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Timely progress: Red Bulls enter tough stretch of schedule looking more fluid
Senegalese star Macoumba Kandji, above, is looking comfortable alongside fellow Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel. (Getty Images)
Special to amNewYork
Beginning Thursday night in Kansas City, the Red Bulls will play two games in four days against Kansas City and D.C. United, two Major League Soccer clubs that sit above them in the Eastern Conference standings.
So it was a relief for the Red Bulls (1-2-2) that their offense showed certain vital signs in a 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
The most obvious improvement was in the forward line, where Macoumba Kandji was successfully paired with Juan Pablo Angel.
Angel, the striker, has an illustrious MLS reputation that now precedes his every move. Throughout the game, he used this fact to his advantage, dropping far into the hole, behind his usual advanced position on the field, to open space ahead for Kandji to exploit.
When Kandji established himself as a threat, he was then able to drop back and return the favor to Angel, creating a seesawing dynamism that resulted in a goal for each player.The forwards’ interplay was particularly important because their midfield teammates are still not quite in rhythm.
Jorge Rojas, for example, appears to have the skill, but not the disposition, to play a central attacking role. He shows his qualities in isolated spurts — a flick here, a sly turn there — but these flourishes rarely add to the flow of offense.
Conversely, Dane Richards showed why, despite his many shortcomings, he continues to be picked to play. What the diminutive winger lacks in decision making and on-the-move passing, he makes up for in enthusiasm, kinetic energy and disruptive force; his speed originated the Red Bulls’ first goal on Saturday.
The mild disappointment thus far in midfield, though, has been partially offset by the encouraging defensive play of the Red Bulls’ new fullbacks, rookie Jeremy Hall and recently signed Alfredo Pacheco.
Hall, who is playing in his first season as a professional out of Maryland, is still something of a work in progress. But Pacheco glided easily up and down the sideline and played a few ambitious balls forward in Saturday’s game, his first with the team, showing why he was so coveted in the offseason by Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio. Both are capable defenders who itch to get forward.
The return of goalkeeper Jon Conway further solidified the squad. If the Red Bulls continue to improve from their sluggish start to the year, they could make up some valuable ground in the conference in their next two games.
Red Bulls (1-2-2) at Kansas City Wizards (2-2-1), Thursday, 8 p.m. ESPN2
RBNY outlook: The Red Bulls face a Kansas City team that is unbeaten in its past three games. The Wizards’ attack will run through Argentine playmaker Claudio Lopez and American forward Josh Wolff, who earned MLS Player of the Week honors after a two-goal spurt Saturday in Chicago.
Tags: red bulls, dane richards, major league soccer, claudio lopez, josh wolff, alfredo pacheco, jeremy hall, jorge rojas, juan pablo angel, macoumba kandji, new york red bulls, kansas city wizards, d.c. united, juan carlos osorio
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Mr. Met originates from his own dressing room at Citi Field
Walking through the field-level tunnels of Citi Field on Sunday — the new ballpark's sixth regular-season date — I chanced upon an amusingly labeled room a few hundred feet down the hall from the visiting dugout along the third-base line.
The placard, complete with a Braille translation, read:
1.35.07"
(Photo by Max J. Dickstein)
I asked a nearby attendant why the dressing room's door wasn't higher and wider to fit the Mr. Met's head. Amused, he told me that the team mascot had no room of his own in the Shea Stadium green room. Now a Mascot Hall of Famer, the jolly baseball-headed trickster who was born in the early 1960s has his own digs at Citi Field.
And then, as I returned my attention to the dressing room, Mr. Met and his crew rolled out of the dressing room a few moments later. The game's first pitch was just 45 minutes away, after all.
(Photo by Max J. Dickstein)
From the looks of the Mets mascot's cushy situation (though I did not peek inside the room) it seems this Onion article is further from the truth than you'd think.
Tags: mr. met, citi field, 1.35.07, dressing room, the onion, baseball
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Column: John Madden and his appetite for action
John Madden, pictured at his Hall of Fame induction in 2006, will be missed in retirement. (Getty Images)
Some Sunday night early this fall, it will hit us like a tackle: Boom! Where are John Madden’s excited insights, his deep chuckle, his sledgehammer reactions to hard hits?
