Pat Summitt finally has said something about why she ended the series between UCONN and Tennessee in women’s basketball. The problem is that she didn’t say the exact reason why. She did say though that it’s highly unlikely the two teams will play in the regular season while she is coach.
“Tennessee and Connecticut fans, as well as basketball fans across the country, will probably miss the fact we’re not playing because of the length of the rivalry and the … competitiveness,” Summitt said. “But I haven’t had the feeling that the entire nation is going to miss the game.”
“The fact that the television networks would seek our games every year is somewhat unfortunate,” she said. “I do think, in terms of this season, that the game can expand [by showing other games]. I know from our standpoint, we’re playing Oklahoma, which I think would get some good exposure.
“As far as my decision was concerned, I didn’t approach it with the feeling that it was going to hurt women’s basketball. There are a lot of strong teams in the country that feature a lot of great matchups.”
I beg to differ Pat. I think no matter if you were a fan or not, you want to see a UCONN/Tennessee matchup. Think of all the young girls who want to be the next Candace Parker or the next Tina Charles. Unless the two teams meet up in the NCAA tournament (I have a strange feeling that somehow they will be in the same bracket this year), nobody will get to see the two greatest women’s basketball programs square off.
Former players Sue Bird and Kara Lawson, both of whom play in the WNBA, both have similar opinions in that they will both miss the series.
Sue Bird:
“My initial reaction, at least after I said `What?’ to myself, was one of sadness,” said Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird, a former UConn All-American. “I wanted to know what the reason was, why would [Tennessee] want to end such a great rivalry. I know what it was like to play in it. It was fun, it was competitive. It was a game you circled on the schedule when it came out.
“They were great, great games, and now looking back I’d have to say they were also some of my fondest memories. It’s the biggest rivalry of all, the one that put women’s basketball on the map for a lot of people. The telltale sign always for me has been that it didn’t matter whether you were a women’s basketball fan, a men’s basketball fan or just a general sports fan. You always knew when UConn was playing Tennessee. It’s similar to Duke-UNC, the Yankees-Red Sox even. It’s one of the great ones.
“I know college basketball is interested in pumping up [other rivalries], but there is nothing like UConn-Tennessee, and I don’t think there ever will be.”
Kara Lawson:
“As a fan of women’s basketball as much as a Tennessee alum, I’d have to say there is some disappointment in the fact they won’t be playing anymore,” Lawson said. “That was the game you looked forward to watching, and as a player it was the game you looked forward to playing in. Even now, as an analyst for ESPN, I would look forward to it solely to see how the great players would react to it, especially the freshmen on both sides.”
Pat, do the right thing, bring back the series next year. I know Geno won’t mind kicking your ass with Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne.
