Guru's Musings: Holly Warlick Could Contend for WBCA's Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach Award

By Mel Greenberg

With the coaching carousel still swinging around as vacancies at Georgetown and St. Louis, for example, remain at this hour (middle of night Fri-Sat 4/27-4/28), it appears the annual competition next season for the WBCA Maggie Dixon Division I rookie coach of the year will be more plentiful than this past one but remember the rules:

Individuals such as former St. John's coach Kim Barnes Arico, former North Texas State coach Karen Aston, and former Georgetown coach Terri Williams-Flournoy are not eligible, no matter how much they respectively improve Michigan, Texas and Auburn, respectively, for example, because they previously held Division I jobs.

In some situations, unless there's not a lot of productivity nationwide, it will be hard for newly-named St. John's coach Joe Tartamella, promoted Friday at the Red Storm after being a longtime aide to Barnes Arico, to win barring getting to the Women's Final Four in New Orleans because he is inheriting a squad still loaded that got to the Sweet 16.

On the other hand, Jonathan Tsipis at George Washington, Vic Schaefer at Mississippi State, Ali Jaques at Siena, Lisa Cermignano at Bucknell, Joe Haigh at St. Francis, Pa., Laura Beeman at Hawaii and Kerry Cremeans at Denver have opportunities, among several others, though once the swinging door stops the Guru will list all the eligibles since the slow pre-WNBA period allows for such compilation.

The frontrunner with opportunity, however, will be Holly Warlick at Tennessee, who is moving up from her longtime role as associate head coach while legend Pat Summitt moves over to Head Coach Emeritus to serve as a mentor and in other duties while continuing her courageous battle with early onset dementia, Alzheimer type.

In a routine handoff at the national powerhouse in Knoxville, Warlick might have less chance to land as the winner but considering the Lady Vols are losing five starters and if voters at Associated Press and USA Today when they return to their duties in the fall mark down Tennessee in the preseason polls the way ESPN's Charlie Creme has done with a forecast of 21 at the outset, one of the lowest ever in any preseason ranking -- UT was not listed in the first-ever AP poll, though a different time, obviously -- but Warlick delivers another Southeastern Conference title, or close to it, a much higher run in the polls and a deep run in the NCAA tournament, then given everything do the illustrated math to what that would translate.

Lecturing and Not Lecturing Sports Editors

In doing some catching up here at the blog the Guru noticed that at the recent annual Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) confab in New York City with the various heads of different sports organizations, NBA Commissioner David Stern took some time to offer a few words of criticism in terms of the lack of coverage accorded the WNBA in print publications given the product and audience involved with the women's pro league in the summer.

Yes, given the downsize situations with reduced staffs and print space its tougher than the early years of the league when roundups were the norm in major cities, but in many non-WNBA cities and perhaps a few league locales as well, other than spot features, on a good day standings might appear in the scoreboard sections and that's about it.

But while Stern at least called attention to the situation, unless a transcript exists somewhere, no similar words could be found from NCAA president Mark Emmert about the dwindling attention to the Women's Final Four on the collegate level though there was much else to discuss given the men's side and the various scandals that have dominated the news in football and basketball.

WNBA Chatter

Former Houston Comets coach, as well as LSU and Mississippi, Van Chancellor after watching Delaware's Elena Delle Donne during the early rounds of the NCAA tournament.

"I think she is going to make a great pro."

Here's some coast to coast history reversal: John Whisenant, who became coach/general manager of the New York Liberty last year, was under strong consideration two years ago in some quarters for the vacant coaching job with the Los Angeles Sparks, which ultimately went to Jennifer Gillom prior to her ouster early last season.

She had been interim coach of the Minnesota Lynx, a job which ultimately went to Cheryl Reeve, who ended up guiding the team last season to its first WNBA title and one of the all-time won-loss seasons in what was the 15-year history of the league, which becomes Sweet 16 in a few weeks.

Whisenant was going to be available when the nefarious Maloof Brothers, who own the NBA Sacramento franchise, jettisoned the WNBA Sacramento Monarchs.

After Joe Bryant served an interim spot for the rest of last summer with the Sparks, his second tour of duty at the helm, general manager Penny Toler hired former Atlanta Dream assistant and Mississippi U head coach Carol Ross to take over this season.

Ross was on a short list prior to last year under former New York general manager Carol Blazejowski, according to a source familiar with the search, to become the replacement for Anne Donovan, who had declared prior to the start of the 2010 season she would be heading back to the college ranks to take charge at Seton Hall, which, ironically, is a short distance from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., where the Liberty are playing two more summers while Madison Square Garden in Manhattan is finished getting renovated.

But Blazejowski, after serving as chief executive of the Liberty since the WNBA charter season of 1997, was shot down in the early fall of 2010 by MSG management and others then warmed to Whisenant, who had been campaigning for the Liberty coaching job prior to Blazejowski's ouster.

With the Hall of Famer and shooting legend departed, Whisenant suddenly became a great fit as an economy package to fill both positions, something that had become more or less that kind of deal elsewhere in the league.

On Friday Whisenant announced the hiring of former New Mexico men's coach Norm Ellenberger as an assistant. An aside, if former Rutgers star Cappie Pondexter jokingly referred last year as a "generational thing," about the marathon answers at times her WNBA coach and college coach Hall of Famer C. Vivian Stringer gives the media, she hasn't seen anything yet.

However, given the mess involving NCAA violations in a previous time, it was suggested by someone in a conversation the Guru was having Friday that Ellenberger could come in handy to find new ways to beat traffic to the arena following the problems the squad encountered early last season when the franchise was still learning the drill from the Westchester training complex and neighborhood near the Tappan Zee Bridge down the New Jersey side of the Hudson River or some variation.

Another Summitt Tribute

Duquesne coach Suze McConnell-Serio, who was out of pocket at the time of the news, added to the list this week of Atlantic Ten coaches who answered the Guru's request the day Tennessee announced the eventful coaching change involving Summitt and Warlick.

McConnell-Serio, a former Penn State All-American as well as an Olympic gold medalist, as well as a former WNBA All-Star and coach, several times played against Tennessee as a member of the Lady Vols besides in later years serving with Summitt on several USA Basketball committees.

Wrote McConnell-Serio: “Pat Summitt has a tremendous impact on women’s basketball. She will be missed, but I’m happy that she will still be involved in the program.”

“Holly Warlick will definitely continue the tradition at the University of Tennessee.”

Dupree Fans Have Their Say

Since the conversation was informal the Guru won't go into detail but he was questioned by a few at the Women's Big Five Awards dinner this week at Drexelbrook in suburban Drexel Hill about how come former Temple all-timer Candice Dupree, a WNBA All-Star with the Phoenix Mercury who played on the World Championship gold medalists for USA Basketball two seasons ago, wasn't picked for the Olymoic squad loaded with six former Connecticut Huskies -- half the team -- and being coached by UConn's Geno Auriemma, who also coached the World University squad.

Incidentally, how could the Guru forget? When noting on a short list who was still around coaching from the AIAW era following Summitt's departure from the active ranks, there's Villanova's Harry Perretta, who has been on the Main Line spouting lines (and a few other things during games) his entire career since several years before the NCAA came on the scene.

And that is the report or musings in this edition to keep you tuned in until the next go-round begins.

-- Mel

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Guru's Potpourri: New York WNBA Lotto Bound? Ivies Consider Playoffs

By Mel Greenberg



If Patrick Henry, one of the famed patriots of the American Revolution, were alive today and happened to be a WNBA fan of the team in New York that will still be playing in New Jersey two more seasons, his expectation for the months ahead might be summed up by re-editing his famed speech of yesteryear by proclaiming instead, “Give me Liberty and give me the lotto.”



And the way it looks, he could quickly get his wish in terms of New York possibly being one of four teams at the bottom of the class in the final standings and therefore up front next April when the draft everyone eagerly awaits arrives on the calendar.



This is not to say New York will be the Tulsa Shock of 2012, except that as the Guru was completing his preliminary WNBA three-city schedule (New York, Connecticut and Washington), things got to look very scary or very good, depending on what the fans of the Liberty would rather prefer – a playoff run that would probably be short-circuited or a chance to get a super talent that might translate into many and longer playoff runs in the future.



Start with this premise: If the widespread expectation exists that the Chicago Sky will finally be good enough to crack the postseason in their seventh chase out of seven attempts, then which of these four from last season’s playoffs would lose out on the tradeoff in the East:



Atlanta – Not likely (and obviously injuries are precluded in this discussion but do have the ability to throw all projections off.)



Indiana – The Fever are getting older but unless age impacts this time, they are likely to extend play as they have consistently.



Connecticut – Still young but probably have just enough to slip past New York, which the Sun gets a chance to do at the outset with back-to-back, home-and-home games on opening weekend. One note, though, is the Sun’s final two weeks are tough but it could be academic in terms of making the postseason, though if it’s close, fans in what has become the capital of U.S. Olympic women’s basketball may suddenly have a tough choice in what they’d like to see happen.



Incidentally, the Guru tentative schedule, not counting exhibitions, projects to about 47 dates, though there are seven conflicts, six two-team, and one three-team, in terms of the three teams of emphasis forcing a choice on a given night.



That aside, in reality it may not work out this way, but on paper, New York is the underdog in the Liberty’s first seven games until a trip to Washington could break the snide.



But, the Mystics will have the home court, though Washington could improve off last season but probably not enough to avoid giving Delaware sensation Elena Delle Donne a chance to start her pro career near her home.



After the Washington game, New York is again an underdog on another long run. But if things go bad, here’s something look forward to in the Liberty’s last two games: It’s a home-and-home with Tulsa out of the Western Conference.



And those two games could have a major impact in terms of which of the two teams gets the weight advantage in terms of the bouncing ping pong balls to determine the order of the first four picks.



