Robin Pingeton has gone from playing for Lisa Bluder in college to preparing to coach against her on Sunday
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Time has a way of clouding a person’s memory, but even after nearly 30 years, Lisa Bluder still remembers what it was like to coach Robin Pingeton in college.
“I think we've both changed quite a bit in so many ways during that amount of time,” Bluder said Saturday. “I will say that I think she coaches the same way she plays. She was tenacious. I mean, she was an undersized (power forward) that was just really, really good in the post area. I mean, she had terrific post moves, and you see her niece doing the same thing and just really see teaches post play so well.
“But I'm really impressed with their defense. I think she's done a really, really good job defensively with this team.”
The team to which Bluder was referring is the Missouri Tigers.
Pingeton is in her ninth season as Missouri’s head coach, while Bluder is in her 19th season at Iowa.
Their teams will face each other on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a trip to Sweet 16 on the line.
“Probably none of us really like it, but at the same time I think as a coach you get so lost in your prep and your scout that with time, you know, you're not even thinking about those kind of things,” Pingeton said of coaching against Bluder.
Pingeton graduated in 1990 from Saint Ambrose University where she played basketball for Bluder. Pingeton remains the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,502 points. She also earned All-America honors in softball and basketball and is the younger sister of former Iowa basketball player Lisa Becker.
“I think she was a great coach when I played for her,” Pingeton said of Bluder, who compiled a 169-36 record in six seasons at St. Ambrose from 1984-90. “I think she teaches fundamentals really, really well. I think she's got a great staff. Yeah, I think the game's changed a lot. You know, offenses have changed. Defenses have changed. So, yes, a lot's changed since back in the days I played for her and coached with her.
“But I think she's always been really, really good at the fundamentals; and when you look at the University of Iowa women's basketball team, they're a really fundamentally sound, well-balanced team. And they're really good. So we're going to have our hands full.”
