During the past 13 years, the Lady Tigers have accumulated eighthighly-coveted banners displaying their accomplishments.
As they take to the court tonight at the Elma Roane Fieldhousefor the Women's National Invitational Tournament, the Lady Tigerswill take the first step to hanging another banner from therafters.
"We've not had post play in two years," said head coach Joye-LeeMcNelis. "It's exciting to continue our play and get thatopportunity to further our success. It's a big plus just to be ableto do that."
Memphis enters the WNIT with a 20-9 record after posting losingseasons the past two years.
This is their most successful season since the 1998-99 season,when the Lady Tigers made it to the WNIT Final Four and finished22-10.
Hwever, the invitation to the WNIT might taste a littlebittersweet to the coach and players, who were passed over for theNCAA Tournament. The Lady Tigers' RPI of 41 fell just short of thecut off and their expectations.
"We are disappointed," said McNelis. "We thought our RPI washigh enough. It's obviously ridiculous that Louisville didn't getin, but if they didn't get in, we wouldn't get in."
Louisville and Marquette were No. 36 and No. 34 in RPIrespectively, with Marquette receiving the nod, leaving Memphis andLouisville high and dry.
"There are two happy teams at the end of postseason play,"McNelis told her players. "The winners of the NWIT and the winnersof the NCAA."
The first-round game for the Lady Tigers is against Tulsa, afuture member of Conference USA that has a bit of mystery aboutthem. The Golden Hurricanes (19-11) are surging, having won five oftheir last seven games and finishing 11-7 in the WAC. Memphis hasnever played Tulsa before.
Memphis senior guard Princess Swilley is only eight points awayfrom joining the 1,000-point club.
"I hope she will be able to achieve that," said McNelis. "She'sone of those players who has to practice and be good in practice tofeel good about her playing, and that's been hard with her shoulderinjury. She's been struggling with her injury, but should be ableto do it."
Attendance is a critical factor with the WNIT format.
"It's crucial," said the coach. "When the men won a couple ofyears ago, they won three games at home. Obviously, the more peopleyou have, the better the players are going to feel. We have to havea lot of student population. We've easily got to have 2,000 here orit's going to be a struggle."
The Lady Tigers have never won a WNIT championship and aren'tfavored to change that this season, but McNelis has a simple planto overcome the doubters.
"You play with your heart, you play with your soul, and when youdo that, you have the opportunity to make something specialhappen," she said.
