UConn women's basketball

The look on the face of Meghan Gardler as she sat in front of her locker today was one of sheer horror. She was mortified that someone associated with the Huskies had leaked the events that transpired last night to the media when Gardler fell prey to the biggest practical joker on the team – Renee Montgomery.
“Meghan was sleeping and so Renee wrote all over her back and had everybody sign it,’’ Caroline Doty said. “She was just messing with her. I signed it real big and I tried to color in a few things. Meg woke up and found out somehow so they were messing around. Little things like that keep us laughing and keep us loose every day. She not only gets us on the court, but she gets us off the court.’’
The drawings were done in marker so they all came off easily with a shower.
Gardler, of course, absorbed the joke and moved on. After seeing the way Montgomery operates for the last three years she’s used to her antics by now.
“Oh my God! Pretty much all the time I deal with her I have to shake my head,’’ Gardler said. “I just thought it was hilarious. She’s a weird person. She’s unique to say the least. It does keep everyone loose. Our team is so crazy that it takes the pressure off so we don’t think about basketball all the time. It keeps us relaxed. It was just Renee being weird.’’
Gardler might have laughed it off. But does she plan to enact revenge on Montgomery? You better believe it.
“I will. Don’t worry,’’ Gardler said. “I have to plan these things. I’m going to get her back good.’’

As of this post there have been 5,780 tickets sold for tomorrow’s doubleheader and over 3,000 for Tuesday’s regional final. The arena’s capacity is 7,660 for this event due to team bands and media seating.

Rich

Here’s some interesting info regaeding the tournament sent out by the people at ESPN…

Through the first two rounds of the tournament, ESPN’s online content for women’s college basketball has increased on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile Web. In addition, entries for the 12th Annual Women’s Tournament Challenge are also up significantly.
People are consuming live online streaming and mobile coverage of the tournament more than ever before on ESPN360.com and ESPN’s industry-leading mobile Web site.

ESPN360.com
Through the first two rounds, total hours viewed on ESPN360.com are up more than double — 121 percent over the same period last year. ESPN360.com features live and replay coverage of every game of the tournament. The live sports broadband network delivers more than 3,000 live, global sports events annually and is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated service provider. ESPN360.com is currently available in nearly 25 million homes, up 40 percent in the past 12 months and more than triple its distribution just two years ago. It is available via approximately 45 Internet service providers nationwide, including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Insight, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and many more. It is also available at no cost to approximately 18 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).

Mobile
To date for the 2009 tournament, visits to women’s college basketball content on the ESPN Mobile Web site are up nearly fourfold — 275 percent over the same period last year. ESPN Mobile Web is the leading sports destination on the mobile Web, averaging more than seven million unique visitors and accounting for a 66 percent share of all sports-related visitors to the Mobile Web in 2008.

Additionally, there were 230,000 entries for the Women’s Tournament Challenge, surpassing last year’s 200,000 entries by 15 percent. An analysis of all the entries submitted reveals:
• 64.5% of the entries picked Connecticut to win the National Championship
• 15 entries picked North Carolina A&T to win the National Title, the lowest total of any team (0.01%)
• 190,269 of entries (95.3 %) incorrectly chose Tennessee to beat Ball State in the first round
• 9,423 (4.7 %) picked Ball State to upset Tennessee in the first round
• 190,521 (95.41%) entries selected Duke to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, while 2.7% (5,426) of the entries picked Michigan State
• 4 entries predicted Connecticut, Iowa State, Vanderbilt and Rutgers advancing to the Final Four
• The top four teams selected to advance to the Women’s Final Four were Connecticut (90%), Maryland (60%), Oklahoma (59%) and Duke (40%)
For this weekend’s Sweet Sixteen matchups:
• 2,499 (1.3%) entries picked California to defeat Connecticut
• 30,881 (15.5%) entries picked Ohio State to defeat Stanford
• 15,780 (7.9%) entries predicted Vanderbilt to defeat Maryland
• 4,782 (2.4%) entries predicted Rutgers and Purdue would meet in the Sweet Sixteen
• 2,566 (1.3%) entries predicted Rutgers to defeat Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen

At the end of the tournament the Women’s Tournament Challenge winner will receive a $3,000 Best Buy gift card and a $1,100 Best Buy random drawing.

