There’s only one school in the nation with an undefeated men’s and women’s basketball team. And presumedly it’s your favorite school (or else you really hate this site).
With the guys at 13-0 and the ladies at 12-0, the Orange has started off the season on both ends in a fashion that hasn’t ever truly been seen on the Hill.
The men still have a way to go if they want to compete with the ’99-’00 record of 19 straight wins to start the season. The women, however, are already off to their best start ever. The 1974-1975 team began the season 10-0… and finished that way.
That was the length of their entire season.
These could be two of the most impressive squads ever fielded by either coach.
More depth, more scoring, and a renewed overall team attitude from both teams have been huge in the efforts so far.
The women’s team even wears “Shut It Down” t-shirts while warming up for their games.
One reason for concern could be the slow starts both teams have had coming off winter breaks.
The men kept it too close for comfort against Seton Hall on Tuesday night. The women had cruised through every game on the slate until last time out when they actually trailed at the half for the first time all season.
I talked to men’s assistant Rob Murphy and women’s star Erica Morrow yesterday and both told me the same thing:
We’re all human. Making a return from the winter break isn’t easy when you’ve been home stuffing your face, wrapping presents and seeing your family.
Remember, it’s always about the quality wins on the schedule, not the quantity of the wins.
I spoke to women’s coach Quentin Hillsman after the game and he put it bluntly,
“At the end of the day if you don’t win 10 or 12 conference games it doesn’t matter who you beat in the non-league. I’m not confused about that. We have to win 10, 11, 12 conference games to get in the NCAA Tournament and I know that.”
The Big East is the best conference in college basketball for both men and women, so the Orange will begin to have its postseason fate determined as the clock strikes 2010.
