STILLWATER — A watch party of 500 orange-clad supporters erupted when it was announced Oklahoma State was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Women's Tournament.
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Several seconds later, cheers were replaced by an eerie silence. Everyone suddenly realized the Cowgirls were placed in the New Orleans Regional and wouldn't be playing in the Ford Center.
"It would have been fun to play in Oklahoma City because I think you would have had 18,000 orange shirts there,” said OSU coach Kurt Budke. "But that's OK. We'll just go play. We're playing good basketball right now. We're excited about the next opportunity.”
OSU, 25-7, will play Atlantic Sun Tournament champion East Tennessee State, 21-11, in a first-round game Saturday at 7 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa. The game will be televised on ESPN2 (Cox 28).
With a win, the Cowgirls would play the winner of Ohio State-Florida State on Monday night for a chance to advance to New Orleans.
"A No. 3 seed, how about that for respect?” Budke hollered, the crowd roaring its approval. "Hey, that's a loooong way from 0-16 (in the conference).”
The NCAA women's tournament selection committee said months ago improving attendance would play a key role, that teams would be placed as close to home as possible.
The committee's explanation was its hands were tied. LSU, a No. 2 seed, had to be placed in the New Orleans bracket. Texas A&M also is a No. 2 seed.
As a result, the committee's reasoning was the Big 12's top seed couldn't be sent to the East or West coast. Since conference teams can't meet until the regional finals, OSU was forced into the New Orleans bracket.
"We're a little disappointed,” said OSU All-American point guard Andrea Riley. "Everybody wanted to play in Oklahoma City, near home. But it doesn't really matter. We knew they'd probably send OU there because they have a better history than us.”
If the Cowgirls advance to the Sweet 16 they probably will face LSU in the Tigers' home state. LSU has made four consecutive Final Four appearances.
"I just hope we have that opportunity,” Budke said. "Playing on the road in the Big 12 gets you ready for any kind of road action. We've played in front of 10,000 people all year long. It doesn't matter where we've played. We've actually played well on the road.”
The No. 3 seed is the highest in school history, surpassing a No. 5 seed in 1991, the only time in school history the Cowgirls have advanced to the Sweet 16. Earlier in the day, they were ranked No. 13 in the final AP women's poll, the highest in school history.
"We don't care who we play,” Riley said. "I don't care if they have All-Americans or are No. 1 in the nation, No. 2, 3, 4, 5 or top 10, I don't care. We're going to play the best basketball we've ever played.”
The Cowgirls could have a home-court edge in Des Moines. In addition to two or three busloads of fans that have followed the Cowgirls all season, other OSU fans might make the trip. Iowa State fans also figure to pull for a fellow Big 12 school.
"Iowa State fans were kind of cheering for us at the Big 12 Tournament,” Budke said. "We'd love for them to come out and support us because they're great basketball fans. We'll have orange in the stands. Our fans will make that drive.”
•Littell staying: Budke told the crowd that assistant coach Jim Littell turned down a Division I-A head coaching position on Monday, believed to be Wichita State.
Budke said athletic director Mike Holder "stepped up,” insinuating Littell was given a sizeable raise to stay at OSU. A source close to the program said Littell actually turned down more than one head coaching job.
"When I came here three years ago ... I believed in someone, a longtime friend, someone who knew basketball and could turn any program around in the country,” Littell said. "He's done that a lot quicker than what anyone else thought.”
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Arron, dont bother with S from Okalhoma City, he or she doesnt know how to carry on an adult conversation, and besides shouldnt he be worrying about that team from the MVC? osu's old and future home
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Mar 18, 2008 at 7:09 pm
OU has to win 2 games to get to OKC and that might not happen they way they have been playing. OU fans, don't get your hopes up quite yet. There is a good chance they will play Notre Dame in the second round in West Lafayette, IN which is within driving distance of South Bend. The women's team is kind of like the men's in the fact that you don't know what kind of guard play you will get.
James, I don't believe you'd have fared better, but that is irrelevant. I do hope OSU does well in the tourney, as well as all of the Big 12. With Budke there, I would imagine you guys will be a force for a while.....gotta get back to chanting boomer sooner...
Okay Michael. First of all I never stated after one great season we were now a POWER if you had been reading instead of chanting boomer sooner while looking at my comment you would have seen that. I hope we can become a POWER but I am not about to claim that after one season. And if you believe that with the traded schedules that there is no way we could have faired better than OU this season you obviously haven't watched us play.
danny,wilson, Are you aware that OU discontinued their women's basketball program because of a lack of support from the OU fans? You're lucky that you even have a women's team to cheer for. If not for a threat of a Title IX lawsuit, OU wouldn't even be playing women's basketball. Congratulations to OSU and OU women for their athletic programs. I hope they both continue to improve in all sports. By the way, there is a "Shift Key" on your keyboard that lets you use capital letters.
Congratulations Cowgirls! As for the OU fans who aren't nice (meaning you Danny) - please stay off blogs about OSU. Isn't there an OU article that you can blog on? Why must I always see you on here insulting OSU and all the OSU fans. We ALL should be proud that both Oklahoma teams are making an appearance with good seeds at this tournament!
Congradgulations need to go out to CoachBudke and the Cowgirls and to Coach Coale and the Lady Sooners on having good seasons and making the bid dance! Now let's root for the 2 teams to have BEDLAM round 3 in the NATIONAL TITLE GAME!!!!
Yeah, I think you should take that into consideration. That's why OU dropped to a four seed and OSU got a three...IF OU had beaten Colorado, they're probably a lock for a three seed...because of RPI and SOS...meaning, they're not in the OKC regional, assuming A&M still wins the Big 12. The OKC regional was not given to OU because they had a better season!
Mike, do you not think that you have to take in consideration how teams did in the Big 12 Tourny? OSU went further in the Big 12 Tourny than K-State, Baylor and OU.
Right Brian, OSU did have a better season! That's why they're the freakin 3 seed and OU is a 4! I explained earlier why OU is in OKC and not OSU...and it's a fact, not an opinion, so go write the NCAA and whine about it to them....tired of repeating myself...learn to read up on it before you spout off about it.
Michael, forget the overall records look at the conference records. Did OSU have a better conference record? Lets look at the head to head match up with Baylor, OU was swept by Baylor and OSU swept Baylor. I know OU fans can not swallow it but OSU had the better season and in my opinion OU did not deserve the OKC Regional, espically after loosing to the worst team in the Big 12!!!
Oh yeah, well I'm an OU fan and I think Maria Cordero is kinda cute! haha! I do believe that OSU will make the Sweet 16 so here's wishing your guys (or gals) luck against LSU.
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OSU's Maria Cordero, left, and Danielle Green celebrate on Monday. By MATT STRASEN, THE OKLAHOMAN
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Maybe this should be on OU recruiting pamphlet.