Kaili McLaren earned a spot on a certain list during shootaround Tuesday afternoon at Gampel Pavilion. It’s a list that won’t get much publicity this side of the UConn women’s basketball family. Then, again, it might not get much publicity there either.
Due to her inspired play during the session McLaren joined what Geno Auriemma dubbed the illustrious list of White Team All-Americans.
“At practice we have Blue and White,’’ Auriemma said. “The Blue Team is the starters and the White Team are the subs. And we’ve had a lot of guys that when you put them on the White Team they play like they’re All-Americans. Then they go Blue and it’s like Kryptonite. They can’t play. So I told her, `We’re wearing white uniforms (against Florida) so it would probably be a good idea to put you in because you’re playing pretty well (at shootaround). And she had a great game.’’
McLaren did not score a point in the win over the 22nd-ranked Gators in the second round, but that statistic was ultimately irrelevant. She provided four rebounds, a game-high six assists and one steal in a season-high 27 minutes.
She had played 20 minutes just once in the previous 12 games. She said she wasn’t quite sure how many minutes Auriemma would provide her with Tuesday. But she was prepared to make her mark and prove that she can be a valuable asset in the Huskies’ run toward a sixth national championship.
“Whatever Coach gave me I was ready to go out there and do whatever I could,’’ McLaren said. “It just shows that our reserves can come off the bench and make some noise, also. We just have to make sure our presence is felt every time we step on the court.’’
McLaren is likely to get an opportunity to build on this performance when the Huskies meet fourth-seeded and 13th-ranked California and its talented frontcourt tandem of 6-foot-1 Ashley Walker and 6-3 Devanei Hampton in the regional semifinals Sunday at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J.
“She didn’t score a lot, but she had a great game,’’ Auriemma said. “And to me that’s the kind of contribution that she has to make. Come in and have a great game. Don’t worry about how many points you score. And make good passes. Kaili in practice is her own worst enemy. She’ll try to throw a pass that no one can make and no one can catch. And (Tuesday) … `Do the little things, Kaili.’ Get a rebound, set a good screen, make the right pass. Just do something that helps you help our team and then you feel good about yourself.’ And that’s what she did (Tuesday), and that’s why she played so many minutes. And I hope she can play a lot of minutes (this) weekend because I know Cal’s two big kids are really good. So we’re going to need her. I hope (Tuesday) is the start of something for her.’’
As dominant as the Big Three has been, averaging a combined 66.5 points in the first two games, UConn has received a modest contribution from its bench. McLaren is averaging 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 18.5 minutes in the tournament. Sophomore point guard Lorin Dixon is averaging 4.0 points, 3.5 assists and 19 minutes. And junior Meghan Gardler is averaging 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.
McLaren and Dixon were the only reserves to reach double figures in minutes against Florida. That could stay that way the rest of the way. But if the Huskies can continue to get something from both McLaren and Dixon each game it would be increasingly beneficial.
“That’s important because a team wins a national championship,’’ McLaren said. “You can’t rely on two guys or three guys or only the starters to win a game. We have to be able to contribute whenever we can.’’

