by Kent Lowe
LSU Sports Information
The hours are dwindling and the crowd is moving closer and closer to Quicken Loans Arena for the national semifinals.
The LSU crowd was in place at the team hotel just after noon to get their prize ducats to the national semifinals that begin in Baton Rouge at 6 p.m. CDT (ESPN, LSU Sports Radio Network). When you see the purple and gold faithful leisurely lounging in the lobby appearing to read the paper or drink a beverage, you really know they are keeping one eye on a single table covered in a black table cloth waiting to leap the moment the members of the LSU Athletics Ticket Office step off the elevator and head for the table.
First in line, however, gets no bonus other than the lack of a line to stand in.
Sylvia Fowles
She has been a topic of conversation around this town by writers locally and nationally. Today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, writer Elton Alexander discusses Fowles’ hook shot. Alexander wrote:
“She learned the hook shot from coach Bob Starkey, who also taught it to Shaquille O’Neal when he played at LSU. But where O’Neal’s hook is a cinder block falling, Fowles’ hook is Kareem-esque, strong off the wrist and fingertip follow through with enough arc to fall softly through the hoop.”
Both Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer and Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt have compared Fowles to one of the great early stars in the women’s game, Lucia Harris of Delta State.
“Sylvia has been one of the most imposing defensive players and now her offensive efficiency has really allowed her to be a player that’s very difficult to stop and also to go against. She makes players alter shots; she is a great shot blocker. And obviously in the paint she can have her way with most of the people that she goes against. And they get her great looks,” said Summitt.
“If you look at most of her shots they come right in front of the rim. So she can pick and choose I want to go left, right, I want to shoot over the top of the rim. But I think a lot of that is their offensive system. And she’s just a great athlete and a hard worker. You got a lot of skill post people that are good, but her greatness comes from how hard she’s willing to work and her competitive drive.”
When asked about how to guard Fowles, Rutgers coach Stringer said: “We have to try to figure out how she — she can’t come out of the locker room. She’s one of the few players that she will change your scheme. You can’t be business as usual with her. Because she’s not a usual player. It’s just this is a one-woman wrecking crew.”
No Love From The Network
Despite all the accolades to Fowles and the Tigers, the ESPN analysis for the most part just couldn’t pull the trigger to pick LSU against Rutgers.
Of the six experts to pick the games for ESPN.com, only Nancy Lieberman picks LSU to defeat Rutgers in the national semifinal. The rest have posted the big red “R” logo on their brackets for this game.
Are You Ready?
Surely you’ve seen the ESPN promos for the tournament that conclude with North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell yelling the three-word question to your team, “Are You Ready?” It wasn’t a television moment, but something Hatchell repeats to her team every time they get ready to play.
“Well, I’ve done that every game as long as I’ve been at North Carolina. I don’t know, it’s just something I’ve done for the 21 years I’ve been at North Carolina and it’s the last thing out of the locker room and just to make sure that we are ready. And, again, to show as players my enthusiasm for the game and what we’re getting ready to go out on the court and do. But again, it’s just something that I’ve always done. I mean, it’s nothing I did special or did it for the television, it was — I didn’t realize they were in the locker room, tell you the truth, when it happened, but I try to be calm on the side so the players will be. But I can get feisty if I need to.
“No, it’s not a superstition, but I’ve just always done it. The biggest thing is we do it in the locker room right before we come out. We have a huddle and it’s very quiet and silent and we actually have a prayer. And then I bust out with, Are you ready? And I do it three times. But it’s just something I’ve always done.”
LSU’s Day
For the most part, it’s been a normal game day for the Tigers. There was film review, a one-hour closed shoot around at the arena and then the pregame meal before the short bus ride over to the arena. Then it will be time for the national semifinals and the answer to the question everyone here in Cleveland is asking or thinking: Is this the year LSU gets the Final Four monkey off its back and wins a game.
With each passing moment, the atmosphere both inside and outside “The Q” changes. Fans of different schools will cross paths and exchange conversation about their ability to win. The ESPN crews are going over final rehearsals and camera checks. The print media is trying to find where they have been assigned to sit by the NCAA and the bands and cheerleaders are ready to strut their stuff. To them, it’s just as important a night as it is for the basketball players.
Are you ready? Are you ready?
I think the Lady Tigers are this time. Brian Miller will have the game story coverage later tonight on LSUsports.net and I’ll also be checking in late tonight with the notes and my thoughts on the national semifinals. Staff photographer Steve Franz will have lots of pictures of the activities so a couple of hours after the game, check back here for all the happenings of a night only four teams get to enjoy.