Even with all that, given what happened to Tulsa finishing with the all-time worst WNBA record and being saddled with the fourth pick earlier this month, anything is possible.



As for Washington, the Mystics are looking by default capable, not guaranteed, of getting a few Ws depending on the state of early cross-over games with the West.



Washington has one game in the opening two-month stretch with Tulsa, another with Phoenix, which might struggle without Penny Taylor, and a home-and-home with Seattle, which will be playing its pre-Olympic schedule without Australian sensation Lauren Jackson.



So if the Colonial era offers the Patrick Henry modified statement as a mantra for the Liberty, Washington fans may want to resort to an old baseball phrase refashioned in the nation’s capital: Last in the East, last in the league, but first in the second best-ever WNBA lotto.



Coaching Carousel



With the move at Tennessee in which Pat Summitt has become head coach emeritus and longtime associate head coach Holly Warlick moved up as the replacement to the beloved Hall of Famer, as well as a few other moves such as Kim Barnes Arico from St. John’s to Michigan, the Guru’s rough count now shows 56 vacancies have occurred at Division I schools since the season ended.

In some situations, such as that of Barnes Arico, in terms of filling a spot, obviously, one vacancy was filled from within the D-1 coaching roster, though a fair share of assistants have also moved into positions, though not many at BCS openings.



Ivies Playoff Bound?



There hasn’t been much discussion on the internet in women’s basketball circles, given the crush of major news occurring with the Pat Summitt story, the WNBA draft, and Baylor’s Brittney Griner’s decision to not participate in the Olympics, citing family and academic situations.



But at their recent meetings, the Ivy coaches have proposed giving up being the last conference not to have a postseason playoff to determine the automatic bid to the men’s and women’s tournament.



The plan, similar to lacrosse, which became the first sport in the Ivies to go the route, would be to have the top four teams in the league vie for the bid.



But not everyone is on board with the effort, which, ultimately, will be decided by administrators whether or not to implement the proposal.



One person happy with just the way things are is Princeton’s Courtney Banghart, a former Dartmouth star and assistant, whose Tigers have won three straight league titles in dominating fashion that made the squad seem more BCS in nature, considering Princeton’s out of conference performance.



The perfect run in the Ivy League and a strong RPI factored into Princeton becoming the first-ever Ivy team to crack the Associated Press women’s poll, which occurred in the final vote of the season.



Banghart told the Guru last week exactly what she said to the Daily Princetonian:



“I’ve been in first place, I’ve been in seventh place, I’ve been in third place, so I’ve been in all areas, and I couldn’t be more black-and-white in my thinking that I don’t think any single-bid conference should have a tournament,” she said. “We need to make sure that our best teams are going to the [NCAA] tournament.”



Banghart, who has been with the Tigers five seasons, also noted, “The only way we become relevant nationally is to win in the postseason. Believe me, I know how hard it is to win in the tournament — I’m living proof of that, I’ve been seven times. If we don’t send our best team, we’re decreasing the opportunity of that happening, and we’re becoming less relevant.”



She did offer that perhaps Princeton would have gotten an at-large bid if the Tigers didn’t win the automatic bid. But she has more faith in the NCAA tournament committee making that move than the Guru, although it doesn’t hurt to have an Ivy administrator on the current panel.



But a conversation the Guru had down the stretch drive of the season also points that one can never be exactly sure. Given that Princeton, after a tough non-conference schedule, was now on a two-month cruise by comparison beating Ivy rivals in UConn-esqe style, Banghart was asked if might it be wise to get a strong nonconference game in the middle of the week in February to make the team more NCAA-ready.



“The problem is, while it sounds good, in a given week, we would go Friday-Saturday (Ivy), then say the nonconference game Wednesday, and then Friday-Saturday, if we lose one of those weekend games, we could be in a more dangerous situation,” Banghart said, though remember this talk was held before the playoff push came to light.



Another Memory of a Summitt-Guru Moment



In writing the Pat Summitt retrospective for Fullcourt.com last week, the Guru noted several moments dealing with the coaching legend over the years.



But there are many more like this one the Guru thought would bring amusement:



In 2006 when the Women’s Final Four was in Boston, USA Basketball on the Sunday morning of the national semifinals held a USA team practice for guests and media at Boston College.



Summitt, whose team had been eliminated by North Carolina in the region final in Cleveland the previous weekend, was still on the scene and being involved on the international scene and having players on the squad, she and a group of several friends had taken a taxi out to the workouts.



When what was a two-member, team-Guru crew arrived, it didn’t take Summitt too many minutes to come over and asked if the Guru had driven out to Conte Forum.



When he answered in the affirmative, Summitt quickly lit up with happiness and said, “That’s great. Don’t leave without us. We’re all going back with you.”



Well, you don’t say no, if you get the drift, even though the transportation vehicle in question was not all that big, considering it meant packing seven people into the car.



Somehow, we managed to squeeze together and navigate our way back downtown.



Upon arriving, Summitt told the Guru: “Thanks for the lift; there will be a payback for this.”



The Guru jokingly commented after Summitt’s group departed into the hotel, “Well, a few of those people we just chauffeured are on the board of directors of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville.”



Several months later at the June ceremonies in which Geno Auriemma among others was inducted, the vote for the next class of 2007 was taken earlier in the afternoon.



Later that night the Guru got the word on the side that he had been among the selections made in the voting that afternoon.



Running into Summitt a little while later, she said to the Guru, “I heard you got the news.”



The Guru acknowledged and had been aware of several new members involved in the vote earlier in the day who happened to be longtime working associates.



But nevertheless, when the Guru finished responding in the affirmative, Summitt had a twinkle in her eye and said, “Ah told you in Boston there would be a payback.”



And that’s the Guru blog for the moment.



--- Mel


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tributes To Tennessee's Pat Summitt Continue

By Mel Greenberg

Tributes to Tennessee women's basketball head coach emeritus Pat Summitt, who acquired the new title this week after a prolific 38-year career on the sidelines, have continued to arrive at Guru headquarters and more are expected but for now, the Guru will lead with comments sent from Marianne Stanley, currently the Washington Mystics assistant coach in the WNBA but whose history in coaching goes way back to Summitt's early career.

Stanley, a former Immaculata star, as a young coach at Old Dominion helped forge one of the great rivalries in the late 1970s when the Lady Monarchs and Lady Vols competed for national titles in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and then extended their competition when the NCAA era arrived.

At some point in the next few days another former Mightly Mac, Theresa Grentz, has promised to send some remembrances because she and Summitt were also contemporary players in their day besides becoming coaching rivals in later years when Grentz left St. Joseph's University for Rutgers and then moved on to Illinois.

"We were actually roommates on a World University Games squad," Grentz recalled on the phone earlier this week. "She was `Tennessee' and I was `Pennsylvania,'" Grentz said with a laugh.

"But on a serious note, there will never be another Pat Summitt in terms of what she did for all of us and our sport."

The Guru also plans to catch up with former Mighty Macs coach and Hall of Famer Cathy Rush, who coached Summitt on a Pan American games squad prior to the first women's basketball Olympics competition that occurred in the 1976 Montreal Games.

Also, two more Ivy League coaches have communicated their thoughts with emails from Harvard's Kathy Delaney-Smith and Dartmouth's Chris Wielgus.

But first, here's what Marianne had to say:

"Words seem inadequate to convey the appreciation that I feel for all that Pat Summitt has done for women’s basketball.

"For almost 40 years, Pat Summitt has dedicated her life to the pursuit of excellence. During that time she has been our standard-bearer, advancing and elevating the game into the public consciousness.

"Her accomplishments, success and impact on our sport are unsurpassed.
" Most importantly, every life she touched as a colleague, mentor or friend has been enhanced because of her influence.

"Although we will no longer see the fierce competitor we all admire gracing the sidelines, Pat will continue to courageously give of herself and expand her incomparable legacy in new and immeasurable ways."

From Harvard, came Kathy Delaney-Smith's comment:

"Everyone around me was very saddened about the news,” the coach of the Crimson noted. “She is a true hero to anyone who knows women's basketball and a pioneer who paved the way for coaches everywhere.

"Her legacy will live on and who better to fill those shoes than Holly.”

Meanwhile, Dartmouth's Chris Wielgus offered:

"Pat set the standard for coaching. She was a pioneer, a teacher and a competitor. She did so much for our game and women's coaches. She was remarkably accessible and always giving of her time. Above all, she loved this game of basketball and it showed. She will be greatly missed."

The Coaching Carousel Continues

Turning to what has become almost the mundane news of the week in light of the Summitt-Holly Warlick Tennessee story as well as Brittney Griner's withdrawal from Olympics consideration this week so the Baylor superstar can attend to her mother, who has been ill, and school work over the summer, here in Philadelphia, while the Big Five and other area Division I schools have reached some stability, Temple's Tonya Cardoza and Drexel's Denise Dillon have some hiring to do on their staffs.

Dan Durkin is moving from Temple to Providence to work for newly-appointed Susan Robinson-Fruchtl who he coached when he was an assistant at Penn State, while James Clark is joining South Jersey's Lisa Cermingnano, a former George Washington star recently hired as head coach at Wagner.

Cermingnano hired another former Colonial on her staff in Lisa Steele, who had been at Mount St. Mary's.

The number of changes in Division I keep rising with news of the last few days that Beth Cunningham at Virginia Commonwealth is leaving as head coach of the Rams to return to her alma mater at Notre Dame to join Muffet MccGraw in succeeding Jonathan Tsipis, the new GW coach.

Michigan, which had interviewed Penn State's Coquese Washington, hired St. John's Kim Barnes Arico, creating another BCS opening in the Big East along with Georgetown, which needs a successor for Terri Williams-Flournoy, who took the Auburn job.

