IUWBB - News and Notes

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

NCAA to play women’s NCAA Tournament at 1 site, eyes Texas

The NCAA plans to stage the entire women’s basketball tournament in one geographic area and San Antonio is the likely host site.

The move, announced Monday, was made to help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 and matches that of the men’s tournament, which the NCAA said last month will be played in a single area — most likely Indianapolis.

The women’s Final Four in 2021 was already set for San Antonio and the NCAA has begun preliminary talks with the Texas city to hold the entire 64-team tournament in the area.

“Conducting the championship in one geographic region allows for more planning and execution of safeguards that provide potential benefits for promoting the health and safety of student athletes, the NCAA membership and all individuals involved in the championship,” said Nina King, the NCAA women’s basketball committee chair and senior athletic director at Duke. “By making this difficult decision now, it allows for an earlier opportunity to work proactively with local public health officials within the host communities and ensures that the identified guidelines and protocols are considered for a more controlled environment.”

The first two rounds of the women’s tournament have been played on campus sites the past few seasons with the top four seeds in each region hosting. The regionals were slated to be played this season in Albany, New York, Austin, Texas, Cincinnati and Spokane, Washington.

The NCAA expects the tournament to be played in late March and early April as usual, though there is a chance the timeframe could be shorter.

“San Antonio was the perfect region for us to explore because it already has an established and fully operational local organizing committee in place for the 2021 Women’s Final Four,” said Lynn Holzman, vice president of women’s basketball at the NCAA.

Two schools, Incarnate Word and UTSA, will serve as hosts for the Final Four.

“We were already preparing to host a tremendous Women’s Final Four; the opportunity to develop a plan for hosting all 64 teams is both exciting and a great opportunity for our local economy,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “It is also a tremendous responsibility, and I know our local organizing committee and our hospitality industry will make the safety and wellbeing of the athletes, coaches and fans its highest priority.”

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Indiana Women’s Basketball Adds Game Against Tennessee For December 17

 Indiana Women's Basketball has announced the addition of a game against Tennessee on Thursday, December 17 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall at 4 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network Plus. 

It will be just the second meeting between the two teams in school history, last meeting in an 91-57 win for the Lady Vols on November 27, 1987 in the Communiplex Classic in Cincinnati, Ohio. This season, Tennessee is 3-1 and was selected to finish sixth in the Southeastern Conference preseason poll. It's most recent contest, at No. 23 Texas, was postponed on Sunday due to contact tracing within the Longhorns program.
 
Thursday's meeting will replace a previously scheduled game with Butler that was to take place on December 12 but canceled due to a pause in activities due to COVID-19 for the Bulldogs. The Hoosiers are 2-1 on the season and last played in a 72-68 loss at Kentucky on Sunday, December 6.

[Aaron]

A few yrs ago this would of been a sure loss. However, since Tennessee since Summitt left Vols have fallen on hard times much like IU since Knight and are a boderline tourney team and IU should be heavy favorites. Still a great last minute game to get from a power conference for a decent resume builder.

[LamarCheeks]

Tara went to Indiana. She played for the women in the 1970s -- well before it was an NCAA program -- and used to watch the men's team practice. She has said that watching Bob Knight helped shape the coach she would be become. I had the pleasure to chat w/her for a few minutes years ago. Very classy lady ... 
 

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

The D1 Council has passed the proposal in which all transfers are now eligible to play this season.  This clears the way for Nicole Cardano-Hillary to play for IUWBB immediately.

[LamarCheeks]

Tonight's game already had been postponed; now, we can add Thursday's tilt at Sparty. So as of now, our next game is Sunday at Northwestern ... 
 

