SportsDay's All-Big 12 women's basketball team
11:14 AM CDT on Tuesday, March 10, 2009
From the moment she stepped on the court at Oklahoma, Courtney Paris has been the most effective inside force in the conference and maybe the country.
After four seasons, she still is.
The 6-4 senior has become the Big 12's all-time leader in points (2,624) and blocked shots (415) and the NCAA record holder in rebounds (1,941). She put together a streak of 112 consecutive double-doubles. When it ended Feb. 2 against Tennessee, the fans at Oklahoma City's Ford Center gave her a standing ovation.
"She just understands so much more about the pauses between the notes," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said, noting how Paris has worked on her positioning to receive passes. "When players are that absolutely dominant physically the subtleties get lost, and there has been a lot of improvement there."
The only thing missing during the Paris era is a national championship.
On Senior Night in Norman, Paris was asked about her promise to deliver a title. She reiterated it, and even suggested she would pay back her scholarship if she doesn't deliver.
"I wanted to come here and help our team win the national championship and I haven't gotten that done and I want to get that done," Paris said. "That is what I promised and, if not, then I don't deserve what I have gotten from them."
When asked about the rock star women's coaches in the Big 12 before the start of this season, Sherri Coale seemed surprised anybody would put her in that category.
Coale said she was just a small-town gal from Healdton, Okla.
Maybe. But the numbers say that Coale continues to be at the top of her game.
Oklahoma (27-3, 15-1 Big 12) captured its sixth Big 12 regular-season title under Coale since 2000. The only conference loss came in the last seconds at Texas A&M. A bid this season will extend the Sooners' streak of consecutive NCAA appearances to 10.
Tanisha Smith didn't have the luxury of low expectations as an incoming junior college transfer from Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Before she even played a game in College Station, coach Gary Blair suggested she could replace the production of graduated Morenike Atunrase.
Smith did just that, taking on a growing role for A&M behind senior stars Takia Starks and Danielle Gant. In her last seven games, Smith has averaged 14.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists against some of the best of the Big 12. Smith edged out Oklahoma's Whitney Hand, who suffered a broken finger late in the season.
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