Barnes Arico became the all-time winningest coach of the Red Storm near the end of last season but considering that Villanova associate head coach Joe Mullaney Jr. is still very much active, perhaps he could head over to Jamaica for a brief spell near Manhattan to regain his former record that Barnes Arico surpassed.

The Guru will return later in the day, possibly, with more news if it breaks, though most of the rumors and buzz could be found down in Virginia this weekend at the annual Boo Williams tournament.

And since the question was asked, but the Guru is NOT couching this in terms of who will be the next to go among the contemporaries of Summitt from the AIAW era, but rather just to note who the long-running war horses are: Obviously, and she spoke elegantly of the transition at Tennessee, there's Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer, while at Georgia, as mentioned the other day, Georgia's Andy Landers will become the new No. 1 person on the active list -- not the all-tome list -- in terms of appearances with teams in the 36-year history of the Associated Press women's poll.

In fact, before he is done, Landers is likely to edge past some of Summitt's records involving the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournament.

There's also Jim Foster at Ohio State and Tara VanDerveer at Stanford while some others such as Pittsburgh's Agnus Berenato out of South Jersey is also close to being a contemporary of the early Summitt coaching years.

-- Mel





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Guru's College Report: Tributes To Pat Summitt Continue

By Mel Greenberg Tributes to Tennessee women's basketball head coach emeritus Pat Summitt, who acquired the new title this week after a prolific 38-year career on the sidelines, have continued to arrive at Guru headquarters and more are expected but for now, the Guru will lead with comments sent from Marianne Stanley, currently the Washington Mystics assistant coach in the WNBA but whose history in coaching goes way back to Summitt's early career. Stanley, a former Immaculata star, as a young coach at Old Dominion helped forge one of the great rivalries in the late 1970s when the Lady Monarchs and Lady Vols competed for national titles in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and then extended their competition when the NCAA era arrived. At some point in the next few days another former Mightly Mac, Theresa Grentz, has promised to send some remembrances because she and Summitt were also contemporary players in their day besides becoming coaching rivals in later years when Grentz left St. Joseph's University for Rutgers and then moved on to Illinois. "We were actually roommates on a World University Games squad," Grentz recalled on the phone earlier this week. "She was `Tennessee' and I was `Pennsylvania,'" Grentz said with a laugh. "But on a serious note, there will never be another Pat Summitt in terms of what she did for all of us and our sport." The Guru also plans to catch up with former Mighty Macs coach and Hall of Famer Cathy Rush, who coached Summitt on a Pan American games squad prior to the first women's basketball Olympics competition that occurred in the 1976 Montreal Games. Also, two more Ivy League coaches have communicated their thoughts with emails from Harvard's Kathy Delaney-Smith and Dartmouth's Chris Wielgus. But first, here's what Marianne had to say: "Words seem inadequate to convey the appreciation that I feel for all that Pat Summitt has done for women’s basketball.  "For almost 40 years, Pat Summitt has dedicated her life to the pursuit of excellence.  During that time she has been our standard-bearer, advancing and elevating the game into the public consciousness.  "Her accomplishments, success and impact on our sport are unsurpassed.   " Most importantly, every life she touched as a colleague, mentor or friend has been enhanced because of her influence.  "Although we will no longer see the fierce competitor we all admire gracing the sidelines, Pat will continue to courageously give of herself and expand her incomparable legacy in new and immeasurable ways." From Harvard, came Kathy Delaney-Smith's comment: "Everyone around me was very saddened about the news,” the coach of the Crimson noted. “She is a true hero to anyone who knows women's basketball and a pioneer who paved the way for coaches everywhere. "Her legacy will live on and who better to fill those shoes than Holly.” Meanwhile, Dartmouth's Chris Wielgus offered: "Pat set the standard for coaching.  She was a pioneer, a teacher and a competitor.  She did so much for our game and women's coaches.  She was remarkably accessible and always giving of her time.  Above all, she loved this game of basketball and it showed.  She will be greatly missed."  The Coaching Carousel Continues Turning to what has become almost the mundane news of the week in light of the Summitt-Holly Warlick Tennessee story as well as Brittney Griner's withdrawal from Olympics consideration this week so the Baylor superstar can attend to her mother, who has been ill, and school work over the summer, here in Philadelphia, while the Big Five and other area Division I schools have reached some stability, Temple's Tonya Cardoza and Drexel's Denise Dillon have some hiring to do on their staffs. Dan Durkin is moving from Temple to Providence to work for newly-appointed Susan Robinson-Fruchtl who he coached when he was an assistant at Penn State, while James Clark is joining South Jersey's Lisa Cermingnano, a former George Washington star recently hired as head coach at Wagner. Cermingnano hired another former Colonial on her staff in Lisa Steele, who had been at Mount St. Mary's. The number of changes in Division I keep rising with news of the last few days that Beth Cunningham at Virginia Commonwealth is leaving as head coach of the Rams to return to her alma mater at Notre Dame to join Muffet MccGraw in succeeding Jonathan Tsipis, the new GW coach. Michigan, which had interviewed Penn State's Coquese Washington, hired St. John's Kim Barnes Arico, creating another BCS opening in the Big East along with Georgetown, which needs a successor for Terri Williams-Flournoy, who took the Auburn job. Barnes Arico became the all-time winningest coach of the Red Storm near the end of last season but considering that Villanova associate head coach Joe Mullaney Jr. is still very much active, perhaps he could head over to Jamaica for a brief spell near Manhattan to regain his former record that Barnes Arico surpassed. The Guru will return later in the day, possibly, with more news if it breaks, though most of the rumors and buzz could be found down in Virginia this weekend at the annual Boo Williams tournament. And since the question was asked, but the Guru is NOT couching this in terms of who will be the next to go among the contemporaries of Summitt from the AIAW era, but rather just to note who the long-running war horses are: Obviously, and she spoke elegantly of the transition at Tennessee, there's Rutgers' C. Vivian Stringer, while at Georgia, as mentioned the other day, Georgia's Andy Landers will become the new No. 1 person on the active list -- not the all-tome list -- in terms of appearances with teams in the 36-year history of the Associated Press women's poll. In fact, before he is done, Landers is likely to edge past some of Summitt's records involving the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournament. There's also Jim Foster at Ohio State and Tara VanDerveer at Stanford while some others such as Pittsburgh's Agnus Berenato out of South Jersey is also close to being a contemporary of the early Summitt coaching years. -- Mel

Guru Report On Summitt: Pat Will Be Hard To Pass On AP Poll History Charts

(Guru’s note: A long local, mainly, react story with extra Ivy and Atlantic 10 reaction is below this post. If you are in melgreenberg.com, click mel’s blog to get to the blogspot archives.)

By Mel Greenberg

Several weeks ago in closing the historical database books on another season of Associated Press women’s polls, the Guru gave a sign knowing things would change in the editing process over the summer before next season in terms of coaching changes and conference membership alterations.

But the biggest sigh was reserved knowing that most likely the constant ever since the Guru launched the original rankings would be Tennessee’s Pat Summitt might no longer lead the active list.

Tennessee, as a program, will still continue on the timeline, though Holly Warlick, the Hall of Fame former Lady Vol player, will get credit moving forward with her elevation from associate to head coach in Knoxville.

Still, Summitt, who becomes Head Coach Emeritus, is in what is likely an unbeatable position as the top of the all-time lists in the coaches categories, basically in terms of total appearances.

Consider that there have been 632 polls beginning with the original debut in November 1976. In that time Summitt’s teams have been absent only 14 times.

They missed the first-ever poll and then several seasons down the road, Tennessee experienced a three-week absence. In the mid-1980s during one season, coincidentally as it has occurred for collegiate coaches in charges of Olympians, the Lady Vols vanished for 10 weeks.

That jinx, though, is not expected to happen this winter after Geno Auriemma returns to Connecticut from coaching the Summer Olympics in London.

But the point is that after that Tennessee hiatus of 2 ½ months, the Lady Vols have been in every poll since, season after season. It is rather daunting when compared to the coaches immediately behind Summitt and what they have to do to get near her total.

Though Georgia’s Andy Landers will move to the top of the active list entering at 479, assuming the AP season range continues to be at 19 weeks from preseason to final poll, which could actually be less, the fastest he could catch Summitt on the all-time list would be for the Bulldogs to be in every poll for the next seven years through 2019.

An aside, because Pat does have a sense of humor, her move off the top of the active list means everyone who has ever coached an AP ranked team will move up at least one spot at the start of next season, some a few more because of the exits, for now, of Nell Fortner at Auburn and Gail Goestenkors at Texas, though the return of Charli Turner Thorne to active duty at Arizona State will push some others back.

Meanwhile, Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer, third on the all-time list at 426, would need to appear wire to wire more than then next 10 seasons as would Rutgers’ C. Vivian Stringer, who is at 407.

Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, who is the next active coach but sixth on the all-time list at 386, would need to go wire-to-wire for more than 12 years beyond 2024.

The Guru has never run the coaching correlation with the elite categories, though certainly the current streak mark could not be broken in most lifetimes of those reading this post right now.

It is noteworthy to say, however, Tennessee dodged a bullet several seasons ago when the Lady Vols who had been sinking for weeks lost for the first time in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament.

They did not appear in the final USA Today Poll, but because AP completes its work before Selection Monday, Tennessee held its last position.

Since Tennessee has topped many elite categories, it is easy to see what it would take to overcome the Lady Vols in some of the AP charts.

Now in terms of appearing in the Top 10, since Summitt is responsible for all of it, she has Tennessee’s leading 558 appearances. No. 2 on the list is Louisiana Tech, which is not likely to be in any position to become that great for as long as it takes.