Rich

Geno Auriemma tabbed Renee Montgomery as the most important player with regards to UConn’s chances of reaching the Final Four last season. It was imperative that she play exceptionally well in each of the first four rounds if the Huskies were head to Tampa.
This season that burden of being “that player’’ has fallen on the shoulders of Tina Charles. And it’s a burden she carried with ease through the first two rounds at Gampel Pavilion. She was absolutely nothing short of spectacular in victories over Vermont and Florida, averaging 27.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in 27 minutes to thrust the Huskies to Trenton this weekend for the regionals.
“Last year I said if Renee Montgomery plays like an All-American we’re going to go to the Final Four and that’s what happened,’’ Auriemma said. “And I think this year if Tina Charles plays like the best player in the country nobody’s going to beat us. I believe that and so far we’re 2-0 with her doing that.’’
Charles has had back-to-back double-doubles in the tournament and is shooting a ridiculous 82.1 percent (23-of-28). She opened with 32 points (13-of-14 FG), 11 rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes against the Catamounts. Tuesday against No. 22 Florida, she followed with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes.
Overall, Charles has posted three straight double-doubles and has scored in double figures in a career-high 13 straight games. Also, she has scored at least 20 points in the three straight games for the first time in her career.
With Charles playing like this in the paint, it makes the Huskies even more nightmarish to defend because her dominance creates more space on the perimeter for Montgomery and Maya Moore to operate.
“I think the more that she plays the way she’s playing right now the harder it is for them to take away the 3 and not let her score 30 points a game,’’ Montgomery said. “So the more she plays like that the more open shots we get. They can’t guard both.’’

Rich

Maya Moore, Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles are among the 40 finalists for the State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today. The finalists, who were voted on by WBCA-member coaches in each of the eight WBCA geographical regions, are now eligible to be selected to the 10-member State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team.
The All-America team will be announced at the State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team Press Conference April 4 at 10:45 a.m. EST in St. Louis.

Rich

The unofficial recruiting visit lasted one day for Michala Johnson. What transpired during that brief stay on the UConn campus March 16 was all she needed to make her decision.
Johnson, a long and athletic 6-foot-3 junior forward from Montini Catholic High in Lombard, Ill., left the campus feeling comfortable with the players, the coaching staff and the atmosphere. She decided to sleep on her decision for a week, but she never wavered. And during her lunch break at school Wednesday, Johnson phoned Huskies coach Geno Auriemma to make an oral commitment to play at UConn.
“When I came home from UConn … I just had a feeling when I was there that this is where I want to be and I think I’m ready to make this decision,’’ Johnson said. “I slept on it for about a week and then I told my mom and coach this is where I want to go and this is where I feel like I should be. I really liked it. I just felt comfortable being there.’’
Johnson becomes the third player from the Class of 2010 to commit to UConn. She joins Samarie Walker, a 6-1 swingman from Dayton, Ohio, and Stefanie Dolson, a 6-5 center from Port Jervis, N.Y., in what is already an impressive class. The Huskies continue to remain heavily involved with Lauren Engeln, a 5-11 guard from Laguna Hills, Calif., and Bria Hartley, a 5-7 point guard from North Babylon, N.Y.
Johnson, who actually drove around campus with her family two days prior to taking her visit because she was in the area to visit family in New York, attended a class with current UConn freshman Caroline Doty. She had lunch with her future teammates, went to a player’s apartment, attended practice and met with Auriemma for about 90 minutes.
Montini Catholic coach Jason Nichols said Wednesday that Johnson told him March 17 that she was going to commit to UConn. She reiterated that fact Monday morning, saying that she never had any doubt about playing at UConn whereas she had some doubts about some other schools.
“She thought one of the biggest things that really stood out with her was, first, she felt like when she was on campus she thought it was so peaceful,’’ Nichols said. “And then she goes the main thing was the kids on the team treated her like she wasn’t a recruit there but already on the team. She was like they were just talking to me like I was another person that just happened to be at the lunch table and not some focus on, `Oh, here’s this recruit …’ She’s about relationships and all that stuff that are real. It warmed her. She loved it. She really talked about how she loved communicating with Tiffany Hayes, Maya Moore and Caroline Doty. She just said the whole thing was nice. She fell for them. She fell in love with them. She thought they were great.’’
Johnson had also taken visits to DePaul, Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin. She intended to take visits to Maryland, Duke, Georgia and Vanderbilt this spring. Now that won’t be necessary.
“I finally can focus on my senior year and get back in the game, just get my knee better and just not have to worry about this coach and that coach,’’ Johnson said. “I can just focus on one thing now.’’
Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 3.3 steals as a sophomore. She played in only one game this season due to a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. However, Nichols she had two points, eight rebounds and six blocks in eight minutes in the game.
The injury originally occurred during an AAU tournament late last July in Waukegan, Ill. Johnson underwent surgery Jan. 31.
“I’m coming along,’’ Johnson said. “In May, I should be able to run. So that’s good. Once I can run again I’ll just be in the gym working on my knee and working on the game.’’
Nichols said he expects Johnson to make an impact at UConn as a freshman in 2010-11. By that time the Huskies will have lost post players Tina Charles and Kaili McLaren and swingman Kalana Greene to graduation so an opportunity to step right in and play will exist.
“She’s pretty darn good,’’ Nichols said. “She’s one of those kids I don’t know how you keep her off the floor because she makes plays all the time. Here’s the best part about Michala Johnson … She’s not an ego kid so she can average four points a game and she doesn’t care. She just likes to win. And that’s the best part. You need kids like that to fill in. Some kids are worried about what they’re ranked, where they’re at, the headlines. She doesn’t care about this. All she wants to do is win. She’s a wonderful kid. And that’s a nice class coming in that year because they’re losing a ton of kids. So that’s an important class and I think she’ll be an important piece to the puzzle.’’

