The Claws Come Out

Forget the men, right now it's all about the women. Especially the Aggies . . . whatever that is.

Women's basketball is following in the same working order as the men's, with the Elite Eight full of number 1 and 2 seeders. It truly is anyone's game, though a lot of eyes have now turned towards newcomer Texas A&M making its first ever appearance in the Elite Eight (the closest they previously got was the Sweet Sixteen) and lustily eyeing the Final Four. In fact, A&M has only appeared in the tournament itself a total of 5 times, the last 3 of those consecutively, so it's no wonder, then, that a few eyebrows are raised. Most people recognize A&M for their football, where countless Aggie (does anyone even know what that is?) worshipers flock to the stadium to perform abnormal rituals and carry on with the best of them.

But with 2008's NCAA tournament, A&M is determined they are much more than football and weirdness, they can actually play basketball, too. And even more than that, current coach Gary Blair has a past with Tennesee coach Pat Summitt. Not that I want to get southern on anyone, but I'm sure all of you know by now that I loves me some drama, y'all.

The story goes like this: Once upon a time in a land . . . not so far away, Blair was a young(er) buck in 1998, coaching Arkansas into the Final Four. An amazing feat considering they were a 9 seed. But it was there in the Final Four that the expected happened to the unexpected. Summitt's team beat Arkensas into the floor and stomped on their faces.

Blair wasn't too far from home when he got ahold of A&M in 2003, but has since guided them into a formidable number 2 seed, experience they desperately needed if they were going to face the fearsome Tennessee once again, who appeared to practically make it into the Elite Eight by default.

Tonight he'll be facing Summitt with a different team, but the dream remains the same. That, and I'm sure he'll be looking to return the favor for the 1998 Smackdown. 10 years ago there was an 8 seed gap between the two seed teams, this year there's only one. And, so far, two has proven to be the new one as two different two-seeder teams have toppled the champions. Be afraid, Summitt. Be very afraid.

- Heather Akena

currently 0.00/5 1 2 3 4 5 0.0/5 (0 Votes)

Created by: HeatherAkena Last edited by: Berlin