Let's Go, Orange (Women), Let's Go!

Tonight it's the women's chance to play for the national title.  Improbably, just like the men's run.  But if you see them play, if you see the style of ball they play, you would understand how they got there.  And why now, at the end of the very long season, they are the ones to challenge the UConn women.

The UConn women with their star, Breanna Stewart from North Syracuse.  Really, you say if you're not from here.  Like - how does that happen?

Five years ago Sports Illustrated had on its cover Breanna and Dajuan Coleman.  (Forgive me if it wasn't SI - I think it was.)  Two MacDonald's All-Americans from the Syracuse suburbs.  Dajuan has another year, thanks to his knee injuries.  He will be a senior player next year for the Orange men.  Breanna graduates after winning three (at least) national titles.  She'll spend her summer playing basketball in the Olympics, I am sure.

All-powerful, these UConn women.  But they can be beaten.  Their bench is short, one of their players broke her foot in the Sunday game, and Breanna herself seems to be reflecting on the end of her career.       "Senior Day is always an odd time," said an announcer I am paraphrasing.  "You never know how the player will react.  Either a shining moment or an uncharacteristic bad one."

The SU women are a team.  They complement each other... no one is a star...they have been together for years with Coach Q nattering in their ears that they can accomplish anything.  Anything at all.  Like beating UConn who has destroyed all competitors the last 73 games they've played.  And they are fast, and have great players coming off the bench who could have started on other Division 1 teams.  They can shoot and press and dodge....A different game than what you usually see in a women's game.

Tonight, starting at 8:30 we will see how it all works itself out.  And if SU is behind by a dozen, or even 20 at some point...they know how to come back.  I believe they will.

Oh - and why Syracuse and Breanna?  It's the water, that pure Skaneateles Lake water they've all been drinking!