It's impossible for anyone to talk about the women's NCAA tournament without confronting the 500-pound gorilla sitting on the brackets, mighty Connecticut.
Ohio State coach Jim Foster doesn't go running from the discussion.
Even though his second-seeded Buckeyes (30-4) would have to win three games for even a potential shot at the unbeaten Huskies, Foster would relish the chance to upset UConn and his former assistant, Geno Auriemma.
``There's 347 Division I schools,'' Foster said Thursday, two days before his team opens NCAA play against St. Francis (Pa.) in Pittsburgh. ``There's one that's dominating and there's a handful that have put themselves in the position with the right mindset and the right talent to walk in the door. I would love the opportunity.''
For now, it's a distant goal. Ohio State hasn't won three games in the tournament in 17 years - and that's the only time the Buckeyes have done it.
Ohio State has plenty of work to do before it can contemplate playing the top-seeded Huskies, who are 33-0 this year and riding a record 72-game winning streak going into their first-round game Sunday against Southern in Norfolk, Va. The Buckeyes must get past St. Francis (17-14), followed by the winner of Mississippi State (19-12) vs. Middle Tennessee (25-5), and then the survivor from Tallahassee, Fla., a bracket that includes third-seeded Florida State (26-5) and sixth-seeded St. John's (24-6).
Of course, UConn also must survive, although almost no expert in the country believes the Huskies will falter - either in their first three games or the three that would follow.
What makes any prospective Ohio State-UConn meeting even more interesting is that the game would be played in the Buckeyes' backyard - on March 30 at the University of Dayton Arena, about an hour from campus. The Buckeyes have a solid fan base and it might just pack the place in hopes of seeing the Huskies' record winning streak threatened.
Foster welcomes the thought of a home-state advantage against UConn.
``Are you asking me if (I'd like it if) we were fortunate enough to be able to play them in a situation in our own state where the people of Ohio, with great civic pride, come out to support the state university?'' he said with a wide grin. ``(The Huskies) always have the crowd, so it might make a difference to them.''
It's interesting that eighth-ranked Ohio State's players refuse to get involved in the speculation.
``You just ignore it,'' guard Shavelle Little said. ``I hear it, but it kind of goes in one ear and out the other.''
Three-time Big Ten player of the year Jantel Lavender also declined to look ahead.
``Of course we want to get the opportunity to play UConn and upset them. But we have to get through our first couple of games,'' she said. ``You can't overlook St. Francis, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Florida State - those are very athletic teams. They are good. It's focusing on them and then playing UConn when we have the opportunity.''
Lavender has a sizable chip on her shoulder this week. She was angry on Monday night because ESPN women's basketball analyst Doris Burke called the All-American ``Shontel'' during the network's selection show.
Lavender said later that she and her team, which has won an unprecedented (men or women) six straight Big Ten titles, apparently hadn't earned people's respect on the national scene.
``We have some proving to do,'' she said.
Ohio State point guard Samantha Prahalis has battled a touch of the flu, but the rest of the Buckeyes appear to be healthy and rested for the game against St. Francis, champions of the Northeast Conference.
Everyone seems to forget that in a tournament where the home court is a priceless commodity, the Red Flash will be in their hometown when they play the Buckeyes at Peterson Events Center.
Foster isn't looking past that game, or any that might follow. But in 32 years as a Division I coach, including a stretch at Saint Joseph's where Auriemma was on his staff, and 24 trips to the NCAA tournament, he's learned what it takes to bring down giants like UConn.
``It's an attitude,'' he said. ``You've got to be good enough to get the opportunity. We've got to win three games for that to present itself. If we win those three games, we've proven we're pretty good. And (then we) just get another opportunity to walk out and prove it again.''
