It
may be early January and only the third conference game of the season, but I
think Wednesday's Lady Raider game with Kansas State is big. Of course,
they all are for now, but maybe this one is even more so.
First
of all, while Kansas State is a very good team, it's one the Lady Raiders
should win on their home floor. And in this league protecting the home
floor is huge because road wins are so hard to come by.
Next,
a win will erase the bad taste of Saturday's loss to Iowa State (especially if
they can find the shooting touch again). A two game losing streak COULD
(not saying it will, but could) lower the confidence level of the team, which
was sky high after Oklahoma State last week.
And
finally, it's big because if the road ahead for Tech the rest of the month.
The
next two games for Tech after KSU are road games in places the Lady Raiders
have had a VERY tough time winning as of late.
Oklahoma,
where the Lady Raiders play Saturday, and Texas, where Tech travels to next
week, are places the Lady Raiders haven't won since
the Coach Sharp days. I would say those two teams are both as vulnerable
as they have been in a while, but still never easy opponents.
Nationally
ranked Kansas and Baylor, and a very good West Virginia team on the road make
up three of the last four Lady Raider games after that. And now you see
why this one early in league play is so critical.
Kansas
State will shoot the three a LOT so perimeter defense will be crucial, and so
will stopping Brittany Chambers, one of the best shooters and scorers in the
league.
So
come one out and see what should be a good one, or listen on the radio (or
better yet, bring the headphones and do both)!
These
two teams have played some tight ones over the last few years and this one has
all the makings of one that could too!!