The No. 3 team is Connecticut and Auriemma is responsible for all of the Huskies’ 338 Top 10 appearances. Actually, UConn is 37 spots away from moving into No. 2 ahead of the Techsters, potentially two seasons or a little more away if Auriemma’s wealth of talent stays in the Top 10 the entire time.

But after that, while Connecticut could eventually catch Tennessee, Auriemma would have to stay with the program the next 11 seasons through 2023 and the Huskies would have to stay in the Top 10 the entire time to get there the fastest.

Pretzels here in Philadelphia may stay softer than Auriemma in that length of time.

Moving into Top Five appearances, Tennessee leads at 445, again, all Summitt numbers. Connecticut, a tribute to the rapid growth under Auriemma, is at No. 2 with 294 appearances.

So to pass Summitt in the coaching category of Top 5 appearances, on the fastest route with expectations of 19-week polling seasons, it would take Geno seven seasons plus perhaps a piece of one more, but the Huskies would have to stay in the Top 5 in every week between now and then.

To do that, though not likely to happen, a down-graded schedule may do the trick but that would be like disguising an attempt to tank the season in the WNBA draft to head for next season’s lucractive lotto.

Oh, you say, you think that already happened? Hold that discussion until the summer season approaches.

However, Connecticut at the top in No. 1 appearances leads Tennessee, the runnerup, 156-112. But since that 112 belongs to Summitt, Holly Warlick starts at zeros and to pass UConn the quickest, she would need to hope the Huskies don’t make the top while Tennessee gets to No. 1 and stays there the next eight seasons and perhaps a bit of one more.

Though the Guru ran this list at the close of the season, here is a recap of the top positions near 25 and a few more on the all-time list besides the active list underneath, but remember these charts still have to be edited for coaching changes.

To see who moves out, the Guru will put a special XXXX next to names of people removed on the active list.

By Mel Greenberg
Women’s Hoops Guru
(March 12, 2012)

Quick hits on AP poll (week 19– for coaches’ appearances week No. 19)
(This is 632nd poll after week 19). (Records on pages through week 19 -- Final –3/12/12)

Coaches All Time Ranking Appearances
1. Pat Summitt, Tennessee – 618 (missed just 14 polls in entire AP history)
2. Andy Landers, Georgia – 479
3. Tara VanDerveer (2 schools – Ohio St., Stanford) – 426
4. C. Vivian Stringer (3 schools – Cheyney, Iowa, Rutgers) – 407
5. **-Jody Conradt, Texas – 395
6. Geno Auriemma, Connecticut – 386
7. Jim Foster (3 schools – St. Joseph’s, Vanderbilt, Ohio St.) – 364
8. **-Rene Portland (2 schools – St. Joseph, Penn St.) – 336
9. **-Debbie Ryan, Virginia – 328
10. Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina – 326
10. **- Kay Yow, North Caro. St. – 326
12. **-Leon Barmore, Louisiana Tech (51-shared with Sonja Hogg) – 325
13. Gail Goestenkors (2 schools – Duke, Texas) – 295
14. **-Joe Ciampi, Auburn – 290
15. **-Sue Gunter (2 schools – Stephen F. Austin, LSU) – 270
16. &&-Joan Bonvicini (2 schools – Long Beach, Arizona) - 267
17. Gary Blair, (3 schools – Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas, Texas A&M) – 265
18. **-Marsha Sharp, Texas Tech – 264
19. **-Van Chancellor (2 schools – Mississippi, LSU) – 261
20. Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame – 235
21. **-Chris Weller, Maryland - 227
22. **-Theresa Grentz (2 schools – Rutgers, Illinois) – 225
23. Sherri Coale, Oklahoma 198
24. Kim Mulkey, Baylor 188
24. **-Marianne Stanley (3 schools – Old Dominion, Southern Cal, Stanford*) – 183
26. **-Paul Sanderford (2 schools – W. Kentucky, Nebraska) – 182
27. **-Marian Washington, Kansas – 176
**-Not in college or not in as a head coach

Active Coaches-All Time AP Ranking Appearances
XXX-1. Pat Summitt, Tennessee – 618 (missed just 14 polls in entire AP history)
2. Andy Landers, Georgia – 479
3. Tara VanDerveer (2 schools – Ohio St., Stanford) – 426
4. C. Vivian Stringer (3 schools – Cheyney, Iowa, Rutgers) – 407
5. Geno Auriemma, Connecticut – 386
6. Jim Foster (3 schools – St. Joseph’s, Vanderbilt, Ohio St.) – 364
7. Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina – 326
XXX-8. Gail Goestenkors, (2 schools – Duke, Texas) – 295
9.&&--Joan Bonvicini (2 schools – Long Beach, Arizona) - 267
10. Gary Blair, (3 schools – Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas, Texas A&M) – 265
11. Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame – 235
12. Sherri Coale, Oklahoma – 198
13. Kim Mulkey, Baylor – 188
14. Joanne P. McCallie (2 schools - Michigan St., Duke) – 165
15. Melanie Balcomb (2 schools – Xavier, Vanderbilt) – 153
16. Brenda Frese (2 schools, Minnesota, Maryland) – 140
16. Kristy Curry (2 schools – Purdue, Texas Tech) – 136
18. Doug Bruno, DePaul – 135
19. Bill Fennelly, (2 schools – Toledo, Iowa St.) – 131
20. %%- Joe McKeown (2 schools – New Mexico St., George Washington) – 116
21.)))-Chris Gobrecht (Washington) - 104
22.@@@@- Cathy Inglese (2 schools, Vermont, Boston College) – 98
23. !!!- Jane Albright (2 schools – N. Illinois, Wisconsin) – 96
24. Debbie Patterson, Kansas St. – 92
XXX-25. Kurt Budke (2 schools -Louisiana Tech., Oklahoma St.) – 80
26. Pam Borton, Minnesota – 75
Return -- Charli Turner Thorne, Arizona St. – 74 (On sabbatical in 2011-12)
27. Joanne Boyle, California (2 schools – California, Virginia) – 61
28. Tom Collen, (3 schools, Colorado St., Louisville, Arkansas) – 58
29. Sue Semrau, Florida St. – 57
XXX-30. Sharon Fanning-Otis (3 schools – Tenn.-Chattanooga, Kentucky, Miss. St.) – 56
31. ***-Kathy Olivier, UCLA 52
32. ^^^-Kevin McGuff, Xavier – 50
33. Mike Carey, West Virginia – 48
33. Terri Williams-Flournoy, Georgetown – 48
35. Bonnie Henrickson, (2 schools -- Virginia Tech, Kansas) – 45
35. Matthew Mitchell, Kentucky – 45
37. Harry Perretta, Villanova – 44
37. Sharon Versyp, Purdue – 44
37. Jeff Walz, Louisville – 44
40. Suzy Merchant, Michigan St. – 41
41. Connie Yori (Creighton, Nebraska) – 40
42. Jeff Mittie, TCU – 38
43. Agnus Berenato (2 schools – Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh) – 37
44. Matt Bollant, Wis.-Green Bay – 35
44. Lisa Stockton, Tulane – 34
46. $$$- June Daugherty (2 schools – Boise St.,Washington) – 32
47. Dawn Staley (Temple, South Carolina) – 31
XXX-48. Nell Fortner (2 schools – Purdue, Auburn) – 30
49. MaChelle Joseph, Georgia Tech -- 30
49. Katie Meier, Miami –30
&&-Active at Seattle; )))-Active at Yale; $$$-Active at Washington State.; %%-Active at Northwestern; !!!-Active at Nevada; @@@@-Active at Rhode Island; ()()-Active at Michigan; ^^^-Active at Washington; XXX-On sabbatical from Arizona State.


-- Mel

Guru's Report On The Pat Summitt News: Philly Coaches -- And More -- React

(Guru’s note: A personality piece about Summitt was written for fullcourt.com and there are several other stories there as well by original Tennessee beat reporter Mike Siroky, who now lives in Indiana. This post is a local reaction piece from area coaches on the move. There is a separate that will be written on Tennessee’s AP Poll success here, but the Guru doesn’t know what order it will hit the blog so be sure to hit mel’s blog if you are in melgreenberg.com.)


By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA – Coaches with area connections weighed in throughout Wednesday in phone calls, email statements, and twitter accounts reacting to the news that Tennessee Hall of Fame legendary coach Pat Summitt would be leaving the sidelines to become Head Coach Emeritus and that Holly Warlick, her longtime former player and associate head coach, would replace her.

The news was not surprising since it seemed some move would be made after a tumultuous season in which Summitt, as the head coach, battled early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type, a condition she revealed in late August.

Warlick, with help from the rest of the staff, handled more duties with Warlick being the official postgame spokesperson for the coaching staff.

Though the announcement came Wednesday, a press conference at Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena will be held Thursday afternoon.

Some reaction will continue in the next posts if time didn’t allow for it to be here.

Villanova longtime coach Harry Perretta had the closest association with Summitt among the immediate locals, in part forged by a working relationship that was struck in 2003 when Summitt wanted to learn the motion offense of the Wildcats and was directed to Perretta, considered the master of the strategy in the women’s game.

Summitt took an immediate liking to Perretta and the budding relationship was big news in the sport at the time because of his longtime Philly friendship with Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, who then was considered the national archrival to Summitt and vice versa.

Things got wilder later in the season when Villanova upset Connecticut in the Big East title game to end the then-Huskies NCAA record win streak for women at 70 games.

The Wildcats got as high seed and advanced to the regional in Knoxville on the other side of the Tennessee bracket, meaning Villanova would be playing Colorado first while the Lady Vols were matched with Penn State.

When Perretta’s group arrived Summitt tossed a barbecue with her team and the Wildcats contingent, a social event that even astounded the Knoxville folks who had always the impression any potential foe is a dangerous foe until business had been attended.

