Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 13:50:33 EST
From: <RAP115@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college
Subject: Re: Women's Basketball?
 <1992Nov19.150925.26045@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>

Women's basketball is a fine sport, you have to watch it to appreciate it.
Most people who knock it don't know what it's all about it.   To me, anyone
can slump dunk a basketball, and that's boring.   I don't see what the hype
is over a slam dunk.  It's a defensive breakdown.  So one man jumps up and
slams the ball over the rim for two points.  Big freakin' deal!  Borrrring!
    Women's basketball is more finesse.  Shooting the 3-pointer is a work of
art, making the 3 takes great aim and accuracy.
    The 30 second clock is a lot more interesting, too.  Penn State had
several games last year, that had their been a 45 second clock, like the men
play, the game would've been over and Penn State would've won.  But, Penn
State lost 3, 4 of those games.   I don't like to watch a game where a team
sits on the ball for a victory.  The 30 second clock adds excitement, makes
you think, and uncertainty.  It makes you play the game out.  One of the
most exciting games ever was JMU 73, Penn State 71 in the round 2 of the NCAA
Tournament.  Granted, I was very disappointed, but that game came down to the
wire, but wouldn't have if there was a 45 second shot clock.  JMU would have
won the game and Penn State would've had no chance had their not been a 30
second clock.
    Free throw shooting is more important too.  Some of these men players just
don't care and always miss.  But free throw shooting is very important can win
or lose a game for you.  I'd say the % made is higher in women's basketball at
the free throw line.  I know Rene Portland gets very upset if her team doesn't
shoot at least 85-90% at the line.  As a fan of any team, don't you get upset
when your team misses free throws?  This doesn't happen as often in women's
b-ball.  Free throws are made by all the good teams.
    The SEC, Big Ten and others play fine basketball.  You don't see sloppy
games in these conferences.  You see way played basketball.  Coaching is a
big key.  The better your coach, the better you play.
    One person argued that the Final Four was sloppy last year.  The
championship game was, but remember, it was played the next day!  The men get
a day's rest.  It's very tough to play back to back matches in sports like
basketball and hockey, where the sport is physically demanding on your body.
Look at NBA records and NHL records for teams that play back to back games.
You'll see a big losing perecentage there.  How can you expect a great
championship game when you get no rest?  I propose to play the women's
championship game before the men's championship game on that Monday night.
This would bring across more viewer interest and account for a better played
game.
     Some people have to realize on this net that basketball is basketball.
It wasn't created for men to play and for women to cheerlead the team.  I
think Penn State is one of the finer places you'll notice this.  Both men and
women cheerlead, the women's team has actually been more successful then the
men's team throughout the years, and the audiences have been good.  If you
notice, Big 10 women's league for women's basketball has the same quality as
Big 10 men's basketball league for men's basketball, and now that Penn State
has switched over, the Lady Lions are ready to compete with the top teams in
the conference, while the Nittany Lions are still years behind and have a lot
of work to do beofore getting to the point where they can compete with the
top teams in the league.
     If you ever get a chance to watch a quality women's basketball team, I
suggest you do it.  The game is fun to watch, and I would love to see a
women's basketball net on here.  It gets frustrating for us women's bball fans
too to poke through and pick out the women's articles.  If somebody knows how
to start one, please do so.  I'm sure we'll be able to keep it going.
** Rob **
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college