The answer: Madden’s five young grandchildren in California, not his loyal viewers, will have exclusive access to the action-loving zest that characterizes the signature voice of American football; Madden said Thursday he is retiring from broadcasting.
Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, Madden’s “Sunday Night Football” successor as analyst, will make a more-than-adequate team this season for NBC. But the convivial thrill Madden brought to football — deftly mixing depth of knowledge with lightness of spirit — was his unique, irreplaceable contribution to the life of the football fan.
When I met Madden at NBC’s 30 Rock studios last spring, he wanted to talk about food.
“The food that they’re famous for in that city is what I eat when I go there,” he said of his lengthy bus travels each season. “Green Bay brats, Philadelphia cheesesteaks, New York pizza, Chicago deep-dish pizza.”
Beneath his wisp of auburn-gray hair, Madden’s face was friendly, large and animated. He likes to cook, he added brightly, and he even installed a TV-studio-sized, high-tech kitchen at his California home, though its well-stocked wares have been mostly dormant during his busy career.
Shaking the cushions with gestures as he rhapsodized about the virtues of spaghetti made with stew meat, the dark-suited Hall of Famer sitting on the other end of that green-room couch was an impressive force of entertainment, undiminished even when untelevised.
The 73-year-old’s choice to leave the broadcast booth aligns with his stage in life and need not be questioned. But Madden’s infectious, omnivorous joy at watching a football game knows no age.
Tags: john madden, sunday night football, nbc, al michaels, cris collinsworth, green bay brats, philadelphia cheesesteaks, philly cheesesteaks, new york pizza, chicago deep-dish pizza, nfl football
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Throwback Thursday: Yankee Stadium edition
Now that the "new" Yankee Stadium has opened, it's a good time to look back to when the "old" stadium was renovated in 1974-75. Those two seasons, the Yanks actually played in Shea Stadium while their park was essentially gutted and remade.
One can argue that 1973 was the last year of the old park, not last season. There was little left of the original structure after those renovations.
Here's a video, albeit a shaky one, that gives an inside look of the work being done in the stadium back then.
— Pete Catapano
Tags: yankee stadium, yankees
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NBA Playoff Preview 2008-09: Its Lakers, Cavs and the rest
Special to amNewYork
This NBA regular season saw the second straight year of the Eastern Conference’s rebirth, and a Western Conference stacked with fine teams.
But there are some differences from last year. Cleveland has replaced Boston as this year’s East juggernaut, while last year’s NBA Finals runner-up, the L.A. Lakers, is head and shoulders above the rest out West.
Here is our preview of the playoffs, which tip off Saturday.
Front-runners
Kobe Bryant (Getty Images)
L.A. Lakers
The Lakers have the most beautiful passing in the league, and with Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom, they employ three highly skilled big men who often overmatch less athletic opponents. Kobe Bryant is the best big-moment player in the game. If a team doesn’t have an athletic frontcourt, it has no chance against Los Angeles.
LeBron James (Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have always been disciplined defensively under Mike Brown, but guards Mo Williams and Delonte West give the Cavs two more creative scorers and playmakers to punish teams who load up on LeBron James.
If they can get any post offense from Zydrunas Ilgauskas, they’ll be nearly impossible to defeat. (Cleveland is nearly unbeatable at home, where it was 39-1 entering last night’s finale against Philadelphia.)
Other contenders
Houston Rockets
Shane Battier and Ron Artest give the Rockets the best chance in the league at slowing down the Lakers’ Bryant, while Yao Ming and Luis Scola are excellent help defenders.
The Rockets have developed a rugged defensive identity but their lack of offensive punch (the injured Tracy McGrady’s absence is notable here) makes them a second-tier team.
Boston Celtics
The defending champions never adequately replaced last year’s key playoff reserves, P.J. Brown and James Posey. What’s more, a hobbled Kevin Garnett leaves their frontcourt very short and without a post presence. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen alone can’t beat Cleveland.Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard’s Superman strength, and his ability to cut, seal and dunk, overpower his too-mortal opponents.
However, the best post defenders often keep Howard in check, which is why it’s doubtful that the rest of Orlando’s roster has the firepower to prevail over Boston or Cleveland.
Possible semifinalists
Denver Nuggets
Chauncey Billups has brought the Nuggets stability at point guard, but against defensive pressure they still make too many impulsive mistakes.