Here’s more from Michala.
On Geno’s reaction when she called him today:
“He was very excited, and I was excited too,’’ she said. “I told him that I was ready to commit and that I really wanted to go there. He told me that he was very happy that I called and that he really appreciated me calling in. He asked even if we practice all summer would I still want to come there, and if it’s very hard and it takes a lot of toughness and determination to do that? And I told him that I’m willing to do it. I have confidence in myself and this is what I want to do.’’

On UConn’s play thus far in the NCAA tournament.
“They’re playing very good and I’m very excited to be a part of the team and be able to say that that’s where I’m going,’’ she said.

Here’s a description of her game from Nichols:
“One of the things she can do is probably beat every single kid down the floor,’’ he said. “She’s got big-time speed, and at 6-3 she’s a long-armed kid who’s got a huge wingspan. And she’s got Velcro somewhere on the palm of her hands because everything sticks to her hands. She’s unbelievable in transition. She’s a finisher. She’s very hard to contain on the glass because she’s so long and athletic. She gets a lot of stick-back rebounds. She’s got a huge, huge post game with her back to the basket. I think her footwork is unbelievable. She’s pretty hard to guard 1-on-1, and her face-up game has just mightily improved.’’

Rich

The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Committee announces its 2009 class of inductees. The 22nd Annual Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held April 22nd at Cascade Banquet Facility on 480 Sherman Avenue in Hamden, CT. Ticket information may be obtained from Executive Director Ann V. Fariss at [203] 378-6581.
The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame was the first organization of its kind in the country. It was created in 1987 by five professional and personal friends who strongly felt the need to honor outstanding basketball players, coaches, officials, and advocates. The Hall of Fame, located in the Brenda Reilly Gallery at Central CT State University, honors those who have contributed to the enhancement of women’s basketball in Connecticut — either through participation, through service, through support, or through achievement. The 2009 Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Famers exemplify the finest achievements in Connecticut.

2009 CT Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees
Tami “Chap” Chapman
High School Player
Plainville, CT
Bristol Eastern HS, Bristol, CT

Howard Gura
High School Coach
Shelton, CT
Shelton, CT

Robin Massari-Steele
College Player
Naugatuck, CT
Masuk HS, Monroe, CT; Fairfield Univ.

Robert Meyers
Referee
Bethel, CT
Fairfield County, throughout CT, New England

Meghan Pattyson-Culmo
Honorary
West Hartford, CT
UConn

Shea Ralph
College Player
Storrs, CT
UConn

Krista L. Rappahahn
High School Player
Palo Alto, CA
Norwich Free Academy, Stanford Univ.

