By Sue
Bird, Seattle Storm
Not to worry out there, I
think UConn is doing just fine. The Huskies had some tough
losses that shook them up a bit this season and affected their
confidence. I know they are disappointed with their Big East
losses, but it is very similar to last year. Losing in the
Big East Tournament last year motivated them. They called
that loss the biggest win of the year. We'll see what happens
this year. This is what you prepare for all year. They have
only a few games left.
But you know what? They deserved
a 2-seed. They had four losses, two to unranked opponents.
The other teams did a better job of taking care of business
down the stretch, but it's hard to say. Whether they were
a number one or a number two seed, as long as they are in
the East bracket, it doesn't really matter. They are essentially
playing at home up until the Final Four, and that is huge.
Bridgeport, Connecticut and Hartford, Connecticut. It wouldn't
matter where in Connecticut. I really feel badly for Penn
State, to be honest, who has a legitimate gripe about how
things turned out, but they lost in their conference tournament
as well.
In this Tournament, it is
extremely hard for mid-major teams to go very far, but I think
teams like the third-seeded Oklahoma and Houston can do some
real damage because of the seniors and the leadership on those
teams. UC-Santa Barbara may take some people by surprise.
They have April McDivitt, who transferred from Tennessee,
and they are playing their own backyard in Santa Barbara.
Georgia also has a very good player named Christi Thomas.
I think Stanford will do well because they will be disappointed
that they only got an unfairly high seed. I also think Purdue
will do well. And definitely follow Stacy Stephens on Texas.
Also, there are two girls that went to my high school on George
Washington.
But I'm going out on a real
limb and picking all of the other one seeds. UConn over Texas,
with Duke and Tennessee also making it.
Sue Bird, University
of Connecticut '02
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