Villanova beat Colorado but Tennessee ended the Cinderella run in the region title game.

“Yeah, it’s funny how that all worked out,” Perretta said Wednesday night. “If she hadn’t approached me, she might just be somebody I know casually and run into a few times a year.

“In one way, it is really a sad time because what has happened and we’re losing someone who has been at the top of women’s basketball and been a leader forever,” Perretta said.

“But the way they’re handling it, it’s a great move by Tennessee and definitely the way to go. I’m happy she’ll still be involved and Holly deserves the chance.”

Perretta will be matching wits in part with Summitt’s son Tyler, who is graduating Tennessee and it was reported Wednesday he is going to be an assistant women’s coach at Marquette to Harrisburg’s Terri Mitchell in the Big East.

“I talked to him today and he’s excited about that,” Perretta said. “It’s going to be fun with him on the other bench when we play them.”

Theoretically, Marquette should be playing at Villanova this season, pending the Big East scheduling.

St. Joseph’s coach Cindy Griffin had personal experiences going against Tennessee when she served time under her former coach Hawks coach Jim Foster, when he was at Vanderbilt before taking his current position at Ohio State.

“Women’s basketball lost a very good coach to retirement today,” Griffin said at Wednesday night’s annual Hawks postseason women’s awards dinner on campus. “I think her legend will live on in every player that she coached and every coach that is coaching today.

“I think the Tennessee spirit is Pat Summitt and I think it will continue and Holly will do a great job.”

Griffin recalled the rivalry in her time at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., against the Southeastern opponent.

“She always had the best talent and she always put the best team out there and they were tough to play and compete against day in and day out,” Griffin said. “She is one of the best coaches that we’ve ever played against. Her legend is going to go down in history and we wish her all the success in the world.”

Temple’s Tonya Cardoza, who dealt with Tennessee as a player for Virginia and later as a longtime assistant at Connecticut, tweeted: “Pat Summitt has been a pioneer for women’s basketball. She has inspired so many, will definitely be missed on the sidelines.”

Princeton’s Courtney Banghart, coach of the three-time defending Ivy champions, said in a call from the annual league meetings in New York, “When you have a passion and you can pursue your passion in your job, that is what we all aspire to do. She is a role model for those of us who love to compete every day and in doing so we are able to aspire to be like her.”

Penn State coach Coquese Washington noted, “Pat Summitt is truly a legend in our sport. She has impacted the game in so many ways and while she will certainly be missed, she will leave a legacy of excellence and success that will stand the test of the time.”

Drexel coach Denise Dillon offered: “We all, as coaches, have admired and looked up to Coach Summitt throughout her career, as a coach and a person. I think she handled every situation in a first-class way. She is a top-notch professional. I’m happy to see her being able to make this decision and remain involved. It’s important to Tennessee and women’s basketball.”

Before Delaware held its annual postseason dinner in Newark, Blue Hens coach Tina Martin, a longtime veteran on the sidelines, said, “From the day she began coaching, coaches have looked up to her, admired her, and have tried to emulate her.

“Her passion and intensity for the game has been the leader for our sport. Certainly, we’re going to miss her on the sidelines, but it’s great to see she’s still staying involved in the sport of basketball and the administration at Tennessee,” Martin continued.

“She will never be replaced. It’s impossible to replace a legend. I can’t say enough words about Pat Summitt and how she has meant to my career. She has been a role model and someone I will always respect and cherish the time that she was coaching at Tennessee.”

North Philadelphia’s Dawn Staley, the former Temple coach who is at South Carolina and has gone up against Summitt as a player at Virginia and coaching both the Owls and Gamecocks on the sidelines, said in a statement from her university: “There will be a tremendous void in our game. Coach Summitt has left a legacy for all coaches to follow. I will do my best to uphold the standard of excellence she has displayed for the past 38 years.”

Fordham coach Stephanie V. Gaitley, a former Villanova star who went against Summitt on the sidelines when she coached at St. Joseph’s, wrote, “I have the utmost respect for both Pat and Holly. They truly embody what is right about our sport.

“Pat was kind enough to bring her Tennessee team to St. Joes for our first-ever sellout. She always believed in doing what was right to promote women’s basketball. Harry (Perretta) and I spent a few days with Pat some summers back and I was amazed at her ability to impact every person she met,” Gaitley said.

“She is not only an incredible ambassador of our sport but a wonderful and kind hearted person. I am so happy to hear she will continue to affect the lives of the student athletes on a daily basis. Holly is an extension of Pat and will keep the Lady Vols among the elite teams.”

Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer, who perhaps assumes the throne as the longtime active sage in the sport, was attending a Title IX dinner in Michigan, but communicated through the Scarlet Knights’ athletic department: “For such a longtime, Pat Summitt has been the gatekeeper for women’s basketball.

“Her contributions to the game go far beyond the 1,098 victories and eight national championships,” said Stringer, whose Rutgers, Iowa and Cheyney teams competed against the Lady Vols over the decades. “It’s about impact she had on every Lady Vol that has come through that program to the countless others across the globe whose lives she has touched – those are things that made Pat special. She represents a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration for all of us.

“The news saddens mean because I have personally shared so many conversations with her as it relates to everything from basketball to family life. I feel like a piece of me has left the game and there is no bigger loss to women’s basketball. Although the world will miss seeing her on the sidelines, I know Pat will continue to be a rock for the Tennessee program in her new role.”

Notre Dame coach Muffett McGraw, a former St. Joseph’s star, said in a statement from the Irish: “While I’m certainly sad to hear Pat is stepping down as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, I think today is really a time to celebrate Pat’s amazing accomplishments and everything she has done to help bring the sport of women’s basketball to where it is today.

“The word `legend,’ can sometimes be overused in sport, but in Pat’s case, that’s exactly what she is. Pat has set the bar so high for all of us, not only with the success her teams have enjoyed on the court, but the way she has carried herself off the court, with such class, dignity and grace.

“It’s a standard of excellence that likely will never be matched in our game, and I feel fortunate and honored to have had the opportunity to coach against her, and to learn from her during my career. All of us at Notre Dame wish her good health and happiness in her new role as Head Coach Emeritus at Tennessee,” McGraw said.

“We know the Lady Vol program will remain strong and vibrant with Holly Warlick as head coach, and we wish her much success.”

Meanwhile at the Women’s Final Four in Denver, Connecticut’s Auriemma, who grew up in Norristown, shared some brief moments with Summitt when she attended the all-America presentation.

It seems what was once a heated rivalry reached détente, especially in light, according to a source, of the fact when Summitt and her son Tyler established the foundation to fight Alzheimer’s, Auriemma wrote the first check to donate to the cause with a five-figure number.

Auriemma stated, “Pat’s vision for the game of women’s basketball and her relentless drive pushed the game to a new level and made it possible for the rest of us to accomplish what we did.

“In her new role, I’m sure she will continue to make significant impacts to the University of Tennessee and to the game of women’s basketball as a whole,” Auriemma noted.

“I am thrilled for Holly as this opportunity is well deserved and a huge asset to her moving forward.”

Auriemma is now more involved in preparations to coach the Olympic team and five former UConn players in London, though he said at the WNBA draft Monday at ESPN headquarters in Connecticut he does play a recruiting trip this weekend.

And considering recruiting, Mike Flynn, longtime head of the nationally-respected local Blue Star Basketball and Philadelphia Belles AAU program, tweeted, “I believe Pat Summitt should be remembered for this one CORE item: her tenacity and strength of will to win, no matter what, over so many years.”

Former Virginia coach Debbie Ryan, who grew up near Trenton, N.J., the state capital, wrote, “I am not sad that Pat’s career is over – I am happy that it happened and I was around to benefit from her.

“She is an extraordinary talent as a coach and she shared knowledge with anyone who sought her out,” Ryan said. “Pat was a tremendous role model for me as I grew up in the coaching profession.

“She willed women’s basketball in a sense, to actually be the viable profession that it is today. Pat is the consummate leader of young women. Her courageous battle with dementia is well noted but her sense of humor prevails,” Ryan continued.

“Pat is the down home country girl who always offered you a place to stay and a hot home cooked meal if you were just passing through. She has always been a kind, giving person and her selfless move to step aside is evidence of her unconditional love for the Lady Vols,” Ryan said.

“Pat is simply the best and she gave everyone of us an incredible gift that will live on in this game forever.”

Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade, who grew up in South Jersey near here, said, “Pat’s legacy in the sport and athletics nationally and internationally will forever be part of history. But more importantly, Pat Summitt is a person of integrity that always went the extra mile for others and simply made a difference.”

From elsewhere in the Atlantic 10, new George Washington coach Jonathan Tsipis, former Notre Dame associate head coach, said, “Coach Summitt has and will continue to empower young women to accomplish their goals on and off the court.

“Many of the wonderful things we have in our game today are a direct result of Coach Summitt and her ability to grow the game,” Tsipis continued. “We are all better coaches because of the guidance Coach Summitt gave our game. She always treated people with great respect.”

Richmond’s Michael Shafer, who went against Tennessee when he was a Georgia assistant to Andy Landers, said, “Pat has done so much for women’s basketball that it is fitting that she remains as the figure head at Tennessee. Pat still has a great deal to offer Tennessee and the game of basketball.

“Having coached against Holly during my days at Georgia, I feel confident that she will continue the proud tradition that she helped build with Pat at Tennessee. Obviously, she has been as close to their program and been a vital part of their success for many years. I expect this to be a good change for Tennessee.”

Charlotte’s Cara Consuegra said, “The impact Coach Summitt has made as a pioneer for women’s basketball and women’s athletics cannot be measured. Every coach, parent, can learn from her class, integrity, passion and courage. Pat Summitt is a legend in our game that will truly be missed.

Dayton’s Jim Jabir noted: Coach Summitt is a legend and has created a model that is emulated by lesser coaches. She didn’t build winning teams, she built a lasting program. Few have her strength and determination.

“Having Holly Warlick follow Coach Summitt is only logical considering she has been at Coach’s side for such a long time in building this special program. She, too, is such a part of this great tradition.”

Meanwhile, from Xavier’s Amy Waugh came, “Women’s basketball is forever indebted to Pat Summitt. She set the standard of excellence with her courage, passion and intensity.”

From the Colonial Athletic Association, Old Dominion’s Karen Barefoot said, “I will be forever grateful to her for giving me such great advice at the age of 22 when I started coaching. She is the all time best.”

Elsewhere in the Ivy League, Cornell’s Dayna Smith, said, “Pat Summitt was the one true role model for all female coaches. When I first started coaching I read all of her books. You strive to simulate her leadership abilities, her knowledge of the game and her passion to help young women. She was a pioneer for our game and profession.”

An apology from the Guru to Penn’s Mike McLaughlin, who called late but was told the Guru thought he saw an email statement from the Quakers. It’s been a long night into day – as always. The Guru will get to him for the next installment.

Columbia’s Paul Nixon, whose parents go back to Summitt’s early years, said, “I recall the story my mother tells of the time Pat Summitt came over and talked to her and one of my father’s players on the bench after a tough game my father’s team (Ed Nixon – Mississippi College) had to lost to Pat and her teammates at UT-Martin.

“She was offering words of encouragement to my dad’s player and getting her “pumped up” for the next game. Even though she was still a player at the time, Pat was already coaching! She is and always will be the name and face that everyone associates with college women’s basketball, and she has set the standard that all coaches, men or women, at every level should strive to live up to,” Nixon related.

“As the reigns of the Lady Vol program are passed to Holly Warlick, there is no individual who has been better prepared to be her successor and everyone in the women’s basketball community wishes Holly all the best.”

-- Mel

USBWA Reaction and Guru Coverage Plans on Summitt News

By Mel Greenberg

After a brief catch-up to you the Guru is posting the United States Basketball Writers Association reaction statement that will be at their website and also has been sent to AP and the Tennessee paper.

The Guru is writing a retrospective on Summitt for fullcourt.com. Mike Siroky, who was the original beat writer before Dan Fleser is also writing but more of the emphasis will be Holly Warlick.

The Guru is just getting under way, having kept his commitment to attend the St. Joseph's postseason women's dinner after having fallen asleep Tuesday afternoon at home and managing to miss the Drexel event. The Guru apologizes to the Dragons.

Coverage here will include react from local coaches as well as national react from emails sent to the Guru and also from scanning the wires. There will also be a history of local teams against Tennessee and a piece on Summitt's final AP poll numbers. Next season Georgia's Andy Landers becomes at the top of the list of active coaches in terms of total poll appearances.

Coverage will be ongoing the next several days.

The Guru is up at Fedex headquarters and can be reached by cell phone (currently recharging) or email notification to get back to whoever is seeking the Guru.

USBWA Statement on Tennessee Announcement

Now here is the USBWA react statement, which is actually the pre-edited version. The edited one will become one and the same possibly. :)

U.S. Basketball Writers Association Statement on Pat Summitt’s move to Coach Emeritus.

Pat Summitt may not have won that last NCAA title she and her players were after but the legend from Tennessee is moving to the new position of Coach Emeritus of the Lady Vols still very much at the top of her game.

Over the last several decades rarely did a post-season arrive without Tennessee picking up USBWA women’s honors for either player or coach of the year or all-Americans because of the performances continuously delivered by Pat’s program.

Most recently at the Women’s Final Four in Denver, Holly Warlick, who will move from Associate Head Coach to Head Coach, accepted the annual USBWA most courageous award on behalf of Pat for her ongoing fight against early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.

It was also announced that future winners of the honor will receive the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award from USBWA as a tribute to the Hall of Famer not only for her own determination but also for instilling others to become their very best even in times of adversity to which Pat was always sensitive.

As Tennessee for the first time in what will be 39 years moves to a change on the sidelines, USBWA wishes both Pat and Holly well in ensuring the rich tradition of the Lady Vols continues to endure.

-- Mel

Guru College Musings: Of NCAA Media Decline and WNBA Calm Draft Winds

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- In most areas the Women’s Final Four was a success as an event with the games for the most part providing excitement and the Denver folks, including the Mountain West Conference from nearby Colorado Springs, doing an outstanding job as the official hosts.

However, in terms of media coverage, a historic shift hit ground zero in one area that has been declining in recent seasons because of the downsizing and cost-cutting of newspapers across the nation.

With the absence of the Washington Post sending anyone, it is the first time that from a group of what was once several hundred, there wasn’t one publication on the seating/credential list that was in the house at the Pepsi Center without regard to the four participating teams or devoid of being regionally located in terms of the event being in Denver.

Furthermore, while in many situations the drumbeat has continued over how papers have to be selective in terms of travel/expense in all their news and entertainment sections beside the sports pages, based on the Guru’s glance at the charts, something he has been doing since the industry went into a nose dive, none of the aforementioned print sections took the freelance route in which they could use any of a decent sized talent group of journalists to pay for just the coverage without regard to expenses.

USA Today was there but they are a national publication, and though the organization has ongoing financial aches and pains, it doesn’t fit the category of the count and thus is exempt.

Jere Longman of the New York Times was there, but he still has a little influence in showing up and the paper has a somewhat vested interest, regionally, in covering both the University of Connecticut men and women.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, it can be noted that many of the ongoing regulars, no longer at the place they used to work, have managed to survive, some working for online publications, but the cities they once represented were no longer on the list.

For example, Mechelle Veopel is now with ESPN.com and its ESPN-W online presence, but her former publication the Kansas City Star, was off the list.

Likewise Wendy Parker, on the board as the new media representative of the United States Basketball Writers Association, as well as a contributor to Basketball Times and Blue Star Media, was hard at work in the wee hours, as always, but the Atlanta Constitution, which she once represented, was also off the list.

Michelle Smith is now with ESPN, also, though because of Stanford advancing for the fifth straight year, some of the Bay Area papers out of San Francisco were in Denver, but most also quickly pulled their staffs back after the Cardinal lost to Baylor in the semifinals.

Likewise, the UConn group, whose ongoing appearances thanks to the Huskies dominating presence, helped stabilize the NCAA credential count at 500 plus, were also on the way back East once the team lost to its Big East rival Notre Dame in the semifinals.

In some cases, such as the situation of the Hartford Courant’s UConn women’s beat writer John Altavilla, he remained because his story on the national title game could be distributed to other papers in the same chain as the Courant.

It should be noted that Boston Globe wasn’t on the scene, either, though in later years its appearance jived with UConn, specific, and not the Women’s Final Four.

Occasionally, if their teams didn’t make it, Knoxville and papers from Charlottesville (Va.), and Raleigh and Durham (N.C.) might be on hand.

Indianapolis, the home of NCAA headquarters, also did not staff, nor did Louisiana (including Baton Rouge), which contains next year’s host city New Orleans.

If Baylor had not made it or any of the Texas schools out of the Big 12, the press out of the Lone Star state would also have been on the list of departed, whereas in old times, Dallas was a regular without regard to participating teams.

Some other prominent cities and their immediate environs also no longer on the scene included Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Richmond, and Philadelphia.

In naming the City of Brotherly Love, because of the Guru’s longtime affiliation before going the “retirement” route two years ago this month, the point is made only in terms of the survey and not as a personal shot.

In fact, the Guru was called on more than several times for freelance help, most recently when he was in Kingston, R.I., when the Penn State/UConn regional semifinal final offered an angle of local interest.

And actually, the weekly local notebook during the season on women’s teams in the Big Five and Drexel was something that couldn’t be achieved his last two years while still on active duty, though it should be noted a different management structure existed in sports at the time.

Though someone mentioned Eastern cities would have been on hand if the event was on the Atlantic seaboard in the Middle Atlantic states, then those print publications wouldn’t count because they would be region-specific, while the Denver press would have not been in the arena.

Beyond the college scene, on the eve of another WNBA season, it will be interesting to see how much coverage beyond the 12 franchise cities the pro league gets in terms of newspapers in light of this being an Olympic year.

However, many papers are also scaling back sending representatives to the Summer Games, which will be in London and elsewhere in England, because of costs.

That said, coverage itself has actually gotten better, but the delivery has changed.

Before noting the shift, the Guru would like to point out that one saving grace for papers that are not staffing the NCAA women’s tournament finals, specifically, as in the past, has been the quality of coverage from Doug Feinberg, who succeeded Chuck Schoffner several years ago as the Associated Press national women’s writer.

In fact, Doug, who will be with the U.S. women’s basketball team in London, has been able to initiate story ideas without much resistance, though like many of us, he knows how to pick his spots.

The only downside, papers using Feinberg’s work are free to chop his stories to fit the layout, though online publications such as Yahoo usually use his work in its entirety as it appeared on the AP transmission report.

But getting back to the shift in delivery of coverage, although the Guru just mentioned how much of the past media presence has vanished, coverage has gotten better to the point that, except for the generation still challenged by the computer age, there are other places to go for enhancement beyond what appears in the major city dailies.

ESPN, aside from being the principal broadcast partner on the NCAA women’s tournament, had an army on the scene to handle both its online and broadcast coverage.

The NCAA, itself, had all kind of bells and whistles during the games, though it would be nice at some point for the organization to get together with ESPN and offer the same kind of coverage on an iPad, iPhone and Android apps as it does with CBS during the men’s tournament.

Last summer the WNBA’s rebuilt apps was a major factor in an exploding online stream of traffic.