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Don't like the idea of not playing, but it does give more time for Penn's ankle and Cardaño-Hillary's eye to heal.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Some good stuff on Paige Price and Kiandra Browne and a short update on Keyarah Berry.

http://www.hoosiersportsreport.com/2021/01/iu-women-postponed-again-foreign-faces-joining-forces/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

https://www.si.com/college/indiana/other-sports/nicole-cardaño-hillary-providing-spark-in-new-role-at-indiana

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

SCHEDULE CHANGE

After defeating No. 21 Northwestern last night, Indiana's next game was scheduled to be Sunday at home against Michigan State.

But the Hoosiers have flipped around its schedule a bit.

Instead, Indiana's next game will be this Thursday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. ET against Ohio State. The game was previously scheduled for Feb. 4.    [NOTE:  Game to be televised on basic BTN.]

This an ideal situation for Indiana, who likely didn't want a week off before its next contest. The Hoosiers had just had 11 days off before their game against Northwestern due to two games being postponed, and head coach Teri Moren has made it known she isn't a fan of the long breaks.

So, now Indiana has two big home games this week. The Hoosiers are 9-3 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten.

Below is the full press release from the program:

The Big Ten Conference has announced two schedule changes for the Indiana women’s basketball team for the upcoming week.

The Hoosiers will now host No. 17/16 Ohio State on Thursday, January 28 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in a game that was previously scheduled for Thursday, February 4th. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

In addition, IU’s game against Michigan State has been set for a 4 p.m. ET tip on Big Ten Network Plus for Sunday, January 31st also at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Feel good story on Grace Berger.

https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2021/1/25/womens-basketball-a-granddaughters-love-grace-bergers-play-honors-grandmother.aspx

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

O$U just gave Maryland its first B1G loss 88-86 in Columbus.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

The postponed game against Rutgers has been re-scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 4, at 8:00 and will be televised on BTN.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Well my post immediately above re:  Rutgers rescheduled certainly turned out to be a bad joke didn't it?

It is now official, the entire women's NCAA tournament will be played in San Antonio region; five sites for first round; three for second round; Alamodome for Sweet 16 through championship.

[Aaron]

Very bad news for IU. Jaelynn Penn has opted out of the rest of the season. Presumably injuries throughout her career and threat of COVID has taken its toll on her. 

IU is already thin on depth and losing your fourth best player is never good. Cardano-Hillary can move into the starting lineup and produce at close to a similar level, but this leaves you with almost no bench outside of mostly freshman. IU played earlier this year without Penn but that was against lesser Big Ten teams and losing her for rest of season is a blow.

It's not completely crippling but probably lowers IU's ceiling by a win or two and a huge depth problem.

[TheWatShot]

I hate how "opting out" has become a politically correct term for "quitting." 

[HoosierAloha]

38 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

I hate how "opting out" has become a politically correct term for "quitting." 

I'd have to know more of the story in this case.  If Penn has "quit" due to injuries this season I'd be more than okay with it.  It's her body and she's the one that is going to have to live with it for the rest of her life.

This is coming from someone who didn't "quit" but having to deal with more than my fair share of pain, at a relatively young age, I am completely empathetic to Penn.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

2 hours ago, Aaron said:

Very bad news for IU. Jaelynn Penn has opted out of the rest of the season. Presumably injuries throughout her career and threat of COVID has taken its toll on her. 

IU is already thin on depth and losing your fourth best player is never good. Cardano-Hillary can move into the starting lineup and produce at close to a similar level, but this leaves you with almost no bench outside of mostly freshman. IU played earlier this year without Penn but that was against lesser Big Ten teams and losing her for rest of season is a blow.

It's not completely crippling but probably lowers IU's ceiling by a win or two and a huge depth problem.

Wow. Very odd. Who does this at this stage. Doesn’t pass the smell test.  If it were injuries she would say so, no?  

[Aaron]

30 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Wow. Very odd. Who does this at this stage. Doesn’t pass the smell test.  If it were injuries she would say so, no?  

I don't have much more insight into the situation as IU is not saying anything beyond press release. Strange timing for sure. Hopefully today is a good indication they can mange without her.