Not Good (Part II, TTU this time)

[Jennifer]

Tech loses to New Mexicon 65-74. This game was in the Pitt, right? Tough place to play. Still, tough loss as New Mexico is unranked.

[carolann]

It's not good for a team with final four aspirations but it may not look that bad come NCAA time. With a win over Arizona, a team that has been playing well, New Mexico is looking pretty good. That conference, the Mountain West, is looking pretty good. The conference includes New Mexico, Colorado State, BYU, UNLV, and Utah (I think). I know JK said something to the effect that she'd rather Texas Not be ranked in the top 10 just now and I feel the same way. Sometimes it is better to be a little out of the limelight early while the team just works on getting better.

Sadly, New Mexico won, in part, with good West Texas guards. We should never underestimate those West Texas girls just because they don't run quite so fast, or jump quite so high. The University of Texas built a program on those girls (particularly those scrappy guards) before Tx Tech established itself. Tx Tech built a program with those girls. Somebody needs to keep those girls in Texas! Alas, Texas is such a big state, it is possible that girls from West Texas feel more at home in New Mexico or Oklahoma than they do in Dallas, East Texas, or Austin. North Texas is building a program with girls just below the recruiting radar of schools such as Texas and Texas Tech. Those girls though come more from the big metropolitan areas of the state, I think.

Back to Tech -- I'd like to think all this means they'll be a weaker conference foe, but I don't dare! They lost to Santa Clara early last year.

[Press]

I agree with everything said thus far. Unfortunately, the fans, including myself, had expectations very high for this team considering they lost on player, O'Neal. To date, we've not even come close to seeing the same team that we saw at the end of the season. It appears that the lack of chemistry is really causing some issues on the offensive end first, thus allowing breakdowns everywhere. Marsha Sharp has not had the same starting five in more than two games and for that to happen, knowing how she is, she's still searching.

Unfortunately, this years tough schedule with four tough games on the road, has given this team no time to really relax and find their flow. I hope these next three games at home allow them to get their legs and spirits up and start playing Lady Raider Basketball.

As far as rankings, I'm with JK, I prefer not to be a Top 10 pick. I don't necessarily care that it puts a bullseye on your back, but I think it gets in your players heads and causes some problems.

I feel confident that the coaches will have this team ready for Big 12 play. If not, it could be a long season.