Of course tweeting offered opinions throughout from the experts, to coaches, to the teams, themselves.

ESPN-W recently added former Philadelphia Inquirer staffer Kate Fagan, who had been the NBA 76ers writer, but adds expertise as a former player at Colorado when the Buffaloes were a national power.

Such main online entities as Hoopfeed and Fullcourt had staffs credentialed, which several years ago would have been a no-no before the NCAA realized, with some support from the traditional members of the women’s press corps, that these organizations were needed to replace coverage that used to come from the dwindling print dailies who showed up annually.

Despite the ground zero reference the Guru made at the outset in terms of which print organizations still show up, or not, the final chapter has yet to be written.

Some print organizations may actually re-deploy and send representatives to cover for their online adjuncts, which may soon be their only form of delivery.

Next year, however, the Women’s Final Four returns to New Orleans, the third time it will be held in the Crescent City, whose local flavor often causes events aside from the games to become, let’s say, different from their traditional course.

The Guru, for example, in giving out the WBCA media award in 2004 remembers after a week in which Bourbon Street establishments were filled with patrons using their communication devices as walkie-talkies, asking the throng at the awards luncheon: “How many of you were here in 1991?”

A significant show of hands went up, to which the Guru then asked, “How did you get through the week without cell phones?”

WNBA Draft Winds Less Than Gusty

On Monday, a day, incidentally, the Guru hits a significant milestone, the annual WNBA draft will be held for the second straight year at ESPN’s headquarters.

This will be remembered as the Nneka Oguwmike draft, though as talented as the Stanford star may be, it may not as trademarked as the Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson or Candace Parker drafts, which still had more than decent value beyond those No. 1 picks in past seasons.

If American expatriate writer Gertrude Stein was alive today and she was a WNBA beat writer, she might say the same of Monday’s three-round overall extravaganza in Bristol, Conn., as she once said of Oakland, Calif.: There’s no there there.

That doesn’t mean the mega-security patrols that guard what once was a simple two-building complex at the sports media giant won’t be out in force, even while there’s little that will need to be handled in terms of the cycle of rotating activities throughout the main center.

As evidenced on this week’s noteworthy pre-draft teleconference involving ESPN’s Rebecca Lobo and Carolyn Peck, several WNBA coaches, besides a few expected high picks, in discussing this year’s selections, the phrase “Next Year” quickly comes into the conversation with an eye to the mega-talents of Baylor’s Brittney Griner, Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne, and Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins, who will have concluded their collegiate careers along with a bunch more of stars with superior talent.

Beck and Lobo quickly noted how tough it is to make a WNBA 11-player roster and with most picks on Monday being characterized as investments to the future, the impact of most new arrivals this time may be more of a ripple than an implosion on the status quo.

As it is, because the season will screech quickly to a halt almost as fast as it gets under way because of the break for the Olympics, there may not be much interest in the conference races until after the games are concluded, hopefully with the U.S. holding more gold medals.

Not counting foreign players, such as second-year pro Liz Cambage on Tulsa, who will be gone the front part of the summer as will sister Australian Lauren Jackson from Seattle, when it comes to the American side, once the break begins, here are the WNBA teams, whose players, without getting into names, will be performing extra duty in London:

Defending champion Minnesota will be contributing three players; the Chicago Sky will offer two, while Phoenix, Seattle, Connecticut, Indiana, Los Angeles and Atlanta will offer one each. A collegian, Baylor’s Griner, is expected to be the 12th and final player, barring replacements for injury.

Four teams with no American representatives are Tulsa, New York, San Antonio, and Washington.

Of the nine players who didn’t make the cut from the finalist list of 21, the following have been consigned to community service with their WNBA teams while the American and foreigners are overseas:

Connecticut (3), Asjha Jones, Kara Lawson and Renee Montgomery; San Antonio (2) Jayne Appel, Sophia Young; Phoenix (1) Candice Dupree; Atlanta (1) Lindsay Harding; Minnesota (1) Rebekkah Brunson; and New York (1) Cappie Pondexter.

And when everyone is back in the fold, attention is going to be paid as much to the bottom of the race as the top in terms of who will be in the hunt for the four lottery picks by not making the playoffs.

In fact, and the Guru will save the key “lotto playoffs” September schedule dates for the near future, if your team is right on the edge for the last spots as New York and Washington are expected to be in the East; and Tulsa, San Antonio, Phoenix and possibly Seattle are in the West; knowing what prizes await the lotto winners next year, do you cheer for your team to win or lose as the regular season concludes?

Hold those thoughts for now or for tweeting reaction and message boards.

Otherwise, the next post here will be along soon enough.

-- Mel

Guru's College Report: Temple's Peddy and 'Nova's Perretta Earn Top Big Five Honors

By Mel Greenberg

PHILADELPHIA -- Temple’s Shey Peddy captured the Big Five player of the year for the second straight season in the annual awards announced Tuesday while she shared the local Division I player of the year honors with Villanova’s Laura Sweeney given out by Glenn Papazian, the editor of Philly College Sports.com, in consultation with your Guru.

The Big Five vote involved the coaches involved in the City Series and your Guru, who batted 1.000 on the final result after casting his ballot from afar in Denver last week during the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

As for the Big Five individual honors, Villanova’s Harry Perretta was named coach of the year after gaining his 600th victory early in the season and also leading the Wildcats to a clean 4-0 sweep to claim the City Series title.

Temple’s Tonya Cardoza had won the coaching honor in her previous three seasons with the Owls after succeeding Dawn Staley to take charge in July, 2008.

The Owls’ Victoria Macaulay, a junior, was named the most improved player, and the Guru can tell you that on his own ballot it was a tough vote with St. Joseph’s senior Kelly Cavallo also considered a strong candidate.

Penn’s Kara Bonenberger was named Rookie of the Year, the second straight season a Quakers player captured the trophy. A year ago it was Alyssa Baron taking home the rookie prize and after leading the Ivy in scoring her first two seasons Baron also made the All-Big Five first team.

It’s the first time since Jewel Clark three-peated in 2002-04 that a Penn player made the first team in successive seasons.

Incidentally, the Quakers’ Jess Knapp took the sportsmanship award after playing the final 13 games of her career with torn ligaments in her knee.

That commendable effort also earned her Most Courageous honors at the Philly College Sports site, a special initiative by Glenn that was quickly endorsed by the Guru.

The remainder of the Big Five first team consisted of Peddy, La Salle’s Brittany Wilson, St. Joseph’s Michelle Baker, and Villanova’s Laura Sweeney, who missed the final two games of the season in the Women’s NIT after suffering a broken finger.

The Big Five second team consisted of Temple senior Kristen McCarthy and the Owls’ Macaulay, La Salle’s Alexis Scott, St. Joseph’s Cavallo, and Villanova’s Lauren Burford, a rookie who was probably runnerup to Bonenberger in what was also a tough vote.

The academic team, in which the Guru did not have a vote, consisted of Temple’s McCarthy, Penn’s Knapp, La Salle’s Jess Koci, Villanova’s Emily Suhey and St. Joseph’s Shelby Smith.

The Guru believes each school recommends a player for the academic team.

Wilson and Scott were keys in La Salle continuing to improve under second-year coach Jeff Williams, while Penn also improved again under Mike McLaughlin, finished at 13-15, the most wins since 2005.

Villanova made strides on the nonconference schedule and was more competitive, if not finishing higher up, in the rugged Big East, which was topped by Notre Dame, St. John’s, and Connecticut.

Temple did not make the NCAA for the first time in nine seasons, but won two rounds, as did Villanova, in the WNIT. NCAA Committee officials said after the bracket was announced the Owls lasted until the final cut for the 64-team field.

St. Joseph’s won the first round in the WNIT and lost before the buzzer to Virginia Commonwealth in the second round.

Winners will get their trophies at the annual Big Five postseason banquet at Drexelbrook in Delaware County and tickets can be obtained from Steve Crider of the Big Five at steve@philadelphiabig5.org.

Philly College Sports.Com Honors

Moving on to Glenn’s honors, which also includes Drexel in terms of the city, the Guru thought making Peddy and Sweeney co-players of the year was appropriate.

When judging season overall and competition limited to Big Five games, it can become difficult to name one player, depending on philosophy. Sweeney was certainly the key in Villanova wrapping up the Big Five in early January made possible by an important win at Temple before beating Penn.

But as the season continued to play out and Temple went on to a second-place regular-season finish in the Atlantic 10, Peddy, especially on defense, became more dominant and even grabbed the final national player of the week award from the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

Duplicating the Big Five indidivual honors, Perretta was named coach of the year and Bonenberger was named rookie of the year.

The first team consisted of Sweeney, Peddy, Baker and Baron, the same as the Big Five, but Drexel senior Kamile Nacickaite was also made a first-team selectee.

The Dragons came on strong at the finish and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association title game, losing to No. 7 Delaware, whose Elena Delle Donne was the nation’s leading scorer and became a consensus first team All-American.

La Salle’s Wilson made the second team with Drexel’s Hollie Mershon, McCarthy, Cavallo, and St. Joseph’s senior Katie Kuester, who deserved some postseason accolade for her career with the Hawks.

A third team is also determined at Philly College Sports and the selectees were Macaulay, Temple’s B.J. Williams, La Salle’s Scott, St. Joseph’s Ashley Prim, and Villanova’s Rachel Roberts and Burford.

With competition concluded it won’t be long before applications will become available for the Philadelphia/Suburban NCAA Women’s Summer League under commissioner David Kessler, which will continue to be held at the Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades in Hatboro, Pa.

Organization usually begins in May.

