In the quiet before the storm, a little catching up....

Now, I'm not saying that NAIA Division II champions Northwestern (IA) are ruining women's basketball...yet. But they're sure getting close.

They defeated Shawnee State (OH), 85-66, to win their third National Championship.

"We are very fortunate at Northwestern," head coach Earl Woudstra said. "We have great academics and a great program to attract quality women and student-athletes. I feel blessed to represent Northwestern and these ladies truly represent the core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character program. When you have great individuals like that on your team, it makes coaching easy."

Yah. Yah. Yah.

Obviously all Woudstra has to do is roll out the ball. I mean, how else could he have earned three titles in four national championship game appearances since 2000? (He won it all in 2001 and 2008). In those nine years, Woudstra's teams have combined for a 29-6 record in the tournament.

What, you want more evidence that Woudstra is on the cusp of being a women's basketball ruiner?

• He was named the 2010 Phyllis Holmes Coach of the Year (again!)
• Northwestern finished the championship by breaking the record for the most points scored with 457
• They also tied the most field goals made with 163 (330 attempts).
• The Red Raiders averaged 91.4 points through five games, knocking down 49.4 percent of their shots, including a 47.1 percentage from behind the 3-point line.
• Randa Hulstein broke the all-time rebounding record in the semifinals and added 10 more boards to it on Tuesday, putting the record at 157. She averaged 9.8 rebounds over 16 career games at the national championship in her four-year career.

I rest my case.

As for Division I NAIA, it's obvious Union is doing its part to ruin women's basketball by claiming its second consecutive National Championship with a 73-65 victory over Azusa Pacific (CA). The Lady Bulldogs shot 15-of-30 in the second half and 5-of-10 from behind the arc to pull away from the Cougars down the stretch.

How bad is Union for women's basketball? Consider their resume:

• With this win, Union moves into a tie for second place with Oklahoma City and Southwestern Oklahoma with five national championships.
• The Lady Bulldogs passed Southern Nazarene (OK) for first place in all-time tournament wins with 59.
• The Lady Bulldogs have a 59-16 record in the tournament, while Southern Nazarene holds a 58-11 all-time record.
• The 2010 tournament was the 19th straight for Union and the 21st overall, an NAIA record

Said coach Campbell after the victory:

"Winning gets old," Campbell said. "But to watch these girls all year and to seem them come together the way they have, it's been truly special.

"The championships are great, but that's my main purpose
in coaching this team."

Clearly, someone should give him a good talking to. I mean, this is his fourth title! And, since taking over the program in 1999, he's amassed a 364-46 record-- a winning percentage of 88.8.

And NAIA folks? Stop encouraging his bad behavior by giving him the Phylis Holmes Coach of the Year award.

And who knows why, but a clearly delusional Jackson seems to be willing to fight to keep hosting the tournament.