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MA ForpelESPN.com
Indiana Hoosiers women’s basketball coach Terry Mollen said Saturday that she missed the opportunity to showcase her undefeated Rank 6 team and others at this weekend’s Las Vegas Invitational tournament.
The event’s site coordinator told ESPN that he apologized to the players, coaches, fans and referees for the terms of the tournament being discussed on social media. The tournament was played on court in the large ballroom area of The Mirage Hotel, without spectator stands. Chairs were set up around the court.
Moren confirmed that Site Coordinator Ryan Polk apologized.
“I think there are other people who want us to come and play at this event and probably need to apologize for making a promise if we do,” Mollen said. This is not what the venue will look like or what the setup will look like.
“What was disappointing was the aesthetics. It’s not a fan-friendly environment. As women’s basketball coaches, we’re trying to move the game forward. [this] We got so many ticks on social that we took a few steps back. We have an obligation to grow the game, but we have so many very good teams here that we completely missed this opportunity. There are other tournaments going on and I’m watching the footage and this was a big mistake.”
Indiana shared an exchange the school had in March with tournament director Bryce McKee, who told the Hoosiers the event was set up on a court similar to the Athletes Unlimited Pro Women’s League held in Las Vegas earlier this year. But it didn’t look like it.
McKee attended another tournament this weekend in Daytona, Florida. According to Polk, tournament organizers realized too late that the Las Vegas setup was not up to par.
“I’m very sorry,” Polk said. “The courts and lighting weren’t an issue. But we had to have the full bleachers. We informed the Mirage that we would never come back. This was an event. It wasn’t how we thought or planned.
However, Saturday night’s tournament had another problem.Auburn his Tigers player Harissa Richardson Injured by hitting the floor hard while competing for a loose ball. The game was delayed for nearly an hour while she waited to receive medical attention. It took her more than 40 minutes for paramedics to reach the courtroom, according to an Auburn radio broadcast.
After the Tigers’ 74-73 victory over the Colorado Rams, Auburn coach Johnny Harris said, “She was alert and reacting to everything, so I really believe it was a precaution. increase.
On Friday, Indiana’s Outstanding Grace Burger A knee injury kept him out of Saturday’s 79-64 victory over the Memphis Tigers.
Moren said there was nothing wrong with the court itself and she felt it had nothing to do with Berger’s injury. The Hoosiers decided to play after that, delaying the start of the game by over an hour.
“I don’t read social media much. [media]’ said Mollen. Grace’s injuries did not occur because of the floor.
“[But] I think good tournaments have EMTs and all that, medical professionals on the scene. Again, it wasn’t. Another big miss of this tournament. There was a lot to improve, but it wasn’t. I was so annoyed that I had to watch that moment for Auburn. ”
Mollen said Saturday he spoke with Scott Dolson, Indiana’s athletic director. He wanted to make sure the team thought it was a safe environment to play in.
“We’ve played in ballrooms before,” Mollen said. “We were in the Bahamas last year. It’s a different ballroom scenario, but it looked very different than the ballroom we played the last two nights. There is an idea that playing in a ballroom is dangerous. There were a lot of things we needed to improve on at the event.”
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou contributed to this story.
