North Carolina State University Athletics
Coaching Legends Dot East Regional
3/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. -- By amassing more than 600 victories in a legendary coaching career that has covered more than 30 years, NC State's Kay Yow has earned a spot alongside some of the greatest coaches in the history of women's college basketball. But when she looks around her in the NCAA East Regional this weekend, coach Yow will see a handful of others in that same class.
The regional also features Geno Auriemma of Connecticut, Louisiana State's Leon Barmore and Andy Landers of Georgia. Between them, the four coaches have combined for thousands of victories and 23 Final Four appearances.
"There's a lot of experience and a lot of people who have been in some tough games," Yow said of the other coaching heavyweights in the Wolfpack's regional. "Those coaches always have strong game plans and know how to handle tournament situations. Knowledge and experience together means a lot in the tournament. It's a privilege for me to be in the same tournament bracket with these coaches. Every coach in the tournament has done a great job, otherwise their teams wouldn't be here. But these coaches do have a lot of experience under their belt. It makes for a very, very tough bracket."
Tough indeed. Under Auriemma, U-Conn has captured a pair of national championships, including last year's title. La. Tech has also won two championships under the guidance of Barmore. Landers' teams at Georgia have gone to five Final Fours in 21 years.
For Yow and the 4th seeded Wolfpack (20-10), the quest for a second Final Four appearance begins Friday night at Reynolds Coliseum against No. 13 seed Delaware, a team that went 26-4 this season.
"We're extremely pleased to be hosting the first and second round," Yow said. "With Delaware, Drake and Villanova coming in, we think there's going to be some great basketball here for sure."
Villanova (21-8) will meet Drake (23-6) in the first game of the Reynolds Doubleheader Friday at 5:00 p.m. The contest between NC State and Delaware will follow at 7:30. The winners will meet at 6:35 p.m. on Sunday.
Following a 2-6 start in the ACC, Yow's Wolfpack turned it around and captured seven of its last eight regular season games. The Pack also advanced to the title game of the ACC Tournament before falling to nationally ranked Duke.
"We're very pleased with the way our year turned out," Yow said. "But we know we are in a very tough bracket overall. We'll have to play very well to win in the first and second round. We're hoping to play a little stronger offensively in the sub-regional than we did in the final game of the ACC Tournament."
And NC State will be tough to beat if it plays well offensively because its defense has been there all year. The Pack allowed only 57.4 points per game during the regular season, a figure that ranked No.1 in the ACC. State was also second in field goal percentage defense (38.6%).
