Owls Prep for C-USA Tourney
The 2008 Conference USA Women's Basketball Tournament begins tomorrow, March 6, in Orlando, FL. Four games will be held tomorrow in the opening round of the tourney; and, the Rice Owls (9th seed) will face East Carolina (8th seed) in a 7pm (CST) match-up.
The Owls (13-17, 6-10) should carry some momentum into the game. The Owls have won their last three ball games and five of their last seven; and, one of the wins was over East Carolina (13-16, 6-10). In fact, the two teams played just five days ago in a closely contested game which Rice won 69 to 62 on the Owls' Senior Day.
Owls head coach Greg Williams is uncertain which teams holds an advantage in this unique scenario of facing the same team five days later.
"We get a rematch with East Carolina who we just played in the final regular-season game," said Williams. "I don't think either coach is really excited about that situation; but, that's what it is.
"You don't know which side of the coin do you want to be -- the team that won knowing you can win and battle your team being a little over confident or do you want to be on the other side where you lost a tough, hard game and tell your team 'We do this, this, and this and the little things and we beat a team that just beat us.'
"Both coaches will be using both motivational ploys to get your team ready to play a team you just played five days ago.
"We're addressing it like it's the NBA Playoffs and it's Game 7 -- win or perish -- or, hopefully, win and advance."
As was the case for much of this season, the Owls will not be at full strength for the tournament.
"Maudess Fulton (redshirt junior wing player) was held out of our most recent game against East Carolina," Williams added. "She's got tendinitis in both of her Achilles'. She's very questionable for the Conference Tournament. She won't practice any before we play. If we get an opportunity to play four games in four days, she can't do that. That (her absence) really thins our depth on the perimeter. We're going to have Memri Carmon and Brittney Hudson, our two freshmen, step up and play well as well as Kadie (Kadie Riverin) and Tara Watts stay out of foul trouble."
UTEP is the number one seed in the Tournament. The Miners (25-2) went 16 and 0 during the conference regular season and have won 21 straight ball games; however, Coach Williams believes the C-USA Tournament is up for grabs.
"Any team can win this tournament; and, that includes UCF. They're playing on their home court. They're young. Nothing would surprise me. That's why seven teams got votes in the pre-season poll -- to win it. There are no gimme wins from here on out. Shot goes in; shot goes out. A key player turns an ankle. There are a lot of variables at this time of year, the team that can sustain through it and put together three, or in our case four, great days of basketball will win. I really think any of the twelve teams can be crowned as champion.
"We're very capable of advancing and doing some damage in this tournament because we're playing some very good basketball right now. I think the frame of mind of the team is they're excited; and, as a coach, you couldn't ask for more than that."
The Owls (13-17, 6-10) should carry some momentum into the game. The Owls have won their last three ball games and five of their last seven; and, one of the wins was over East Carolina (13-16, 6-10). In fact, the two teams played just five days ago in a closely contested game which Rice won 69 to 62 on the Owls' Senior Day.
Owls head coach Greg Williams is uncertain which teams holds an advantage in this unique scenario of facing the same team five days later.
"We get a rematch with East Carolina who we just played in the final regular-season game," said Williams. "I don't think either coach is really excited about that situation; but, that's what it is.
"You don't know which side of the coin do you want to be -- the team that won knowing you can win and battle your team being a little over confident or do you want to be on the other side where you lost a tough, hard game and tell your team 'We do this, this, and this and the little things and we beat a team that just beat us.'
"Both coaches will be using both motivational ploys to get your team ready to play a team you just played five days ago.
"We're addressing it like it's the NBA Playoffs and it's Game 7 -- win or perish -- or, hopefully, win and advance."
As was the case for much of this season, the Owls will not be at full strength for the tournament.
"Maudess Fulton (redshirt junior wing player) was held out of our most recent game against East Carolina," Williams added. "She's got tendinitis in both of her Achilles'. She's very questionable for the Conference Tournament. She won't practice any before we play. If we get an opportunity to play four games in four days, she can't do that. That (her absence) really thins our depth on the perimeter. We're going to have Memri Carmon and Brittney Hudson, our two freshmen, step up and play well as well as Kadie (Kadie Riverin) and Tara Watts stay out of foul trouble."
UTEP is the number one seed in the Tournament. The Miners (25-2) went 16 and 0 during the conference regular season and have won 21 straight ball games; however, Coach Williams believes the C-USA Tournament is up for grabs.
"Any team can win this tournament; and, that includes UCF. They're playing on their home court. They're young. Nothing would surprise me. That's why seven teams got votes in the pre-season poll -- to win it. There are no gimme wins from here on out. Shot goes in; shot goes out. A key player turns an ankle. There are a lot of variables at this time of year, the team that can sustain through it and put together three, or in our case four, great days of basketball will win. I really think any of the twelve teams can be crowned as champion.
"We're very capable of advancing and doing some damage in this tournament because we're playing some very good basketball right now. I think the frame of mind of the team is they're excited; and, as a coach, you couldn't ask for more than that."
posted by Kris Gardner @ 11:13 AM
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