DEBBIE ANTONELLI'S ACC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT QUESTION & ANSWER
All season long, TV analyst Debbie Antonelli has provided fans with her take on ACC Women's Basketball. Now Antonelli has answered questions about the ACC and the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament. Be sure to check out her answers below.
Ty McCuiston, Tallahassee, FL
Hi Debbie! I have really enjoyed your commentaries for the ACC games this
year.
I was wondering who you think might be the front-runners for the coach of
the year?
Debbie:
Hey Ty, thanks for the question. Let me give you a couple of
candidates. Gail Goestenkors at Duke because they were picked first and
finish first in a year which had more parity than any before. Jim Davis at
Clemson because his team overachieved once again this season and finished
above preseason predictions. Sue Semrau for the best year in the history of
her stay at FSU. Picked to finish 8th and was in the top half of the ACC
standings all season and could have finished in second place. Kay Yow at NC
State because she took NC State to the biggest second half turnaround in ACC
history and did it with personnel changes and adjustments. A sign of some
very good coaching. All four of these candidates will be in the NCAA
Tournament by my count. I know who I voted for for Coach of the Year? Who
did you like?
Eric
Jim Davis does a terrific job at Clemson, can you talk about how he gets the
most out of his players?
Debbie:
Hey Eric, thanks for taking the time to inquire. I think Jim Davis is a
terrific X and O coach and he gets the most out of his team year in and year
out because his players respect him. The Clemson players know he will prepare
them to have an opportunity to win and he knows what he is talking about. He
has had success against every team in the ACC and once again, this team is an
NCAA Tournament team. He is tough on them but they understand his primary
purpose is to help them get better. If you understand that as a player, he
will help you become the best you can be.
How are Florida State's chances in the ACC Tournament? In the NCAA
Tournament?
They have had some big wins this year and it would be great to see them
continue on.
Debbie:
Thanks for the question. Florida State has had some great wins and no bad out
of conference losses. FSU beat #12 NCSU, #25 UVA and #4 Duke on the road.
Their out of conference losses are on the road to Florida, UTC and Xavier.
Florida and Xavier will be in the NCAA Tournament and UTC should. Brooke
Wyckoff is getting the respect she deserves and earned. FSU split with
Virginia in the regular season including their first ever win in 20 tries
against the Cavaliers in Tally in January. Virginia needed the win in the
final regular season game to get to 8-8 in league play. Historically, this
would be a tough draw for the Seminoles but I believe they will be ready to
play even though they are coming off two consecutive losses. Brooke will have to play
well and Traylor will have to take care of the ball and make good decisions.
Should be a great one! As for the NCAA Tournament, I have been saying FSU
played their way into the tournament before their overtime win against UNC.
They could be an 8 or 9 seed.
Cathy, Charlottesville, VA
How many teams from the ACC do you think will get a bid to the NCAA
tournament?
Debbie:
Thanks for the question Cathy. I think Duke has a real good chance
of being a number one seed. NCSU should host in the first and second rounds
as well. Clemson has a chance to host in the tournament and Florida State is
in. As for who is on the "bubble", Maryland is 17-10 and 8-8 in league play
and Virginia is 18-12 and 8-8. Virginia has been ranked most of the season
and should not be on the NCAA selection committees board of discussion too
long. Both Virginia and Maryland have RPI's in the 30's and their strength of
schedule is good. The ACC Tournament will have a lot to do with their
chances!
Which teams in the ACC do you see going along ways in the NCAA Tournament?
Debbie:
Duke, Clemson and NC State have prepared themselves with good out of
conference schedules and are prepared for many different styles of play. I
see these three doing well in the NCAA Tournament but a lot has to do with
their seed and if they can host in the first and second rounds.
Brandon
What team do you think might be a sleeper in the ACC this weekend?
Debbie:
Hey, you got to throw the Tar Heels in there since they have played
in 6 of the last 7 ACC Tournament finals. They have to get some wins for any
post season considerations. It would be hard to call this team a sleeper
because tradionally they have always been good, but Virginia has a lot of
talent and hasn't seemed to run a string of wins together in a long time.
They have not rallied around Debbie Ryan yet and this would be a good time to
do so.
Todd, Cheverly Md.
Hey Debbie, should the women's game go to a ten second rule, if so could they use it during the second half of games instead of trying to run the clock down to force them to get the ball across.
Debbie:
Hey Todd, I think one of the reasons the women's game doesn't have the 10
second rule is because of the 30 second shot clock. I like the 30 second shot
clock in the women's game. Keeps it up tempo and rewards good defense.
Thanks for the question.
