When filling out my ESPN brackets for the Women’s NCAA Tournament, I came across the Tennessee vs. Ball St. match-up.

Pat Summit wasn’t at all surprised that her young and inexperienced Lady Vols received the 5th ranked spot in the Berkeley region. I saw her being interviewed after it was announced that her team would be playing against 12th ranked Ball St.

She made a mention of how they’d have to study some tape and do a little research on the relatively unknown team from the MAC conference.

That’s when I though, “uh oh. This has upset written all over it.”

Ball St. came into this match-up with three key things:

1. Confidence

2. Nothing to lose

3. Porchia Green

Combine those factors with a first-year, but experienced coach in Kelly Packard and you’ve got the perfect storm for probably the biggest upset in the Women’s NCAA Tournament history.

I don’t think even Pat Summit saw this one coming. But Ball St. thought it was possible to beat one of the most storied programs in women’s college basketball. And because I also thought it was possible, my bracket it still in very much in the running.

Photo provided by Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

The Biggest Upset Of The Women’s NCAA

Alexis Hornbuckle had missed every shot she’d taken in the game, but on her eighth try, she sent the Tennessee Lady Vols to the national championship game. Hornbuckle scored with less than a second remaining in the game to give the No. 1 Lady Volsa 47-46 victory over No. 2 LSU. From the AP:

“I couldn’t make a shot all night, but honestly, that was the only one that mattered,” Hornbuckle said. “I just wanted to stay positive and I crashed the boards and looked up and I said I didn’t want to pull this down, with my luck I might as well try to tip it in. And luckily it went in.”

I didn’t get to watch this game live and I still haven’t seen the final shot (I did listen to the game on Sirius), so if you have a video link, I’d love to check it out. Comment and let me know where.

Confirmed by the story from what I heard, it seems as though Candace Parker is not up to snuff (but her injury-best is still decently good), but it looks as though the Lady Vols will need either a better Parker or more efficient shooting all around if they’re going to beat Stanford on Tuesday.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hornbuckle gets redemption, sends Lady Vols to championship game

“I don’t think the shoulder will be a problem,” (Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael) Cooper said. “But even if it is, she’ll still be a No. 1 pick because she can definitely play basketball.”

Yeah, she’s going to LA. But the question now falls to the roster-challenged and emotionally-depleted Chicago Sky. Who are they going to draft at No. 2? Sylvia Fowles, Courtney Paris? Anyway, get your filling of the Final Four tonight, work on your draft board tomorrow, watch the championship on Tuesday and watch the draft on Wednesday.

Post from: EveryJoe

Another Candace Parker feature