Illini Leave Sidelines Behind

Ashley Berggren of Illinois gave up a trip to the women’s Final Four as a fan last year for a chance to go as a player this season.

But Berggren and her teammates are still in the running to get there.

Illinois (24-7) plays No. 1 Connecticut (32-0) on Saturday night in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals in Iowa City. For the Illini, it’s another step in a process that began last March after a loss in the final game of the season.

Coach Theresa Grentz, who had just finished her first year in Champaign, sat the players down and told them what it would take to improve.

“She told us this was how it was going to be and if we wanted to accept her challenge, we could go with her, and if not, we could go do our own thing,” Berggren said. “Right then I realized what I wanted to do and what I had to achieve.”

She also realized what she’d have to give up. Berggren had tickets for the Final Four in Charlotte, but Grentz had scheduled weightlifting sessions for that time.

Berggren dumped her tickets and lifted weights.

“I realized I was going to be a leader on this team and I had to set an example and it began that day,” she said.

The 5-foot-10 junior became such an example that she was named Big Ten player of the year. Now she’s about to lead the Illini against their most formidable challenge of the season.

Top-seeded Connecticut is coming off a 19-point second-round victory over Iowa, the team that beat Illinois in the final of the Big Ten tournament.

Defending national champion Tennessee (25-10) plays Colorado (23-8) in the other Midwest semifinal, a game that has the making of an intense, defensive battle. Or as Tennessee coach Pat Summitt put it, “As I look at the game, it could be real ugly.”

The top-seeded teams also are alive in the other regions--North Carolina in the East, Old Dominion in the Mideast and Stanford in the West.

North Carolina (29-2) plays George Washington (27-5) in an East semifinal in Columbia, S.C. Alabama (25-6) plays Notre Dame (29-6) in the other.

In the Mideast, at West Lafayette, Ind., Old Dominion (31-1) plays Louisiana State (25-4) and Florida (23-8) meets Louisiana Tech (31-3). Stanford (32-1) plays Virginia (23-7) and Georgia (24-5) meets Vanderbilt (20-10) in the West Regional at Missoula, Mont.

In Columbia, Louisiana State will have to contend with Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion’s All-America point guard who’s known for her dazzling, crowd-pleasing passes. Not only that, at 5-11, she’s taller than most point guards.

Women’s Basketball Notes

The contract of UC Irvine Coach Colleen Matsuhara, who led the Anteaters to the NCAA tournament two years ago, will not be renewed, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said. Matsuhara is the second Irvine coach in two weeks to lose a job. The contract of Rod Baker, men’s basketball coach, was not renewed after a 1-25 season. Matsuhara had a 59-109 record in six seasons. Irvine was 16-13 this season. . . . Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma was named the NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Assn. Auriemma led Connecticut to three consecutive Final Four appearances, including a national championship and 35-0 record in 1994-95. In 12 seasons as the Huskies’ coach, Auriemma has a 293-85 record, 131-7 in the last four.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Women’s Schedule

Regional semifinals, finals and Final Four schedules:

WEST REGIONAL

At Missoula, Mont.

* Stanford (32-3) vs. Virginia (23-7), 7 p.m.

* Georgia (24-5) vs. Vanderbilt (20-10), 9:30 p.m.

MIDEAST REGIONAL

At West Lafayette, Ind.

* Old Dominion (31-1) vs. Louisiana State (31-3), 9 a.m.

* Florida (23-8) vs. Louisiana Tech (31-3), 11:30 a.m.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

At Iowa City, Iowa

* Colorado (23-8) vs. Tennessee (25-10), 5 p.m.

* Connecticut (32-0) vs. Illinois (24-7), 7:30 p.m.

EAST REGIONAL

At Columbia, S.C.

* North Carolina (29-2) vs. George Washington (27-5), 8:30 a.m.

* Notre Dame (29-6) vs. Alabama (25-6), 11 a.m.

NOTE: Regional finals will be held Monday at times to be announced; Final Four (East vs. Midwest; Mideast vs. West) will be held Friday and March 30 at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati.