Delle Donne to play VOLLEYBALL at Delaware. Good Luck Elena!!

GOLD!!!!!!

The United States Senior National Team won its 4th consecutive gold medal by blowing away Lauren Jackson and Australia in the gold medal game, 92-65. First-time Olympian and former Tennessee star Kara Lawson led the Americans with 15 pts. on perfect shooting. Four-time Olympian and former USC great Lisa Leslie added 14 pts. and 7 rebs.

The Americans went undefeated again and now have a 33-game Olympic win streak. They won all 8 games by a scoring margin of 37.6 points. Former Husky Greats Taurasi and Bird have picked up their 2nd straight Gold Medals, but this time played a much larger and impactful role on the team. Starting all 8 games Taurasi, led the team to the gold medal game with 21 huge points in the semifinals vs. Russia and finished 3rd in scoring, 2nd in assists and minutes, and lead the team in 3's made and FT shooting (15-15). Also starting all 8 games, Bird finished leading the team in steals.

Final Olympic Standings:
1. USA (8-0) - Gold Medal
2. Australia (7-1) - Silver Medal
3. Russia (6-2) - Bronze Medal**
4. China (5-3)
5. Spain (3-3)
6. Belarus (2-4)
7. Czech Republic (2-4)
8. South Korea (2-4)
9. Latvia (1-4)
10. New Zealand (1-4)*
11. Brazil (1-4)
12. Mali (0-5)

*Recent UConn transfer signee Jessica McCormack started 4 of 5 games for the Tall Ferns and playing 16 mpg, 2.6 ppg, and 2.6 rpg. Not tooo bad for a 19 y.o. Olympic rookie.

**Former UConn Great Svetlana Abrosimova played a much larger role as well this time around for the Russians. She started 4 of 8 games and finished 5th in scoring and steals, 3rd in rebounding, 2nd in 3's made, and led the team in 3pt shooting (58%).

Delle Donne has been officially released from her basketball scholarship at Connecticut. She plans to attend the University of Delware. It is not known at this time if she will play a sport, but if she doe sit will likely be volleyball (at least for her freshman season).

Finally!!!

Looks like Geno is finally going to get his wish afterall. And it doesn't have anything to do with a top recruit or championship, well actually it does. UConn has hired HOK Sport, Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., to coordinate architectural and design services for the construction of a new men's and women's basketball practice facility. In Geno's opinion, this type facility is needed to continue the growth and success of the men's and women's programs. Calhoun's agrees, saying the lack of a facility has hindered recruiting, putting the school at a disadvantage with top high school athletes who might be awe-struck by newer, bigger buildings on other campuses.

The preseason awards lists have begun and UConn's All-American trio is at the top of the 1st list. Today the 2008-09 Wade Watch was released and included Sr. Renee Montgomery, Jr. Tina Charles, and So. Maya Moore. Moore is finally eligible for the Wade Trophy now that she is no longer a freshman (BTW -- the dumbest rule in the WCBB game).

Recruiting Update:

....and NOT a good one. Incoming freshman SF Elena Delle Donne has decided not to enroll at Connecticut and will no longer be a member of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team. It sounds as if she is sick of basketball and will be searching for a life (at least in the very near future) without it. And if your heart isn't in it then you should play, especially if you want to play for a coach like Geno Auriemma. My guess is she decided on a new home before the Geno's dog house became her new permanent residence on the UConn Storrs campus. We shall see shortly where she'll end up.