Collegiate wise on the national level, as the Guru begins to slip into his summer WNBA pro coverage,commentary will continue with some post Final Four musings 24 hours from now as well as staying on the case for coaching changes still occurring and the re-organization inside the NCAA, which was in the news again Tuesday when Greg Shaheen was not given the top job under the NCAA presidency.

A replacement still needs to be named for former NCAA vice president for Women’s Basketball, Sue Donohoe, who resigned in November and is now head of the Kay Yow Fund, located near Raleigh, N.C.

Donohoe at the Women’s Final Four received the president’s award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, the second year a high former NCAA official was given the honor.

A year ago in Indianapolis, home of the NCAA, whose local paper, by the way, was among many not staffing the Women’s Final Four, UConn’s Geno Auriemma, then holding the president’s position in the WBCA, gave the honor to Tom Jernstedt, like Donohoe, a popular individual with the rank-and-file.

Until the next sunrise.

-- Mel

Guru Musings: Baylor May Repeat But 2012-13 Will Be Much Different

By Mel Greenberg

While Baylor may successfully defend its recently acquired NCAA women's basketball crown in 2012-13, the Bears recapturing the championship may be one of the few things that would be the same as the season recently concluded.

The conference membership migration will continue and when the curtain rises again in October with the arrival of Midnight Madness, West Virginia and TCU will be competing in the Big 12, while Texas A&M and Missouri will be on board in the Southeastern Conference.

Temple will be on its farewell tour of the Atlantic 10 before moving to the Big East while Syracuse and Pittsburgh could be doing likewise in the Big East if allowed an early exit to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Other moves will be occurring elsewhere and continuing into 2013-14.

The biggest change will be on the sidelines where some longtime mentors will be gone while other coaches will be switching locations.

A heavy dose of musical chairs is underway but the top story that remains alive past the close of 2011-12 is the ongoing drama at Tennessee.

The past season was anything but business as usual for the Lady Vols since last August when legendary Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt told the public she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Azheimer type.

She continued to be the head coach but associate head coach Holly Warlick and the rest of the staff took on added responsibilities.

Now that assistant Mickie DeMoss has left to work for Linn Dun with the Indiana Fever in the WNBA, decisions need to be made on the future in light that the recruiting picture has become unfocused in terms of high school blue chip talent holding off from commitments until the situation for next season is resolved.

Decisions are expected soon.

Elsewhere Karen Aston, a former assistant, is now in charge back at Texas while Gail Goestenkors has left to refresh herself after her five-year stint with the Longhorns and previously longtime run at Duke.

Terri Williams-Flournoy has left Georgetown for Auburn, where Nell Fortner has also left coaching for the moment.

However, Charli Turner Thorne returns to Arizona State after a year's sabbatical.

Though Baylor will be the clear number one choice going in as the Bears were before, there will be significant challengers to Brittney Griner and company.

In what was considered a rebuilding year, Connecticut still got to the Womens Final Four and nearly made it to the title game.

When the Huskies return with all but Tiffany Hayes from the current roster, there will be the addition of highly prized freshmen expected to make an immediate impact.

Other teams getting the most buzz in projection speak in Denver during the finals were Maryland, Duke and Kentucky in terms of preseason top five.

Besides Griner, most of the top stars will be back with Skylar Diggins making a senior run at Notre Dame and Elena Delle Donne doing likewise at Delaware where she led the nation in scoring.

Next time around her Blue Hens will get underway as a nationally ranked team at the outset.

Maggie Lucas shouldbe a reason for Penn State to be in the preseason Top 10.

Though Nenka Ogumike graduates Stanford, her sister Chiney returns with the Cardinal.

Elizabeth Williams, the national freshman of the year is back at Duke while runnerup Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis returns to UConn.

The face of 2012-13 will continue to evolve prior to the next opening tap but when practice resumes two signficant events will have occurred.

At Connecticut it will be known if Huskies Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma successfully guided the U.S. women, including five of his former players, to another gold medal.

By then the teams in the next WNBA draft lottery will known so if not the order is declared until December, it will be known barring trades who are the leading contenders for the aforementioned Griner and other highly prized seniors.

Possibly Griner and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III could have a reunion in the nation's capital.

Griffin, the star Baylor quarterback who was in Denver, is expected to land with the NFL Washington Redskins.

If the WNBA Mystics fail to make the playoffs, a distinct possibility, then if the ping pong balls bounce the right way Griner will have one friend in town so she might want to scout the scene when Baylor makes its celebratory visit to the White House.

-- Mel

Brittney Griner Named USBWA's Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Year

(Guru's note: Here is the rough draft of a release sent to cyber central at the USBWA website covering Tuesday's annual women's awards breakfast at the Women's Final Four. If you are in melgreenberg.com, click mel's blog on the left to read post below this, another rough release on the Most Courageous Award to Pat Summitt and future winners to receive the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.)

DENVER -- Baylor sensation Brittney Griner received the U.S. Basketball Writers re-named Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's National Player of the Year Tuesday morning at the association's annual awards breakfast at the Hyatt Hotel, NCAA headquarters for the Women's Final Four.

Meyers Drysdale, the former UCLA four-time All-American and current vice president of the WNBA Phoenix Sun and NBA Phoenix Mercury, was at the breakfast to help make the presentation. However, because Griner and Kim Mulkey, who received the previously announced USBWA coach of the year award, were involved in preparations for Tuesday night's NCAA title showdown with Notre Dame, Julie Bennett, sports information for the Bears, accepted both awards on behalf of Griner and Mulkey.

"She's very appreciate of this award, she's appreciative of all basketball writers around the nation," Bennett said of Mulkey's reaction to the USBWA coaching award. "How you cover our sport and it seems to get better and better all the time."

Griner, a 6-foot-8 center born in Houston, Texas, went into Tuesday night's championship with a 23.2 points per game scoring average, seventh in the nation, and a 9.4 rebounding average. However, her most notable skill, besides being able to dunk, is as a fierce shot blocker. She has a nation-leading 201 rejections, almost 100 more than her closest persuer, for a 5.15 average per game.

"She thought it was pretty cool when I told her about who Ann Meyers was," Bennett said of Griner's reaction to winning the award. "Brittney appreciates that and she respects everybody so much for giving her this award."

On Saturday Griner dispensed of all speculation, saying she would return for her senior year. Because she turns 22 she has the option to forego her senior year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft latr this month.

The re-naming of the award for Meyers Drysdale was announced last week but on Tuesday morning the USBWA added another namesake on a women's award. After Tennessee associate head coach Holly Warlick accepted the Women's Most Courageous Award on behalf of legendary Hall of Famer Pat Summitt, who is battling early onset dementia, Alzheimer type, Mel Greenberg, the women's representative on the USBWA board of directors announced future winners would receive the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.

Given her first chance to react to the honor and to also help make the presentation, Meyers Drsdale said, "I've been around an awfully long time. Certainly there were not a lot of awards when I was first starting up. There are many more today. This, because of the writers and the knowledge they have of all the players throughout the country, certainly sets it apart. And to be associared with it, there's no question it's such an honor for me, honestly.

"To have Brittney Griner as the first recipient of this award means so much for what she's done for the game, how she's changed the game, how she carries herself and it really means a lot to have somebody like that who is so humble in herself to be a game changer. So this is really special for me today and I know throughout the years it's going to grow and be even more recognized."

USBWA Names Women's Most Courageous Award After Tennessee's Pat Summitt

(Here's the rough draft of the release sent to USBWA cyber control covering the presentation of the women's most courageous award to Pat Summitt.)

DENVER -- Tennessee women's basketball associate head coach Holly Warlick accepted the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Most Courageous Award Tuesday morning on behalf of head coach Pat Summitt at the organization's annual women's awards breakfast at the Hyatt Hotel, NCAA headquarters for the Women's Final Four.

Summitt, the Hall of Famer who has won 1,098 games, best for any male or female basketball coach, has been battling early onset dementia, Alzheimer type, which she publicly revealed in late August prior to the start of the season.

Upon presenting the honor, Mel Greenberg, the women's representative on the USBWA's board of directors, announced the award in the future will be known as the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, making it the second such namesake in the past week placed upon the awards list of honors for women.

The national women's player of the year is now known as the Ann Meyers Drysdale National Women's Player of the Year and the former UCLA All-American who is a Hall of Famer as well as vice president of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury and NBA Phoenix Sun, was at the breakfast to make the presentation, which went to Baylor sensation Brittney Griner.

"We really wanted to honor Pat in some way when the discussion of putting namesakes on the women's awards began," Greenberg said. "In light of her tremendous courage to battle the disease in public while continuing to coach made it seem a natural that this was the most meaningful of our awards to be associated with Summitt's legacy."

"She's our John Wooden," said Baylor's Kim Mulkey, who earned the USBWAwomen's coach of the year award.

Summitt, who was here earlier in the weekend to be honored with all the past U.S. Olympic women's basketball coaches, was made aware of USBWA intentions to honor her with the namesake and expressed her approval.

"When Pat made the announcement, we didn't know what direction that was going to lead us as a team, as a staff, and the effect it would have on women's basketball," Warlick said. "And I will tell you this: the fans everywhere we go have been absolutely incredible as a tribute to Pat, just outside of basketball, her character. It's been an honor and privilege to work with her.

"When she announced she had the dementia -- her life has been an open book -- and it is just fitting she told the country that she had dementia, and we're going to deal with it, and let's move on. And that's what she has done."

Warlick praised the sportswriters who have covered the story of Summitt's battle during the season.

"The writers and the media have been very gracious to her and very sensative to her disease and how she has handled it and gone through this year. So I appreciate how you have handled her and she is going to continue to be a spokesperson for Tennessee -- I hope she is going to continue to oach. Right now, everybody asks, `Ia she going to continue to coach,' she is the coach of Tennessee and I hope to just continue to help her and have the opportunity to help our program win basketball games."