1. attitude. play to win! last year's vandy experience combined with early-season games v. maryland, south dakota state and gonzaga should help. but--leave that deer in the headlights back on five south.
2. tam guardipee. against the smaller portland state vikings she was no factor, but against the tall timber from pitt, she's needed and could provide us a huge boost. back in the early 90's, when shannon cate was a senior, we played at u.s.c. against lisa leslie and company, and almost pulled off the upset. cate was great but a key that game was jodi heinrichs, who did an outstanding defensive job on leslie. we need tam similarly to rough up those pitt beanpoles.
3. "on fire!" yup, that's what we have to hear one of the announcers say about one of our players, maybe mandy, maybe sarah, maybe sonya. what kept us in the game against u.c.l.a. in 1975 (which my grandfather still feels was the best game ever played on a national stage by a montana team) was eric hays. that game, eric hays was "on fire!"
4. a key contribution or two from the bench (other than tam.) maybe that's stender or linford. maybe this is the coming out party for tianna ware, who provides the spark and quickness that's been so noticably lacking for our ladies at previous dances. but we need all the troops to contribute.
5. finally, we cannot have one of those cold spells that seem to blow in and freeze up the lady griz every now and then. we've got to make shots. all game.
is it possible? my head says no; heart, yes. here's hoping we play with heart.
2. tam guardipee. against the smaller portland state vikings she was no factor, but against the tall timber from pitt, she's needed and could provide us a huge boost. back in the early 90's, when shannon cate was a senior, we played at u.s.c. against lisa leslie and company, and almost pulled off the upset. cate was great but a key that game was jodi heinrichs, who did an outstanding defensive job on leslie. we need tam similarly to rough up those pitt beanpoles.
3. "on fire!" yup, that's what we have to hear one of the announcers say about one of our players, maybe mandy, maybe sarah, maybe sonya. what kept us in the game against u.c.l.a. in 1975 (which my grandfather still feels was the best game ever played on a national stage by a montana team) was eric hays. that game, eric hays was "on fire!"
4. a key contribution or two from the bench (other than tam.) maybe that's stender or linford. maybe this is the coming out party for tianna ware, who provides the spark and quickness that's been so noticably lacking for our ladies at previous dances. but we need all the troops to contribute.
5. finally, we cannot have one of those cold spells that seem to blow in and freeze up the lady griz every now and then. we've got to make shots. all game.
is it possible? my head says no; heart, yes. here's hoping we play with heart.
