Saturday Cardinal Couple -- USA WBB rolls again in Olympics.

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Saturday CARDINAL COUPLE


- USA rolls again in 88-61 win over Czechs


- 2012 USA Women's U17 World Championship roster announced. 

Angel held to eight points by the Czechs.
( Not really...she was Angel the rebounder
Friday.)

It's becoming predictable. USA gets off to a horrible start, has a rough first quarter and proceeds to blow away the opponent.  


It was the Czech Republic's turn to take the "L" Friday...jumping out to a 10-0 lead early against the USA and actually leading 26-24 at the end of the first quarter. 


Didn't last.


USA, driven by Geno's request to concentrate on rebounds, pulled down 62 for the game once the Czech shooting went south. A team record. Angel with 11 of them and eight points in 18 minutes. They outscored the Czechs 64-35 over the final 30 minutes...Diana Taurasi finally woke up and nailed a few threes and led the way with 18 points. 


Job accomplished as all expected it would be. 

DePaul's Doug Bruno is Geno's assistant in London.
How hard is that job? Dire Straits sang it the best...
"Money for nothing and the chicks are free."

The slow starts have become predictable. Geno even tried a shake-up in the starting  lineup, inserting Maya Moore for Candace Parker.


Didn't work. 


USA (4-0) gets China Sunday. Maybe they'll get flatware and kitchen accessories Monday. One thing is for certain. They won't receive a loss. 


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The 2012 USA Womens' U 17 World Championship team roster is out and it includes some pretty impressive class of 2013 players. 


Lindsay Allen      G    5'8"      (verbal to Notre Dame)
Oderah Chidom   F    6'3"      (undeclared)
Kaela Davis        G    6'2"      (undeclared)
Diamond DeShields G  6'1"   (verbal to UNC) 
Becca Greenwell G   6'1"      (Leaning to Duke or ND)
Linnae Harper     G   5'7"      (undeclared)
Kai Jones            F   6'4"      (verbal to Tampa)
Erica McCall        F   6'3"      (undeclared)
Taya Reimer       F   6'3"      (verbal to ND)
MERCEDES RUSSELL C  6'5" (Louisville or Tenn?) 
Jessica Washington G  5'8"  (verbal to UNC)
Brianna Turner   G-F  6'3"    (Class of 2014-no verbal)


Our guess is you could enter this lineup in the 2012 Summer Olympics and do quite well with it. The under 17 World Championships should be a breeze.


We like Becca Greenwell. Almost as much as Mercedes. Wouldn't bother us at all to see them 1-2 in scoring for this squad. When you have half your squad 6'3" or taller...rebounds shouldn't be a worry. 
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