| | If your team plays good defense and gets good point-guard play, you have the most important ingredients for a deep run in the women's NCAA Tournament, says ESPN announcer Beth Mowins.
In a chat shortly before the start of the tournament, Mowins tackled user questions about the top teams in the tournament and what they need to do to advance. She also talked about where some of the top seeds might stumble and even predicted her Final Four.
An edited transcript from Mowins' March 15 chat follows:
| |  | | Sue Bird in one reason ESPN's Beth Mowins likes UConn's chances. |
Ron: What are Iowa State's chances of going to the Final Four?
Beth Mowins: They have a pretty tough draw -- second-round potential hurdle against Illinois. They are very
physical, very strong and good perimeter quickness that could pose problems. Stacy Frese and
Angie Welle have to be on top of their game.
If they get to the regional, potentially Penn State and La. Tech are two more very difficult
matchups. Iowa State would have to be considered a longshot to get through.
Jeff: Why are the Drake Bulldogs and the MVC in general not more highly thought of by the
committee? Drake beat Iowa State, for instance, but seems to get no seeding respect.
Beth Mowins:
The best way for Drake, or any other team, to get respect from the committee is by proving itself
not in the regular season, but in the tournament. Then, the following year the committee would
be more apt to following Drake during the regular season.
They have an opportunity against Clemson to beat a quality opponent from a bigger-named
conference and that would be a big boost.
Deborah Lovin: Which team will give the Lady Techsters their first really strong challenge? Can you foresee Mississippi
St. meeting Georgia in the West finals? Do you think spending all your time up North influences your
thoughts? It's influenced my own.
Beth Mowins: Vandy could test them in the second round if the Commodores get through. They are well
coached with good size and good shooters. And against Tech you have to have a solid
defensive game plan. Coach Jim Foster will have one for Vandy.
Mississippi State first has to win on the road in Oregon -- a tough task. If they do get through to
Georgia, I think UGA's experience will propel them past Mississippi State. Georgia has a lot of
weapons and they have been deep into the tournament before and know what it takes to win.
I actually live in the South and work and watch games from all over the country. So I think I
have a pretty good idea of what is going on in all parts of the nation.
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MOWINS' FILE
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Mowins, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., joined ESPN in 1994 as a
play-by-play announcer for various events including NCAA women's
basketball, NCAA softball, and the Houston Kennel Club dog show. In addition, she has covered NFA Professional softball games for ESPN2.
She has also served as a play-by-play announcer for CPTV's coverage of women's basketball, Prime Network's coverage of the 1994 Kodak
Girl's High School All-America Classic, Big East women's basketball Game of the Week (1994), and NCAA women's Division I softball Final Four and soccer semifinals (1994). |
J.J.: How far will Texas Tech go?
Beth Mowins:
Texas Tech has a good shot at the Sweet 16 with good defenders. Katrisa O'Neal, Keitha
Dickerson guarding Tulane's stars Grace Daley and Janell Burse. After that trouble looms
probably against Notre Dame which has a good inside-outside balance and eliminated Tech last
year.
Mike: I like UConn but I think they will have a potential problem with Purdue. What do you think?
Beth Mowins:
I think you are right Mike.
Hopefully Purdue will have Michelle Duhart back in the lineup because they will need all their
weapons against the Huskies. But Purdue has a shot because they are well-coached, play good
defense and can rebound -- all essential in the tournament. They also have Katie Douglas, one of
the top players in the country and she will present matchup problems for UConn. This will be a
very good challenge for UConn.
Sleeper: How do you feel about BC's chances in the tournament? With Becky Gottstein back and
arguably one of the best back courts in the nation, I think they have a real shot at the later
rounds. What's your reaction?
Beth Mowins:
I would agree.
Boston College has quality players at all five spots on the floor and a good draw through the
first two rounds. Tennessee presents a major road block in the Sweet 16. But again, with
Gottstein back and the experience of Cal Bouchard at the point, they have an opportunity to pull
off the upset.
Deborah Lovin: When watching Tennessee this year, did they appear to be a team looking for a leader on the floor?
Do you think it will be the cause of their demise?
Beth Mowins:
They seem to have found a leader in Kara Lawson and that was a key ingredient for them to
find. She will need to play a big role in the tournament but she has a lot of confidence for a
freshmen and her teammates have a lot of confidence in her.
The leadership wasn't a problem in the SEC tournament. So they are in pretty good shape in the
South region.
Duke Duke: What do you have to say about Duke? I honestly believe they will beat UConn and make it to
the Final Four again. Coach G has this team playing better than last year's -- MUCH better defense.
Beth Mowins:
Coach G has done a exceptional job keeping this team focused despite the loss of Peppi
Browne. They are playing terrific defense, but I think they will run into trouble with the
athleticism of UConn. Duke has Lauren Rice and Rochelle Parent who don't get the credit they
deserve. But UConn has too many horses.
Howard Eisenberg: What do you think of the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers? Possible Final Four candidate?
Beth Mowins:
Rutgers plays good aggressive defense and that should carry them far. Facing Texas in the
second round against a hot Longhorns could be tough. But if they get past that, they should have
the confidence to go far.
CRM: What do you think of the Mideast bracket? Can anyone there challenge Tennessee and do you think it
is an advantage for them to play instate up to the Final Four?
Beth Mowins: Playing instate is probably more of an advantage for their fans to travel, which could give
Tennessee a big boost. But there are some traps along the way in the Mideast, including BC and
Notre Dame out of the Big East. But Tennessee would have to be considered the favorite due
to their experience in the tournament and the play of Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall.
Mike: Is it realistic that the Big East could get three teams to the Final Four -- UConn (East), Notre Dame
(Mideast) and Rutgers (West)?
Beth Mowins:
Possible. With the way the three teams have played this year, they have all the elements for
deep runs and they all get good point-guard play. ND will have to limit their turnovers. Rutgers will
have to apply the pressure. While UConn will have to play up to their potential.
Scott: ESPN.Com doesn't think Notre Dame will reach the Sweet 16. What do you think?
Beth Mowins:
I think the Irish have a very good chance of reaching the Sweet 16. They are playing at home,
they have a sharp shooter in Alicia Ratay and one of the best center's in the country in Ruth Riley who
will be a tough matchup for either GW or UCLA in Round 2. They have proven themselves in
the postseason and playing at home, I like them even more.
Alison: Can the inexperience of the point guard position end up hurting UConn in the long haul?
Beth Mowins:
I wouldn't call Sue Bird inexperienced at this point in the season. A strong case could be made
that she was the best player on their team this year and the most important to their success. I
think she is a major reason why they will go deep in the tournament -- she can shoot, she can
drive and she makes good decisions. She runs that team very well.
Kathryn: Want to go out on a limb and predict the Final Four?
Beth Mowins:
Kathryn, one of the best parts of this tournament is climbing out on a limb and discussing what teams you
like and comparing them to other people's picks.
I won't go too far out by picking Georgia, Penn State, UConn and Tennessee to get to the Final
Four.
This year should be a very exciting tournament to watch with some quality games in the first
round and hopefully things will only get better as we go through March. The end result should be
one of the best tournaments in years and a great showdown in Philly.
Have fun watching all the excitement. Thanks for all the questions. Take care everyone.
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