Portland Trail Blazers
The young Blazers, led by Brandon Roy, play with a maturity beyond their years. They’re well coached by Nate McMillan and are solid defensively. All the team needs is a post threat — which Greg Oden isn’t right now.
San Antonio Spurs
Time and injuries have hit the Spurs hard, with Tim Duncan less effective and Manu Ginobili out for the season. Their experience and wisdom leave them capable of winning a series or two, but they don’t have the athleticism to go the distance.
Miami Heat
Let’s put it like this: The Heat has Dwyane Wade, a solid defense, Dwyane Wade, a bright rookie head coach in Erik Spoelstra, Dwyane Wade and Dwyane Wade. Miami lacks the supporting cast to advance far, but if Wade goes off in four games against Atlanta, the Heat may see the second round.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks’ home-court prowess is shocking because they often play to sparse crowds, but Joe Johnson and Josh Smith seem to feed off any positive energy directed toward them. If Atlanta contains Wade, they’ll win their first playoff series in a decade.
First-round fodder
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers play hard and excel on the break but they don’t have a halfcourt offense disciplined enough to win in the playoffs.
Chicago Bulls
Rookie point guard Derrick Rose gives the Bulls a bright future, but they don’t have the defense or the post play to win a playoff series.
Detroit Pistons
Midseason acquisition Allen Iverson, now inactive, never bought into Detroit’s team-oriented approach, Rasheed Wallace lacks the guts to post up consistently, and the team lost its leader when Billups was traded for Iverson.
Dallas Mavericks
Good defenses neutralize Dirk Nowitzki and prevent the Mavs from generating easy baskets. Plus, the Mavs have a habit of disappearing under the spotlight.
New Orleans
Despite the leadership of one of the league’s five best players, Chris Paul, the Hornets play with no edge and have really missed Tyson Chandler’s defense and energy.
Utah Jazz
The Lakers have a better chance of winning two games in Utah than the Jazz have of winning one game in Los Angeles. That spells doom when opening a series in Hollywood.
Tags: orlando magic, san antonio spurs, kobe bryant, lebron james, dwyane wade, tim duncan, cleveland cavaliers, l.a. lakers
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NHL playoff preview
The Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight, when the NHL opens its 16-team postseason tournament.
Top contenders Detroit, the defending champion, and Boston, the East’s top seed, will be challenged by the West’s balanced No. 1, San Jose; star-driven teams from the East such as Pittsburgh and Washington; and New York’s two local entries, the
Rangers and Devils.
Here is our preview, with first-round predictions.
(Henrik Lundqvist, AP Photo)
(7) Rangers vs. (2) Washington Game 1: tonight, 7 p.m.
The Rangers (43-30-9), whose schizophrenic play led to a coaching change on Feb. 23, were dangerously close to missing the playoffs, but renewed their confidence and energy by closing the season with three wins against playoff teams.
To advance, new coach John Tortorella's team will need to stop Washington’s prolific 23-year-old scorer, Alex Ovechkin (56 goals, 54 assists). In the Blueshirts’ favor is stalwart goalie Henrik Lundqvist and the Capitals’ (50-24-8) mediocre defense.
Forwards Scott Gomez and Chris Drury, who finished with 58 and 56 points, respectively, must provide the Rangers with the leadership necessary to contend with Washington, clearly an offensively superior opponent. Capitals in 7
(Alex Ovechkin, AP Photo)(8) Montreal vs.
(1) Boston
Game 1: tomorrow, 7 p.m.
The Bruins stumbled out of the gate but cruised to the second-best record in the league. Paced by veteran Marc Savard (25G, 63A), Boston (53-19-10) led the conference in scoring and allowed the fewest goals. That’s a challenge for Montreal (41-30-11), facing Boston in the first round for the second straight year, with the seeds reversed.
Montreal won in seven games last spring, but a repeat from the Habs and their captain, Alexei Kovalev (26G, 39A) in unlikely; Montreal goalie Carey Price (23-16, 2.83) has started just 89 career games. Bruins in 5
(Alexei Kovalev, AP Photo)
(6) Carolina vs.
(3) Devils
Game 1: tonight, 7:30 p.m.
The Devils (51-27-4) scared fans with a late-season six-game losing streak. While they recovered with four wins in five games, the slide left Martin Brodeur (31-19, 2.42 goals allowed average) with a tricky matchup against gritty Carolina (45-30-7), which has won two of three playoff matchups against the Devils.
