Maria Conlon - University of Connecticut
By Helen Wheelock
Growing up in Derby, CT, UConn guard Maria Conlon remembers a day in 1994 when her father called her in to watch Connecticut Public Television broadcast the University of Connecticut Women's basketball game. "What the heck," Conlon recalls saying to herself, "I have nothing better to do."
Ten years of broadcasts and three National Championships have changed that blase attitude.
"You ask any player in the state what team they would want to play for," explains the Seymour (CT) High School graduate, "it would be UConn. That's how you measure yourself as a basketball player: Shoot high enough to be good enough to play here, then you're good enough to play anywhere else."
Now a junior, the 5'9" guard was part of the 2000 freshman class which included Vermont's Morgan Valley and the much ballyhooed Californian, Diana Taurasi. In her first two seasons Conlon average 13.8 minutes a game as the team reached the Final Four in 2001 and won a Championship in 2002.
Many expected that, despite the graduation of last season's "Fab Four" (Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Asjha Jones, and Tamika Williams), the arrival of a strong freshman class would limit Conlon's playing time. Instead, she is having a break out season, playing over 28 minutes - third highest behind Taurasi and freshman standout Ann Strother.
Conlon's calm confidence and ability to slough off pressure has proved invaluable to a young team (three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen). "You never really know what to expect from four freshman coming in," comments Conlon. "What's surprised us all is that we've come together and found a way to get the job done - and do it together."
Her point guard skills have freed up Taurasi, the only returning starter, to wreak havoc against opponents. Averaging 6.3 points and 3.6 assists per game, Conlon has surprised even herself by leading the team in steals.
"I don't know how," she laughs, "because I'm not one of the quick ones on the team." Grudgingly giving herself credit for being able to anticipate opposing player's move, Conlon also wonders if sometimes the ball doesn't just fall into her hands. "It's definitely not the speed," she adds emphatically.
Conlon knows she has doubters - people who whisper, "I don't know if she's good enough to play there," or "I don't know if she'll ever get off the bench," and use the term "role player" as a thinly veiled insult. "I think it's a compliment," she counters. "To be anything on this team is a compliment. Everybody on this team has their own role. It's just that some people's roles are a little bit bigger than other people's."
Known as a 3-point specialist, Conlon is working to add a 12-15 foot jumper to her repertoire. The challenge, though, has proved far more mental than physical. "Sometimes I'd rather shoot from half-court than from five feet away," she admits. "I mean, if you took post players and put them behind the 3-point line," she says, "they'd probably throw up."
As for the cachet of being a starter over a reserve, she simply observes that the only difference is being on court for the jump ball. "When you think about it," adds Conlon, "it doesn't really matter who starts. It matters who finishes."
Conlon's is "finishing" this year because of an intense off-season conditioning program that improved her overall fitness. In the past, she feels she deferred leadership and responsibility to other. "When you've got five All-Americans playing ahead of you, you're going to think, "Hey, they're going to take care of this, so it doesn't really matter what I do."
But with the seniors gone, her teammates understand now is their time to step up. So, like Conlon, UConn continues to confound the prognosticators. At press time, their record stood at a stunning 2*-0, extending their unbeaten streak an unreal 6* in a row, and were favored to win the Big East and challenge for the National Championship.
"People probably thought our goals would change because of how young we are," explains Conlon. "But we wanted the same goals and expectations as any other team. It's not about individuals or individual teams," she continues, "it's about playing for something that's been instilled in this program for years and year. You have to carry on and pass it to the next people."