With yesterday's release of the prestigious HOOPS supplement giving the spotlight to ACC men's basketball, I feel the need to do a mini-HOOPS column of my own -- for the women.
Over much of last winter, I was fortunate enough to cover Virginia women's basketball for The Cavalier Daily.
I had the privilege of tracking a team that not only rose above the eighth-seeded ACC expectations, but also unexpectedly earned an NCAA tournament berth. There will be fewer doubters this year, and the Wahoo women were picked to finish third in the ACC, according to a preseason poll.
What I ask for is more of you to come to the games and to bring spirit with you. Peeking out into the crowd last year, it was only once in a while that I'd see a recognizable student face outside of the pep band. My vision may be corrected, but even a blind man could see that fan support is lacking at the women's games.
Of course, before I truly got into the swing of things I had the experience of being down at Duke, the experts' pick to be the No.1 team in the nation this season.
Because of the prestige that basketball has down in Durham, the arena fills up regardless of the gender of the team. At very least, people came out for the Blue Devils' game against an overachieving but not threatening Virginia squad.
I can see why some of the high school kids come to games and why the little ones tag along with their parents. It was college-level basketball, a show greater than the playground courts. The truth is, we sports fans dedicate much of our winter to camping out for the men's basketball team -- no doubt very exciting -- but not nearly as successful as last year's women.
It's no question I'll want to see some of the men's teams I missed last year (i.e. Duke and North Carolina), but the women still have a dedicated fan as well -- they have quite a story to tell.
Last Thursday's game against Hungary was the first time I could remember seeing the Cavaliers without departed guard Telisha Quarles, the courageous leader who sparked an unbelievable comeback against Duke that almost propelled the Cavaliers to the ACC Finals last March.
Quarles played with tremendous heart, and her loss would be very tough to get over if the Cavaliers weren't returning a roster full of remarkable characters.
Center Brandi Teamer accomplished more than most rookies get to in their first year, as she was relied upon as the main option in many games and experienced playoff glory and loss. Teamer averaged 14.3 points per game and led the ACC in rebounding at 8.9 boards a game.
The greatest mystery is probably how the team will adjust to the addition of transfer Cherisse Graham from Purdue.
True, Graham sat out all of last season and hasn't played a single game of college ball, but she was an All-American in numerous polls in high school and might be the answer at shooting guard.
Come to games also to watch the legendary Debbie Ryan -- now in her 26th year as the head coach of the women's team -- parade around the sidelines. Whatever criticisms or praise she has, she cares about her team. She protects her players and is gracious with fans and reporters.
Then there are Annas, Prilliaman and Crosswhite, all capable of scoring from beyond the arc as well as stepping up to take leadership roles when Virginia needs them.
While dunks and full-court passes are rarities in ACC women's basketball, the competitive level of play is no joke. Duke and North Carolina were both top 25 teams, and Virginia had to fight for its wins over the next branch of powers.
The coaches are adamant and the players are emotional, hard working, often teary after games. In the first game I covered in February of 2001, I was exposed to such emotions as a teary-eyed Hampton guard was devastated by a hard-fought three-point road loss to a heavily favored Cavalier team.
Such was the impact of Virginia's tournament loss to Duke last March, where the players truly put everything onto the court and left it there.
The women in orange and blue stepped into the arena and showed they cared in the midst of a season of doubt. Now it's time for their covert fans to do the same.
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