As for Charde’s right ankle, which she rolled in the second half at Notre Dame Sunday … It’s a non-issue. She had no trouble at practice today running up and down. She joked about that too.
``That invisible line will do it to you once in a while,’’ she said. ``Actually, I was just backpedaling and somehow I just rolled my ankle. I’ve got those handy-dandy ankle braces (now) and I’m good to go.’’

In national awards news, Maya and Tina were each named to the 31-player mid-season list of Naismith Award candidates today.

Rich

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January 28, 2008

Brittany's Back/Again It's Maya

It didn’t take long for Brittany Hunter to remind us how valuable she is to the Huskies Sunday night. On the very first possession of the game (10 seconds in to be exact), she had an offensive rebound that led to a 3-pointer by Maya Moore.
Brittany had missed the last three games due to further problems with her right knee. She hadn’t played since seeing a season-high 21 minutes at Louisville Jan. 19. But in five minutes in the first half Sunday at Notre Dame, she had four points, three rebounds (two offensive) and one steal.
Her final line was 11 points (5-of-8 FG) and four rebounds in 14 minutes. She is tough, territorial in the lane and thrives on making contact with anyone that comes near her.
``Fourteen minutes, 11 points in her first game,’’ coach Geno Auriemma said. ``And I knew going in she was going to be really rusty because in shootaround she was just like hyperventilating. Like every time she touched it she wanted to shoot it. When you haven’t played in a while you want to hurry up. But I’ll tell you what, Brittany goes to the offensive boards better than anybody maybe since Swin Cash or Tamika Williams. Every time there’s a shot up and Brittany’s fresh … When she gets tired it’s different. But when she’s got her legs nobody goes to the offensive boards like Brittany.’’
Now that’s quite a compliment from the Hall of Famer. Cash is ranked sixth all-time in team history with 910 rebounds. Williams is 12th (763).

It’s getting dangerously close to where the Big East is going have to rename the Freshman of the Week award to the Maya Moore award. She was honored for the sixth time Monday, and for the fourth time in the last five weeks.
Maya is the eighth player in conference history (third Husky) to be honored six times. Tina Charles had six last season. Svetlana Abrosimova had six in 1997-98.
With five weeks left in the regular season, Maya stands one behind Rebecca Lobo’s record that was set in 1991-92.

By the way, the top-ranked and unbeaten Huskies are still waiting to toast their first Big East Player of the Week recipient this season.

Rich

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January 27, 2008

Maya Ineligible

When Idaho State senior Natalie Doma, Middle Tennessee senior Amber Holt and California junior Ashley Walker were added to the Wade Watch list Wednesday something seemed to be a bit off base. Not that any one in that trio is undeserving of being on the 29-player list, which also includes Huskies’ junior Renee Montgomery and sophomore Tina Charles.
Doma is the only player in the nation ranked in the top five in both scoring (24.7, 2nd) and rebounding (11.8, 3rd). Holt is the nation’s leading scorer (27.1). And Walker leads the eighth-ranked Golden Bears in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (9.4).
But what about Huskies freshman Maya Moore? How can there be 29 players in the country better than her? Frankly, there’s not. She leads the nation’s No. 1 team in scoring (16.8), is second in rebounding (7.0), blocks (1.7) and steals (1.8) and third in assists (3.7) and minutes (26.3).
Maya will likely be an All-American at season’s end. But she’s not among the players eligible to win one of the most prestigious individual awards in the country. That’s just it. She’s not eligible – period. This is what I learned when I went to the WBCA for some clarity on the situation.
``The reason why she is not on the list is because in the original operating code for the award it was written that freshmen are not eligible,’’ WBCA manager of awards and communications coordinator Jessica Pare said in an e-mail. ``If you look at the criteria of the award technically the winner is judged in several categories (not just stats) that includes effect on the team, leadership, character, etc. I know people have an argument with her, but unfortunately code is code.’’
And the Wade Trophy just lost some credibility because of this code.

Here’s some more ridiculousness from the WBCA. It’s the 2008 Division I Superlatives. It says in the release that nominations for the superlatives were submitted through an online survey form. The top vote-getters for each superlative were then voted on through a balloting process.
So, really, there’s no telling who actually voted. Here’s a hint: Many of them were wearing orange and singing the words to ``Rocky Top.’’

Most Inspirational – Kay Yow (NC State)
Most Likely to get a Technical Foul – Geno Auriemma (UConn)
Best Pep Band –Tennessee
Rising Star – Coquese Washington (Penn State)
Best Coaching Combo – Pat Summitt/Holly Warlick (Tennessee)
Most Fun to Watch (Coach or School) – Sherri Coale (Oklahoma)
Best Community Support – Tennessee
Best Tradition – Tennessee
Best Host School – Tennessee
Most Competitive Coach – Pat Summitt

Rich

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January 25, 2008

Hunter update/Houston's Thumb

Senior Brittany Hunter practiced for about 15 minutes Thursday and for another 15 to 20 minutes today. In light of missing the last three games due to further problems with her surgically repaired right knee, she said she believes that she will be able to return to the lineup Sunday at No. 16 Notre Dame.
``I think I’ll play Sunday,’’ Hunter said. ``Right now I’m just working on getting in shape, which is rough. I think everything will fall into place once I feel more relaxed and get more into the thick of things. I don’t really know what I’m expecting out of myself on Sunday, but hopefully the next two days (of practice) will prepare me for that.’’
Hunter has not played since seeing a season-high 21 minutes at Louisville Jan. 19. She likened this most recent stretch to having a cavity and every time you chew you feel the same pain in the same spot. Her knee has bothered her walking or even shifting in a chair.
This is the longest stint she has been sidelined since missing four games last February 6 through Feb 17.
``It was hurting before Louisville,’’ Hunter said. ``And we were under the assumption it was going to be a pain tolerance thing, but the doctor’s like, `No. It’s something you should let heal all the way.’ So that’s what we did regardless of how I felt about it. I’m feeling a lot better.’’

Senior Charde Houston, who scored all of her 15 points during top-ranked UConn’s second-half surge against No. 3 North Carolina Monday, said she will be playing with a soft cast on her left thumb Sunday.
Houston was injured going for a steal in practice. She was wearing a hard splint following practice today and she said it bothers her when she puts pressure on it and when she catches the ball. However, she was adamant that the ailment would not limit her against the Irish.
``You have players that are willing to use certain injuries as excuses, but for me I’m willing to adjust,’’ Houston said. ``I know what I can do. I know what’s uncomfortable, but at the same time once you step on the court it doesn’t matter.’’
The Huskies have lost starters Kalana Greene, who was walking without the use of crutches Friday, and Mel Thomas for the season due to knee injuries. With Hunter missing time and Houston banged up, it’s given coach Geno Auriemma an uneasy feeling that the rash of injuries might catch up with the Huskies at some point.
``We’re Butch and Sundance,’’ Auriemma said. ``We just keep looking behind us. You know they’re gaining on you. You just don’t know exactly where they are at this moment, but you wonder how long can you stay one step ahead of the posse given all that’s gone on.’’

Rich

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