Ten Dollar Question???

[tycat947]

Which D1 coaches, that had the same four year roster as Kim Mulkey, that just graduated, would have finished with only 1 NC and 2 Final Four appearances or better? ALONG with having Hall of Famer Leon Barmore on staff for 3 of these years!

Griner is arguably the best player to ever play the women's game. Sims was 1st team All-American this year and 2nd team All-American last year (along with being #3 player out of high school). Pope and Williams were both rated as top 10 players out of high school. Hayden and Madden both were ranked in the top 60 players out of high school.

For me, it would probably be easier to name the coaches that couldn't match those results. In Big 12, the only one I'm not sure of is Aston (and it's a little too early to tell). This is baffling to me!

 

[soonerstar]

I agree witrh what you are saying. However, many were wondering how we only had 1 final four appearance and no NCAA championships with the Paris twins and their supporting cast. In no way am I taking up for Sulkey when I say this.

 

[SoonerNorm]

It isn't uncommon that the best team doesn't win it all in basketball. That was my point the other day when I said a double elimination tourney has merit. Look at how many times ND beat UCONN this year but lost when it counted the most. IMO, ND and Baylor were the two best teams and neither are playing for all the marbles.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I agree witrh what you are saying. However, many were wondering how we only had 1 final four appearance and no NCAA championships with the Paris twins and their supporting cast. In no way am I taking up for Sulkey when I say this.

That's a valid point. Position by position, which team had the better players while their stars were playing?

 

[sybarite]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best_Major_League_Baseball_season_won-loss_records

This is a list of the top fifteen teams in major league baseball history as measured by w/l percentage. Only five won the World Series (of course, some occurred before the WS), and that is a best four of seven series as opposed to only a double elimination. ANY championship that is defined by fewer games than the entire season is based on a snapshot in time, whether that snapshot consists of one, two, or seven games. You are likely to get a result that doesn't mesh with what happened overall during the season. The playoffs of any sport are a second chance. If it only resulted in the same result, what's the reason to play it?

 

[MsProudSooner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best_Major_League_Baseball_season_won-loss_records

This is a list of the top fifteen teams in major league baseball history as measured by w/l percentage. Only five won the World Series (of course, some occurred before the WS), and that is a best four of seven series as opposed to only a double elimination. ANY championship that is defined by fewer games than the entire season is based on a snapshot in time, whether that snapshot consists of one, two, or seven games. You are likely to get a result that doesn't mesh with what happened overall during the season. The playoffs of any sport are a second chance. If it only resulted in the same result, what's the reason to play it?

Or, whoever is hot at the end of the season wins! :ez-laugh:

 

[gosooner2]

1988 Kansas vs. OU!!

 

[sybarite]

1988 Kansas vs. OU!!

We remember that one. Do we also remember Villanova/Georgetown three years earlier? Villanova won by shooting 78% from the field.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament

 

[SoonerinNC]

Courtney was a very good player but she had problems with taller more athletic players.

A player like Brianna Stewart has not had a freshman season like Courtney but is probably more of a player to build a championship team around.

 

[tycat947]

Didn't Maya Moore win 2 championships? How about Chamique Holdsclaw, 3? Diana Taurasi, 3 in a row.

I was expecting to get the Courtney comparison and although Courtney was arguably the best rebounder ever, I've never seen her on any best player in women's basketball list. She also didn't have use of a 2 time All-American guard on the team.

 

[SoonerNorm]

When you look at how many Parade and McDonalds All-Americans Geno has on every team he puts on the floor, it's a wonder he doesn't win a NC every year if you simply go by talent.

Some on here think Sims is over-rated.

 

[tycat947]

Maya Moore won 2, Chamique Holdsclaw won 3, Diana Tarausi won 3. Again, we're talking about a player that was, according to pundits, greater than these 3 and with similar talent.

I was expecting to get the Courtney comparison and while she will probably be mentioned as one of the best, if not the best, rebounders in women's history, I've never seen her listed on any "best players" in history lists. She also wasn't playing with a 1st/2nd team All-American guard that Carolyn Peck just said a couple of weeks ago that was the 2nd best player in D1 this year! Add in 2 top 10 high school players and 2 more top 60 players. I think if Geno or Muffet or Pat or Tara or many other coaches had this same team for 4 years, they would be playing for their 3rd or 4th title this year. I think that's part of the reason Mulkey is so angry in that she knows she let a few get away!

 

[SoonerNorm]

I would say that Baylor had 3 starters who would have started at OU. Griner, Sims, and Williams. Madden and Hayden certainly weren't outstanding players.

 

[badger]

Ok, how about... our 2001-02 team. Three WNBA first round draft picks (Dales, Ross and Caufield), beating everyone soundly along the way (I was at the Colorado Elite Eight game, we won by about 30 and scored nearly 100) and then almighty UConn (who I think also had several WNBA first rounders that year) defeats us in the title game.

Really though, there are tons more examples in the men's game where tons of talent somehow get defeated by scrappy mid-majors. The womens game just doesn't have a ton of parity yet.

Since we're talking four-year players, I'd have to say Duke's Coach K is guilty of misusing tons of four-year talent on his program

 

[gwydion]

Or, whoever is hot at the end of the season wins! :ez-laugh:

This! Sometimes the best team is playing the best, sometimes they are just riding on their reputation into the tournament while the underdog is giving their all.

 

[Mac]

The Paris twins didn't have the same type of talent that this Baylor team has, Drob tho an All Anerican 2years later was in her season. For some reason at OU we always have an Out standing guard with no help or an outstanding post with no help, I'm hopeful one day Sherri will put it together and get a good guard and a good post in back to back classes if not in the same class.

 

[sybarite]

Does anyone remember that we returned all starters from Courtney's freshman year, starters that included guards that Gary Blair said were too good to press. He gave up on them early.

But, how many of those guards had knee surgery that summer? Britney was never the same. Erin lost all mobility. Chelsi came and went. We had no exterior until DRob learned to play.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I would say that Baylor had 3 starters who would have started at OU. Griner, Sims, and Williams. Madden and Hayden certainly weren't outstanding players.

Well the latter two never seemed to have a problem doing well against us.

My old brain may be failing me so correct me if I'm wrong. I seem to remember Sims having an absolutely terrible game her freshman year(As did the girl from Tenn) which maybe didn't cost Baylor a win but sure didn't help. Then you throw in this year and although Baylor didn't win they were right there. And remember Tarausi stunk it up that one year or she may have won four in a row. We know from our experiences that it's hard enough to get there let alone win it and then even harder to keep going back.

And I'm not making excuses for Baylor either.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Does anyone remember that we returned all starters from Courtney's freshman year, starters that included guards that Gary Blair said were too good to press. He gave up on them early.

But, how many of those guards had knee surgery that summer? Britney was never the same. Erin lost all mobility. Chelsi came and went. We had no exterior until DRob learned to play.

Erin & Britney had microfracture surgery, which basically means they had no cartilage left and were bone on bone. That's the 2nd surgery that Whitney had to have and the reason she was in so much pain year before last.

It takes good luck as well as skill to get to the Final Four, much less win the National Championship.

 

[sybarite]

Sims was injured for one half, and it was accepted as the reason that Stanford beat Baylor. What if Sims had missed the entire year or been relegated to such part-time duty that they found it necessary to start a Plumley type in her place? Does Baylor still win thirty or forty straight?