Dishin & Swishin 03/13/14 Podcast: Jose Fernandez on why USF should be in the tournament, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke does not have to worry about USC’s bid
Both have 12 losses on the season, but this week they are in two different places.
On this week’s podcast, one coach that’s playing the waiting game, and one coach that earned her spot in the tournament.
Jose Fernandez and South Florida have played outstanding basketball since January, with their only losses being to Connecticut and Louisville. In fact, it took a Shoni Schimmel jump shot in the closing seconds for Louisville to beat the Bulls in the American Athletic conference tournament senifinals. Led by sophomore Courtney Williams, and all-tournament selection, and sharpshooting Inga Orekhova, the Bulls are healthy and, at least according to Geno Auriemma and Jeff Walz, one of the top 64 teams in the country.
Will that be enough however to get them in? There were injuries earlier in the season, but the resume of South Florida does include losses to Clemson and College Of Charleston, as well as Rutgers, Middle Tennessee State, Maryland, and Oklahoma State. Will the selection committee be able to look past the bad losses? How much impact will the weaker status of the conference have?
Coach Fernandez is the first guest on this week’s podcast, and he goes into detail as to why he feels the team is worthy of a bid.
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke does not have to worry about all of that, even though her Southern California team also has 12 losses. They “took care of business,” defeating Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, and Oregon State to win the Pac-12 conference tournament and their automatic bid.
In only her first year at the school she played for and won national championships at, Cooper-Dyke has impacted the program in ways not only seen in the statistics. They have bought into her defense first mantra, and are playing with a confidence that will help them immeasurably come tournament time.
Having talented players like Cassie Harberts and Ariya Crook as your two leading scorers helps too!
Where will these teams and coaches be dancing on Monday night? Will they both be going to the same ball? We will find out on Selection Monday.
Enjoy the podcast!
