, Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry should be back in 2020 as well, | Forum
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Apr 9 '19
LOS ANGELES -- Morris Taft, a guard under coach John Wooden at UCLA from 1954-56 who helped the Bruins win their first NCAA tournament game, has died. Wholesale Hurricanes Jerseys . He was 84.The school said Taft died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles after a lengthy illness.He helped lead the Bruins to a 61-18 record during his three seasons, averaging in double figures his last two.As a senior in 1955-56, Taft helped the Bruins win their first NCAA tournament game, beating Seattle 94-70 in a consolation game after they lost to San Francisco and future Hall of Famer Bill Russell in the opening round. Earlier that season, UCLA had lost to Russell and the Dons at the ECAC Holiday Festival in New York.The Bruins opened that season with a 4-5 nonconference record before cruising through their Pacific Coast Conference schedule with a 16-0 record to finish first. They didnt have a home court, so the Bruins traveled between three different locations to play.Taft averaged 17.3 points, second-best on the team, as a senior. He averaged 12.6 points as a junior, and started his last two seasons. He was named first-team All-PCC in 1955-56.As a sophomore playing on the varsity, Taft helped the Bruins beat Russells San Francisco team 47-40.Taft was chosen 56th overall in the 1956 NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawks, now in Atlanta, but he never played in the league.After college, Taft worked as an insurance agent for Equitable Life, often selling policies to other athletes and professionals.He is survived by his three children, Paula, Monisa and Morris Jr., and two grandchildren. Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys China . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.cheaphurricanesjerseys.com/ . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi shared a long, emotional embrace. Mission accomplished.The dominant U.S. womens basketball team did what was expected, winning a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal and doing it in impressive fashion. In yet another rout, the U.S. dismantled Spain 101-72 on Saturday.Taurasi and the Americans played nearly flawless basketball in Rio, and were never challenged. They have won 49 consecutive games in the Olympics with only one of those decided by single digits.Its amazing isnt it? I mean when you think, thats 20 years of 20 years, Auriemma said. You know the first one was 96 and here we are 2016. Its mindboggling when you think about it what this team has been able to accomplish, this program of the USA Basketball program. There is such a level of expectation, theres such a level of respect for the people at the very top.Were doing stuff that may never be done again.Even with that kind of sustained success by some very talented U.S. teams, this may be the best womens basketball squad ever assembled. The team won by nearly 40 points a game, but fell short of the record 102.4 points the 1996 team averaged.But if this isnt the best ever, its close.Taurasi puts the 2016 group at the top of the list.I mean Im not just saying talent-wise. Im not saying margin of victory. Im saying this is the most determined, unselfish team Ive ever been on -- hands down, the four-time gold medalist said.There never really was any doubt that the U.S. would win the gold in Rio. The only question was by how much.Still, closure to their journey Saturday had Auriemma and Taurasi both fighting back tears.I think it was a very emotional time. When youre around these players and youre around Sue (Bird)and Diana and Tamika (Catchings), and you know that this maybe their last and youre able to send them out, its like graduating seniors back home, Auriemma said. And at the same time, youve got three young players whove never been here before. They get to go home with their first gold medal ever.Theres just a lot of emotions running through our team and running through our locker room.Unlike their semifinal win over France when the Americans looked discombobulated for a half, the U.S. was more fluid offensively. It helped having Bird back in the lineup. The four-time gold medalist and team captain missed the semifinal game with a sprained right knee capsule. She wasnt 100 percent Saturday, but was good enough.The U.S., which beat Spain by 40 in a preliminary round game, got off to a slow start and only led 21-17 after the first quarter. The Americans were up 27-24 in the second quarter before getting going.Auriemma turned to something very familiar to him to spark the Americans.The UConn coach put his five former Huskie players on the court at thhe same time for the first time in the Olympics and that group started the 16-3 run that blew it open. Cheap Carolina Hurricanes Jerseys. Breanna Stewart got the spurt started with two free throws. Taurasi then hit consecutive 3-pointers -- her first points of the game -- as the Americans scored 10 straight.By the time Lindsay Whalens layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the U.S. led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half. Whalen finished the game with 17 points, tied for the team lead with Taurasi.Spain never threatened in the second half. Auriemma started the fourth quarter with Bird, Taurasi and Catchings on the court and the game in hand. The three four-time Olympians have had a tremendous impact on USA Basketball over the past 12 years. He took the trio out together for one final time with 5:44 left in the game.Auriemma had said from the start this group was on a mission that is now complete.Even with the loss, Spain earned its first Olympic medal in womens basketball. Serbia topped France for the Bronze. The Spaniards have been on the rise lately, also winning a silver medal at the 2014 world championship. They are hosting the 2018 worlds.Im glad that we could compete like the first quarter. We were close, but its a team like its a dream team, Silvia Dominguez said. The best team in the world, they showed that.They did, and the gold medal game was just like the rest of this tournament, all about the U.S.No American team has been deeper with Catchings as its 12th player. They trailed for just over 11 minutes in the entire Olympics and the biggest deficit was just four points -- 6-2 to France. They never were down after the first quarter and with the exception of the semifinal win over France all the games were pretty much after 20 minutes.Its been quite a run for this group, which features 12 players with a combined 29 Olympic gold medals -- the most ever for any team.This game marked the end of Catchings Olympic career. She is retiring at the end of the WNBA season. Taurasi and Bird have hinted that this will be their final Olympics although both could still return in four years in Tokyo. The trio joined Lisa Leslie and Teresa Edwards as the only Olympians to win four gold medals.Even if the three players dont wear the red, white and blue again, the future remains bright for the U.S. Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Stewart all won their first Olympic golds. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Angel McCoughtry should be back in 2020 as well, providing a solid nucleus for USA Basketball to build on.---Online:AP Summer Games website: http://summergames.ap.org/---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '
