Big Ten (11) Recap

#13 Minnesota tags a loss on #5 PSU 74-56. MINN/PSU Recap

#6 Purdue beat OSU 57-54. Shereka Wright of the Boilers topped the 2000 point mark for her career in the game. Is it me or does she remind you a lot of the Fever's Coretta Brown? PU/OSU Recap

Indiana is the second youngest team in the country. It's really starting to show as the Hoosiers take on the second half of the conference schedule. Illinois avenged an earlier loss by whipping Indiana 64-52 in front of 4400 fans in Bloomington. IU/ILL Recap

#20 MSU had no problem with Northwestern cruising to a 70-46 victory. MSU/NU Recap

Michigan posts an easy win over Wisconsin 75-55. Jennifer Smith had another double double for the Wolverines. Mich/Wisc recap

Top 25 Recap

The battle in Texas Sunday between #9 Texas Tech and #17 Baylor was one of the better played games I've seen in a long time. Both of these teams were executing well, both have strong guard play, a prototype power forward, defensive minded centers and outside shooters. TT/Baylor Story

In a game that many women's hoops fans predicted, #11 Kansas State had no challenge from #10 Colorado. I guess the Buffs aren't as strong as some had thought. KSU/CU Story

How about #14 Georgia getting upset by Arkansas! GA/Ark Recap

#19 Auburn is really starting to gel. Marita Payne had 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots (yes, 10) as the Tigers smacked # 14 LSU 68-50.

Did you catch that triple overtime game? #23 Houston finally outscored Tulane behind Chandi Jones 39 points 83-78. Jones is a sure first round WNBA selection. Houston/Tulane Recap

#24 Notre Dame was upset by Seton Hall 51-45. ND/SH Story


Over Coffee

Well, I certainly got my college basketball fix over the weekend. I counted and, if you count the ESPN cut ins, I saw some or all of 16 basketball games. It's certainly easy to tell that it is February and the teams are really starting to put it together. This time of year, teams can no longer win with just their talent and rolling the ball out and letting them play. It comes down to execution. I swear, while watching the Baylor vs Texas Tech game, it was more enjoyable than a lot of WNBA games I've seen. Great teams, great coaching, great desire! This game had it all!

I saw Nell Fortner on ESPN2 yesterday! I wondered when she would show up! Looks like Stacy Dales-Schuman is taking some of Fortner's air time! Actually, I think Fortner is good on ESPN - that way her coaching flaws can't hurt anyone. She has a great future as the women's games version of Dickie V.

OK, so I've had the weekend to think about the latest Fever trade. I've tried to be open minded, I really have! I've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, to look beyond what may appear to be obvious. I've analyzed it, looked at available players and taken emotion out of the equation in evaluating this latest personnel move. So, here's my thoughts!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? WHAT THE #&*@%$ WERE THEY THINKING??

Miller is a good little player and Winters mentioned he wanted her to play some point. OK, but as I said in one of my earlier posts if they needed a point why didn't they draft Helen Darling in the Rocker expansion draft? At any rate, giving up the # 3 overall and the # 18 overall pick for Miller and Charlottes #9 is ridiculous. With the number 3 pick you will get a sure fire starter - possibly a difference maker in this league. Miller couldn't even break Charlottes starting lineup for 2 years and she is now worthy of being dealt for the #3 selection? Uh, that seems a little far fetched! I could understand getting Miller and #9 for the #3 but the Fever threw in their second rounder as well - the number 18 overall. You're joking, right? Charlotte must be dancing in the streets. I always thought that Fortner was behind most of the Fever's bonehead moves while she was carrying that GM title but it now appears that Kelli Krauskopf might be just as inept in handling player personnel. Geez!

OK, so now, where does this leave the Fever? Add Miller and Deanna Jackson to last years team. Well, Olympia Scott-Richardson should be back so add her into the front court rotation. Still have problems in the backcourt. Niele Ivey, Kelly Miller, Coretta Brown , Stephanie White are under contract. Bridgett Pettis and Nikki McCray are free agents. I could see a scenario where maybe the Fever draft Kelly Mazzante with the number 9 pick. Whalen will be long gone - no way the Lynx let her get away. They could draft Shereka Wright at number 9 but you have the same player already under contract in Coretta Brown. If they go with a post player (Iciss Tillis, Stacey Stephens) it leaves the backcourt still lacking a scorer. The prospect of Mazzante and Miller outside and Tamika on the inside is somewhat intriguing. So, that's the best case scenario I can come up with. Still, the Fever blew it - they didn't get enough value for the # 3 and they now have no second round selection. How do these people keep their jobs?