Geno Auriemma is an honest man. He made a mistake Tuesday night.
But the mistake he made only magnified the admiration and the love he has for his players. Whether they are All-Americans or role players at the other end of the rotation for the Huskies, it doesn’t matter. Every one of them is like a daughter to him, especially on this year’s team.
Geno took senior Renee Montgomery out of the game last night for what he hoped would be the final time with 8:53 remaining in the second half. The Huskies were leading comfortably, 73-41, and she had scored a game-high 23 points. Maya Moore had just buried a 3-pointer and Florida coach Amada Butler called a 30-second timeout.
However, what Geno failed to realize at the time, in what was Renee’s final home game as a member of the Huskies, was that the fans did not have an opportunity to truly honor her and pay their respects because there was a timeout. Geno came to this realization once play resumed and he knew that he had to right his wrong. So he put Renee back in the game with 7:10 left.
He finally took her out – only after she scored on a layup to push the lead to 79-43 – with 6:24 left. This time Geno got what he was looking for. The crowd rose to its feet and roared as Renee made her way off the court.
“Generally speaking, I always feel like it’s the last opportunity for her to come off the court,’’ Auriemma said. “I screwed up by subbing for her during the timeout and then I realized that I’m going to look like an idiot putting her back in. And then she gets a layup and I thought, `Perfect, let me get her out.’ I felt bad until Amanda called a timeout with (12.2) seconds left and then I didn’t feel so bad.’’
Initially, Renee was confused by the whole set of events. She didn’t know why Geno had sent her back into the game. And she still didn’t fully understand until she reached the bench for they final time and Geno asked her.
“That was nice,’’ she said. “I really didn’t know why I went back in, but I didn’t ask any questions. And then when I came out he was like, `Now do you get it?’ And I’m like, `Yeah.’ And he’s like. `You deserve this.’ Well, CD (Chris Dailey) said, `You deserve this.’ It was just nice. They are always thinking ahead. I was just a good feeling. I was just trying to take it all in because it’s my last game here. It was a blessing to be able to play an extra game here. So I just had to take it all in and enjoy my teammates, my coaching staff because it’s not going to be like this ever again.’’
It was fitting that Montgomery scored 25 points to lead the Huskies to the Sweet 16 for the 16th straight season. She made five 3-pointers and had five assists in 30 minutes. Moore couldn’t have been happier for her.
“That’s the way you want her to go out,’’ Moore said. “She has worked so hard and done so many things for our team, putting the team first and being a leader. As hard as it is to do that at UConn, to play her last game at Gampel the way she did is one of those moments why you play team sports.’’
Renee is averaging 22.0 points and 6.0 assists and has made 10 3-pointers in the tournament. She set team career records for consecutive starts (136), consecutive games (146) and minutes played (4,460) Tuesday. And she is ranked sixth all-time in scoring (1,911), third in assists (615), fourth in made 3-pointers (247) and fifth in steals (257).
But as far as Geno is concerned, Renee’s contribution to the program goes well beyond the numbers. And that’s why he needed to make sure that she got the ovation she deserved from the crowd of 8,237 at Gampel Pavilion last night.
“I think anybody who’s been here for four years and has done what she’s done and the way she’s done it (deserves it),’’ Auriemma said. “Certainly the points and the (assists) and all that other stuff … it’s so much more than that. It’s just the way she is. It’s the way she comes to practice every day, the way she’s at pre-game meals. It’s everything. We’ve had some unbelievable people here that played that position. And she’s got a lot of Jennifer (Rizzotti) and she’s got a lot of Sue (Bird) and she’s got lot of D (Diana Taurasi). She’s got a lot of Rita Williams. There’s just something about those guys that they just are able to grab a team and make the team do whatever is necessary. And I can’t be more proud of her.’’

Rich