Basketball: Big-time blowouts still can help losers

Houston Baptist had one of the worst weekends in women’s college basketball history.

It hurts to look at the scores. The Huskies recently got hammered 104-35 by Duke, then got demolished 109-30 by TCU two days later.

Houston Baptist coach Todd Buchanan would do it again. Gladly.

“It was incredible,” Buchanan said. “I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”

The women’s basketball season is just under way and already there have been plenty of blowouts, including No. 1 Connecticut’s 70-point trouncing of Northeastern. There have been five routs of at least 69 points after only three such lopsided games all of last season, according to STATS LLC.

It’s easy to understand since there’s still a huge disparity in talent between the top teams and the rest. UConn’s 11th player is still better than a lot of other school’s star.

But despite the one-sided affairs, no one on either side seems to be complaining.

Why are these coaches happy after getting routed?

• Exposure. An overmatched team, like Northeastern, may still want to give its players a chance to see how it feels to play at the top level.

• Recruiting. High school prospects who aren’t being courted by UConn, Duke or Tennessee might like the chance to play against them.

• Guarantees. A smaller school can make up to $25,000 to play at a bigger venue, money that can help fill the budget down the road. Iona, which played at Notre Dame recently, also got tickets to see the Fighting Irish’s football game vs. Connecticut.

Houston Baptist, which is transitioning from NAIA to Division I, was thrilled to have the then-No. 6 team in the country come and play them in their tiny 1,500-seat arena — one of the smallest in the country.

“I felt like once they called us, it was an absolute win-win in every way,” Buchanan said. “It’s a great marketing tool for our university and program. If we can get people to come out for whatever reason, let them come see us. I’ve already got people wanting to come back.

“We’re trying to give our fundraising efforts the vision, energy and exposure and let them see how desperate and needy we are for a new facility.”

The Blue Devils were trying to find a game near the hometown of junior Karima Christmas. When no one else in the area would play them, Houston Baptist stepped up.

Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie was impressed with the atmosphere at the small school. “It was absolutely crazy and insane and like a party,” McCallie said.

Houston Baptist gave its fans something to cheer about early on. The Huskies led 2-0, and still had a two-point lead five minutes in.

“When we came into that first media timeout the place erupted,” Buchanan said. “We were given a standing ovation for the entire media timeout.”

That seemed to spur the Blue Devils, who went on a 57-8 run.

UConn didn’t even give Northeastern a glimmer of hope, scoring the game’s first 28 points in the 105-35 rout. Despite the 70-point loss, Northeastern coach Daynia La-Force Mann wouldn’t hesitate to play UConn again.

“It is never a nightmare playing against Connecticut,” the coach said. “I wanted my team to have a feel for this championship atmosphere and I think any coach who does not take the opportunity to do so is foolish.”

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