Led by center Eric Staal (40 goals, 35 assists), the ’Canes tout a balanced offense.
Carolina also won nine straight games before ending the season with back-to-back losses.
Brodeur, the NHL’s winningest goalie, may have to stand on his head for the Devils to make it out of this series. Hurricanes in 6
(5) Philadelphia vs. (4) Pittsburgh
Game 1: tonight, 7 p.m.
The bitter interstate rivals are very evenly matched — down to their goals scored and allowed. They meet in a rematch of last year’s conference finals, when the Penguins topped the Flyers in five.
A coaching change, plus some depth-bolstering trades, turned Pittsburgh (45-28-9) from mediocre to dominant this season, while the Flyers (44-27-11), led by centers Jeff Carter (46G, 38A) and Mike Richards (30G, 50A), were consistent until a 5-5 finish. Philly’s top concern will be the Pens’ duo of Evgeni Malkin (35G, 78A) and Sidney Crosby (33G, 70A), who finished first and third in the NHL in scoring, respectively. Expect a tight, gritty series with lots of bad blood to go around. Penguins in 7
Evgeni Malkin (AP Photo)
Western Conference
(8) Anaheim vs.
(1) San Jose
Game 1: tomorrow, 10:30 p.m.
Coming off their best-ever regular season, the Sharks (53-18-11) boast a balanced offense led by center Joe Thornton (25G, 61A), a strong defense that can score and a marquee goalie in Evgeni Nabokov (41-12, 2.44). Their home-ice dominance (32-5-4) is a heavy lift for the Ducks (42-33-7), who hit a late-season stride but will need perfection here. Sharks in 4
(7) Columbus vs. (2) Detroit
Game 1: tomorrow, 7 p.m.
The returning champions take on a team making its first postseason appearance. Deep and experienced, the Red Wings (51-21-10) have eight players with more than 50 points, with Pavel Datsyuk (32G, 65A) at the top of the list. Their offense ranked No. 1 in the NHL, which makes up for the team’s average goaltenders, Ty Conklin and Chris Osgood.
The Blue Jackets (41-31-10) live and die by their star winger, Rick Nash (40G, 39A), but this is too big of an ask for one player. Red Wings in 5
(6) St. Louis vs.
(3) Vancouver
Game 1: tonight, 10 p.m.
The Canucks (45-27-10) were one of the West’s best teams in the second half, losing just six games in February and March despite roster-decimating injuries. Relying heavily on defense — the Canucks were fourth-best in the West in goals allowed — Vancouver has one of the NHL’s top goalies in Roberto Luongo (33-13, 2.34).
The Blues (41-31-10) were equally hot in the second half, going 21-7-6 since Feb. 1. Special teams will be big here, with the Blues third in penalty killing and eighth on the power play. Vancouver, meanwhile, is mediocre in both respects. Blues in 7
(5) Calgary vs.
(4) Chicago
Game 1: tomorrow, 8:30 p.m.
The balanced Blackhawks (46-24-12) were reborn this season after years of floundering. (Chicago has just one playoff victory since 1997.)
Despite having have virtually no star power, the Blackhawks are fundamentally sound, allowing the third-fewest goals in the West.
Jarome Iginla (35G, 54A), still starring for the Flames after 12 seasons, is a game-breaker who remains one of the NHL’s best forwards, able to single-handedly change a series. The Flames (46-30-6) have little other firepower; they were shut out three times in their final 10 games, going 4-6. Blackhawks in 6
Tags: henrik lundqvist, martin brodeur, evgeni malkin, sidney crosby, alexei kovalev, alex ovechkin, pavel datsyuk, jarome iginla, marc savard, carey price, eric staal, jeff carter, mike richards, joe thornton, evgeni nabokov, ty conklin, chris osgood, rick nash, roberto luongo, john tortorella, scott gomez, chris drury, new york rangers, new jersey devils, nhl
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Fantasy Baseball: Turn stars' injuries into oportunities to snag beneficiaries
Milwaukee Brewers Carlos Villanueva, above, has the green-light in any save situation until all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman returns from injury. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Special to amNewYork
Instead of cringing at the thought of one of your players getting injured, think of it as an opportunity for another player. Early-season injuries are already accumulating, so snatching injury beneficiaries is key to maintaining team depth. Here are four examples:
Injured: Trevor Hoffman, Relief Pitcher, Milwaukee Brewers
Status: The majors' all-time saves leader hasn't pitched off a mound since March 13 because of a strained rib cage, although he could return to the mound by Wednesday. He's been participating in intensive "catch" sessions to build up the strength to throw off a mound.
Beneficiary: Carlos Villanueva
Value: Villanueva is unquestionably the team's closer, and manager Ken Macha told MLB.com on Sunday that he would go to the pitcher whenever a game is in a save situation. That should be enough to convince you to pluck him from your league's free agent list because saves are saves, no matter how ugly the manner in which they're accrued.
Injured: Mark Teixeira, First Baseman, Yankees
Status: Teixeira could miss his third straight game on Monday with a sore left wrist. Big Tex suspects the wrist became problematic beginning last Wednesday, and It hampers him only when he bats right-handed. Be prepared for the possibility of future days off.
Beneficiary: Nick Swisher
Value: Swish would be a full-time starter on most other teams. He has All-Star power (36 HRs in 2006) and he's adept at reaching base (career .356 on-base percentage). His 8-for-17 (.471) hitting and nine RBIs will likely make manager Joe Girardi more willing to bring back Teixeira at a comfortable pace.
Injured: Brandon Webb, Starting Pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks
Status: The ace was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness on Sunday, retroactive to April 7, meaning Webb could miss only one start before returning. But the sinkerballer has battled shoulder problems since last fall.
Beneficiary: Yusmeiro Petit
Value: Petit isn't officially Webb's replacement (there hasn't been one named yet), but he's an intriguing option. He posted a respectable 6.5 K/9 rate and an ultra-low 1.07 WHIP in eight starts for Arizona last season. His 67-to-8 K-to-BB ratio in 60 innings of Triple-A ball last year supports the belief that his improved control could keep his WHIP down.
Injured: Jose Guillen, Outfielder, Kansas City Royals
Status: The right fielder was dispatched to the 15-day disabled list on April 10 with a grade 2 tear of his right hip flexor. He is expected to be sidelined until the end of the month. Guillen has a lengthy injury history, so his situation is one to watch even after he returns.
Beneficiary: Mark Teahen
Value: Teahen was already getting time at second base, but Guillen's injury means his positional versatility will be stretched to the max. Guillen's absence also means Teahen will move to the middle of the batting order — prime RBI position. A .300 batting average off 6-for-20 hitting and an .817 OPS are good signs that the combo infielder/outfielder could regain his confidence at the plate after a dismal 2008 campaign.
Tags: mark teixeira, trevor hoffman, nick swisher, carlos villanueva, yusmeiro petit, brandon webb, jose guillen, mark teahen, new york yankees, milwaukee brewers, arizona diamondbacks, kansas city royals, fantasy mlb
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Q&A: John Dower, director of HBO's documentary "Thrilla in Manila," dicusses the Joe Frazier Muhammad Ali rivalry
Joe Frazier, the former Heavyweight Champion of the World poses for a portrait at his boxing gym on March 18, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Special to amNewYork
Based solely on their achievements inside the boxing ring, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier should be remembered with equal fondness, having met for three bitterly contested fights from 1971-75 (Ali won the second and third encounters).
Yet much more than professional excellence goes into the creation of a legend. The new documentary “Thrilla in Manila” explores — mostly from Frazier’s point of view — the ways the fighters’ contrasting public images impacted their volatile relationship, their legendary bouts and history’s regard for each man. amNewYork spoke to director John Dower about the film, which premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. on HBO.
What was the impetus for making this film?
We set out from the very beginning to make a film told purely from Joe Frazier’s point of view. It was about his three fights with Muhammad Ali, with the focus on that final, extraordinary fight in Manila. It was a very simple idea. It was a film about the other man in the ring.
Why do you think Ali and Frazier are remembered so differently today?
Television was invented for Muhammad Ali. He was one of the first public figures that really knew how to use the medium of television, and he did it so wonderfully that Frazier sadly never got a look in.
Why did Ali belittle Frazier so viciously and publicly?
Ali was manipulated by [the Nation of Islam]. And that led to some of the racial scorn he poured on Joe. We’ve done Q&As after these screenings and people have been angry about the way I’ve portrayed Muhammad Ali, but it’s there. He called Joe an Uncle Tom. He called Joe a gorilla.
Were you concerned about making the film too critical towards Ali?
We didn’t set out to make a film that would give Ali an absolute kicking. But I do strongly feel that he’s kind of been turned into a benign figure. Part of that’s because he’s ill. I actually think we do him a service in a way. We re-humanize him a bit. He was an extraordinarily complex, contradictory character.
Tags: joe frazier, john dower, muhammad ali, thrilla in manila, hbo, tv sports
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Fantasy Baseball: A Q&A with the Sports Judge, who lays down the fantasy law
The Yankees' injured superstar Alex Rodriguez might figure into trades whose merits could be considered by the Sports Judge. (Getty Images) Special to amNewYork
Fantasy sports leagues no longer have to settle owner disputes with verbal battles rivaling those seen on "The Real World."
SportsJudge.com, founded by Rutgers sports law professor Marc Edelman, operates as a neutral third party to analyze and assess rulings for a broad spectrum of fantasy-related disagreements. Edelman shared his thoughts on the fantasy world with amNewYork.
Who has the greatest need for your web site?
It's geared toward the high-end players [who have entry fees or prizes rewarded]. While we resolve disputes for leagues with small amounts of prize money, we find as the prize money becomes greater, there becomes greater incentives for teams to engage in questionable behavior.
Are there any aspects of fantasy sports that you deal with that are frustrating?
The whole idea of having owners veto or not veto trades seems to be a terrible idea. There is no formal standard as to where a veto should take place. More often than not, owners will veto a trade just because they think they would've made a better offer or they don't like it.Do casual fantasy sports fans tend to skirt the rules?
That is the nature of some people. Most of the leagues we work with involve league constitutions. There are rules to everybody's game. Whether some people choose not to play by the rules, I'm sure some people are always going to. Whether there's no stakes involved or real stakes ... Frankly, Bernie Madoff didn't play by the rules in a real game with real implications.
In one of my fantasy baseball leagues, I agreed to trade Chris Davis for a sixth-round pick prior to the draft. Our commish emailed the owners with a subject line "Veto Kyle's trade." Was this proper judgment?
The first issue is not so much that he's commissioner, but that he's wearing the dual hat as a commissioner and an owner. An email in itself is just an invitation to collude, and [that] is different from collusion. Collusion requires two or more parties to agree. I consider that to be an inappropriate e-mail to go out — not wearing the hat as commissioner, but wearing the hat as an owner/commissioner. This is one reason why the functions should be separated.
In a 10- or 12-team league, should a team be allowed to acquire injured Alex Rodriguez at a discounted price if the team already has another elite third baseman, such as David Wright, Aramis Ramirez or Evan Longoria?
Absolutely. The way I look at it is a trade should be held if it would reasonably benefit both teams. One owner is risk-averse and he doesn't want to take a chance of Alex Rodriguez possibly missing a good part of the season; a different owner is either more of a risk-taker or believes Alex Rodriguez will be back sooner. But if the risk-averse person needs someone to play right away, then the risk-taking person who chooses to take a chance on Rodriguez is fine.
Tags: marc edelman, sports judge, chris davis, alex rodriguez, evan longoria, david wright, aramiz ramirez, bernie madoff, fantasy mlb
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NCAA Women's Preview: UConn on brink of a sixth title
Maya Moore leads UConn with 19.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. (Source: Getty Images)
It’s the first all-Big East women’s NCAA championship game.
It’s the first time in more than 20 years that two male coaches — Louisville’s Jeff Walz and Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma — will meet in an NCAA women’s final.
But tonight’s final (8:30 p.m. on ESPN) has another feature that is relatively common in the women’s game: a dominant team 40 minutes from undefeated coronation.Auriemma, who won his sixth coach of the year award on Sunday, helmed two of the four previous unbeaten NCAA champions. Unless third-seeded Louisville has something to say about it, he’ll run away with a sixth title.
Led by super sophomore Maya Moore, the player of the year, top-seeded Connecticut is the highest-scoring and most offensively efficient team in the country, averaging 84.2 points with a 1.44 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Huskies have also shellacked Louisville twice this season by an average of 33.5 points.
Tags: ncaa, maya moore, uconn, louisville, jeff walz, geno auriemma, college basketball
