My Final Four recap:
1. To the people of Holland, Hope College, and DeVos: what a great weekend! Thank you for your hospitality and for a first class event.
2. To the NCAA: the officiating was ABYSMAL. Consistent, all teams, all games. Too many no-calls-- from traveling, to three seconds to fouls--affected the shooting (32% in final, lowest scoring final ever) and the overall quality of watching the game. Is this what the NCAA wants? This "interpretation" of the rule book has got to stop. Not just in DIII women's basketball, but at all levels. (Recall last year's men's championship of "uglyball," Butler vs. UConn?)
There is one main consequence of "letting them play," and that is player injury. Her name is Hannah Munger. Anyone present in Holland knows that with a healthy Hannah on Saturday, George Fox wins the championship. (Without her on Friday, Amherst probably wins a second in a row.) "Thank you", NCAA, for encouraging a style of play that—at best-- ensures that the best players are NOT on the court during a championship game and—at worst—affects the future basketball careers and long term health of such players.
1. To the people of Holland, Hope College, and DeVos: what a great weekend! Thank you for your hospitality and for a first class event.
2. To the NCAA: the officiating was ABYSMAL. Consistent, all teams, all games. Too many no-calls-- from traveling, to three seconds to fouls--affected the shooting (32% in final, lowest scoring final ever) and the overall quality of watching the game. Is this what the NCAA wants? This "interpretation" of the rule book has got to stop. Not just in DIII women's basketball, but at all levels. (Recall last year's men's championship of "uglyball," Butler vs. UConn?)
There is one main consequence of "letting them play," and that is player injury. Her name is Hannah Munger. Anyone present in Holland knows that with a healthy Hannah on Saturday, George Fox wins the championship. (Without her on Friday, Amherst probably wins a second in a row.) "Thank you", NCAA, for encouraging a style of play that—at best-- ensures that the best players are NOT on the court during a championship game and—at worst—affects the future basketball careers and long term health of such players.