[81alum]

"If our goal is to get back to the final 4, then we want to avoid S Carolina, Baylor, and Oregon. "  



With all due respect, why would we want that to be our goal?  Our goal should be to win a National Championship.  In order to do that, we would very likely have to beat at least one, and probably two, of those teams, regardless of when we faced them.  



After all, we've been to the Final Four many, many times over the past quarter century.  As a program, it seems to me that we should long ago have graduated from the "just happy to get there" group to the "we're good enough, and we plan, to win the whole thing whomever we have to play and whenever we have to play them" group.  My guess is that's how Oregon/Graves, Baylor/Mulkey and S. Carolina/Staley [and, yes, maybe even UConn/Auriemma] see things.



Sure, that's likely a stretch this season, given all of the injuries, but that should be our mentality.  Otherwise, we've already conceded the National title [yet again] to one of those teams.

I don't disagree.  But before we can win a national championship we need to get back to the final four, and I would prefer to take the easiest path possible to increase the odds.  I'd rather play those top three teams at the end of a long a successful run into the tournament.

Personally I also have a second goal, and that is earning as many wins as possible--since I am hoping that we get Tara her recognition on a national stage in the NCAAs and not in some po-dunk preseason game in November.  I think this second goal may be more likely than the first.

I also think making it to the final four--even if not progressing further, is educational and valuable to our young team.  The further we go this year will make a national championship more likely in future years.

[81alum]

"If our goal is to get back to the final 4, then we want to avoid S Carolina, Baylor, and Oregon. "  



With all due respect, why would we want that to be our goal?  Our goal should be to win a National Championship.  In order to do that, we would very likely have to beat at least one, and probably two, of those teams, regardless of when we faced them.  



After all, we've been to the Final Four many, many times over the past quarter century.  As a program, it seems to me that we should long ago have graduated from the "just happy to get there" group to the "we're good enough, and we plan, to win the whole thing whomever we have to play and whenever we have to play them" group.  My guess is that's how Oregon/Graves, Baylor/Mulkey and S. Carolina/Staley [and, yes, maybe even UConn/Auriemma] see things.



Sure, that's likely a stretch this season, given all of the injuries, but that should be our mentality.  Otherwise, we've already conceded the National title [yet again] to one of those teams.

I don't disagree.  But before we can win a national championship we need to get back to the final four, and I would prefer to take the easiest path possible to increase the odds.  I'd rather play those top three teams at the end of a long a successful run into the tournament.

Personally I also have a second goal, and that is earning as many wins as possible--since I am hoping that we get Tara her recognition on a national stage in the NCAAs and not in some po-dunk preseason game in November.  I think this second goal may be more likely than the first.

I also think making it to the final four--even if not progressing further, is educational and valuable to our young team.  The further we go this year will make a national championship more likely in future years.