Norman — It’s a popular question.
How do you win in March?
It’s a simple question that typically yields a simple answer. Or, as is the case at the Norman sub-regional several different simple answers.
Popular responses tend to include …
· Seniors win in March.
· Great guard play wins in March.
· Ball security wins in March.
· Your best players playing their best wins in March.
Hard to disagree with any of that, even as the teams that begin NCAA Tournament play today at Lloyd Noble Center went their own way with their own answers.
“We have to make shots,” South Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
Understandably, coaches sometimes underline their strengths given such a question, because one thing the Jackrabbits can do is make shots. They’re hitting a sharp 46.5 percent from floor over the season and 48.7 percent against Summit League opponents. Also, they’re hitting just shy of 40 percent from 3-point land.
Yet while Johnston wants his Jacks to make shots, Arkansas-Little Rock’s Joe Foley subscribes to a golden oldie.
“I think, naturally, against Georgia Tech, to handle the pressure, we’re going to have to have good guard play,” he said. “(Given) the way they like to press and get after people.”
Foley opted for another time-honored answer to go with it, the one that says your best player must bring her best game.
“We have to get scoring out of Chastity,” he said.
“Chastity” is Chastity Reed, who averages more than 25 points per outing, significantly more than any other player suiting up in Norman today.
Georgia Tech senior forward Brigitte Ardossie talked about the importance of the moment, of realizing there are no second chances at the NCAA Tournament. Lose once and you’re bounced.
“We have to go out there and lay it all out and not leave anything behind this time,” she said. “During the season, we have so many games, you kind of lose sight, maybe of the fact that we play next week, anyway. But this time you have to be thinking (about) what’s in front of you.”
Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale has a list. It is not exhaustive because not everything can be emphasized. Some things must be taken on faith.
“To win championships, you make layups, you make free throws and you rebound,” she said. “For us, obviously, hit shots, share the basketball, not turn the basketball over … but if you play your tail off, those (first) three will win you basketball games.”
Had Coale gone directly to her team’s strengths, she might have gone with point-guard play or intensity. Danielle Robinson might be the best point guard in the Big 12 and, lately, the Sooners have served up tremendous intensity. But layups have been a real problem, particularly against Connecticut, Nebraska and at the Big 12 title game against Texas A&M.
Coale didn’t mention players making plays or coming through in the clutch initially. But she nonetheless believes that’s something the Sooners have in their pocket.
“I think you’ve seen it develop over the course of the season,” she said. “On this team, we’ve got guys who can make plays. If we can be close at the end, we can win because we’ve got guys who can make plays. I’ve seen it happen too many times.”
Maybe every coach still coaching feels that way. It’s the Big Dance. Everybody got here on something. Today, they’ll find out if it’s enough to win.
Clay Horning 366-3526 cfhorning@normantranscript.com
