First of all, a BIG thank you to Billiken head coach Lisa Stone and her program for accepting UConn's request to come to their campus arena to play a "homecoming" game for our All-American senior Napheesa Collier. Not all coaches (Quentin Hillsman-Syracuse/Stewie) are as gracious and accommodating.
This will be more of an "exhibition" game (even though it will count in the standings) as St. Louis comes in at 4-4, including a 10 point loss to 4-5 Chattanooga.
The Billikens are no match for UConn. UConn will be the first top 25 team they play this year. As coach Stone said in her video, it's not about thinking they can beat UConn, but more about doing the basics, and measuring themselves against the #1 team in the country, and learning from the experience. Not many mid-major programs get the opportunity to host the #1 team in the country without agreeing to a home-and-home series.
Coach Stone told her players to watch the UConn/Notre Dame basketball game Sunday. As her team watched Connecticut beat Notre Dame, the Billikens also were witnessing the Huskies’ replace Notre Dame as the number one team in the country. Although UConn has lost in the national semifinals the last two years, the Huskies remain the gold standard of women’s basketball, as was proved with an emphatic win over the previously top-ranked and undefeated Fighting Irish.
The Billikens will get an up close and personal look tonight when the Huskies take the floor for a 7 p.m. (est) tip-off.
“Whatever they’re ranked, they’re still the same program,” SLU guard Kerri McMahan said.
“You can see the way they play and dismantle their opponents, they play with a sense of discipline, structure and togetherness you don’t see every day.”
"This time the gauge of success isn't about the score, but what the Billikens can learn from the experience.
“We are going to do everything in our power to play as hard as we can for as long as we can against the best team in the country,” she said.
“We’re also going to witness a team that is the best of the best in championship behavior. When they walk in, there are no headphones, no social media, no messing around.”
SLU will counter UConn with a lineup that is young after losing six seniors from last season. McMahan and Jordyn Frantz are the lone seniors, although five freshmen have seen considerable playing time.
In addition to all of the free press her program received the last few days, her team gets to host the #1 team in the country, and do it on live "national television"!!
Tip in - This is one of the best road trips UConn has had in some time. They beat ND on the road, and will return home as the top ranked program in WCBB, they get to visit Collier's home town and witness her high school retire her jersey number 24. I wonder if they ever got that steak dinner one of the posters suggested Geno buy them?
They get to participate in a homecoming game for a teammate in front of her family, friends and former HS teammates, many of whom have never seen her play in person since she left for UConn. This is the first time Collier has played at Chaifetz Arena. She said she's very excited, and really looking forward to tonight's game. So are we Napheesa.
The game will be broadcast live on the
CBS Sports Network and the UConn/IMG Radio Network.
UConn will go on many more road trips this year, but I doubt if any will be as fruitful or enjoyable as THIS one.