NCAA Tournament 2000 - UConn playbook: Bird's the word

UConn playbook: Bird's the word
From Coach's Edge

UConn is the hands-down favorite to win this year's NCAA women's title. The Huskies enter the Sweet 16 with a 32-1 record, and they have more depth, more talent and more skills than any other team in the country.

But anything can happen in March. Guard play is critical at tournament time, and the Huskies are led by a guard trio of Shea Ralph (All-Big East Player of the Year), Svetlana Abrosimova (All-Big East First Team) and Sue Bird (All-Big East Second Team). If UConn isn't scoring in transition, the Huskies are working to get their guards scoring opportunities within their half-court offense.

ANIMATE THIS PLAY DIAGRAM WITH SHOCKWAVE
	(A) Keep your eyes on Nos. 25 and 33. The Huskies hope the defenders will lose pace in all the action, but it really comes down to the 1-2 scoring punch of Abrosimova and Ralph. Sue Bird (10) starts the play with a pass to Svetlana Abrosimova (25) on the wing. Kelly Schumacher (11) then sets a screen away to free up Shea Ralph (33). They might look for Ralph to score here, but are really setting up the defense for what's next. (B) As Schumacher passes to Bird, Ralph screens for Abrosimova to make a hard diagonal cut to the basket. If she gets freed up, Bird will deliver the pass.
	(C) After Ralph sets the screen, she receives one from Schumacher for a 3-point shot.


Search for on