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Perspective is the skeleton key to opening the doors in life. On Thursday, I had the pleasure to interview former Tennessee Volunteers star, current Indiana Fever phenom and proud member of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team, Tamika Catchings. She’s a proprietor of the best perspective possible when it comes not only to women’s basketball, but especially the NCAA women’s Final Four.
When conjuring a college basketball narrative, the talk has repeatedly revolved around the currently undefeated men’s Kentucky Wildcats. However, we forget that Catchings has some undefeated experience herself. This Tennessee standout was part of the “Meeks,” which comprised Catchings, Semeka Randall and Chamique Holdsclaw, and made up an integral part of the undefeated 1997-98 lady Volunteers. An accomplishment Kentucky has yet to claim.
March Madness is not only for the men, as compelling storylines extend into the women’s Final Four as well. First, there’s the 36-1 UConn Huskies, a team beating tournament opponents by an average of 41 points per game. Coached by Geno Auriemma, the Huskies are seeking a third-straight title, and a 10th NCAA championship overall.
On the other side of the bracket, there’s a team fresh from cutting down the nets and looking to cut their championship teeth. The South Carolina Gamecocks are a group — which according to Catchings and thanks to head coach Dawn Staley — that’s “building a culture and changing the environment for these young [South Carolina women basketball players] and showing them how they can be successful.” Staley is leading the South Carolina women to their first Final Four.
As part of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team giving back in Tampa, Catchings offered additional insight adding, “We [The Good Works Team] focus on not only what they’re [student athletes] doing on the court, but more importantly what they’re doing off the court.” The Good Works Team is a team of 10 college basketball student-athletes dedicated to community service and volunteerism. The student-athletes were selected from nominations submitted by athletic departments on behalf of their teams by a special voting panel of former student-athletes and coaches, members of the media and Catchings.
The Maryland Terrapins and Notre Dame Fighting Irish round out the field set for Sunday night in Tampa, Fla. The Irish take on the Gamecocks at 6:30 p.m. EST while the Terrapins entertain the Huskies at 9:00 p.m.
When asked who will emerge in the end, Catchings gave a nothing-but-net answer: “I have my bracket, and in my bracket I have Connecticut winning. That’s my bracket, but I have love for everybody.”
Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.
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