The UNC Women and Duke's Coach G

The UNC women’s team has accomplished what the men’s team couldn’t do. They are in the Final Four for a second straight year. Tar Heel star Ivory Latta has talked about it all season long, about how they won’t settle for anything less than a National Championship. Now she and her teammates are just two games away.

The excitement, though, is at far lower decibel level than it if were one of the area men’s team. The television ratings for Carolina’s win over Purdue on Tuesday night was a 2.9 and a four share. You don’t have to be in television to compare that with the rating for the UNC-Georgetown men’s game on Sunday, which was an 18 with a 32 share.

I will tell you this, I enjoy women’s basketball and I have watched a lot of it this season. I was stunned by the crowds—or lack of—that have turned out so far in this women’s tournament.

For the Carolina-Purdue regional final in Dallas, attendance was a paltry 3,331. It was about that for the LSU-Connecticut final in the Fresno region. These games were for the right to go to the Final Four. If it had been on the men’s side, the arenas would have been packed.

I was amazed when both Duke and State were at the RBC Center for first-round games and the total attendance for the two days was under 10,000. Not only was it Duke and State, it was the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils and Kay Yow’s Wolfpack, which was and still is one of the best stories going in March.

It does make one wonder how much overall interest there is in women’s basketball, doesn’t it? I like the game, and the women’s NCAA tournament is far more compelling to me than, say, the men’s NIT. But how many others think this?

Now, Duke’s Gail Goestenkors, who has built Duke into a national women’s power, is being courted by the University of Texas. From what we hear, Texas is prepared to offer her big bucks—probably more than Duke is willing to or can pay. But sometimes a person may be willing to take less to stay somewhere she or he likes. I don’t know what Coach G is making at Duke, but I don’t think she’s starving. One also needs to feel wanted, however, and I’m not sure that Duke is making her feel that way.

When Athletic Director Joe Alleva was asked about Goestenkors’ interviewing at Texas and what would happen, all he could come up with was, “You need to ask Gail Goestenkors.” That’s not even the standard, “We will do everything we can to keep our coach.” That’s usually said whether it’s meant or not.

Goestenkors has built Duke’s program, which does lose a lot of money, into something from nothing. She’s compiled a 396-99 record and has taken13 straight teams to the NCAA tournament. Last season’s team played for the national championship. This season’s team went 32-2 and was ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll.

Texas has a lot to offer and will pay more, but I would hope that Duke would step up in some way.

Fifteen years of loyalty with so much success does deserve respect in return. At least a good counter offer.