By Sharat Raju
EVANSTON - In a disappointing loss to Northwestern, the Michigan women's basketball team may have ended its chances for an NCAA tournament berth.
Sounds disappointing. It surely will be for Michigan coach Sue Guevara and her players if they aren't selected for the tournament.
Not making the post-season tournament will most likely be disappointing for those seniors departing - Amy Johnson, Catherine DiGiacinto, Silver Shellman and Mekisha Ross. They have been through the dark times - B.G., "Before Guevara." They finally have tasted the sweet nectar of victory, only to have their cup taken away.
But this should be kept in perspective.
For the first time in years, the NCAA tournament has been mentioned in the same breath as Michigan women's basketball. And Guevara should receive a great deal of credit for that.
"Sue has done an outstanding job," Northwestern coach Don Perrelli said. "I guess I can call her a player's coach. I don't know how she's done it - she has the same players as previous years."
Every single opposing coach, during post-game conferences, has mentioned that Guevara has done a fantastic job with this team, and that the Wolverines are more enthusiastic than before. Throughout the season, the Wolverines have been playing with more fire and more confidence than in recent memory. Except for a couple of games - specifically being crushed at Indiana, then at Northwestern yesterday - the Wolverines have been in a position to win each game.
Perhaps the bad vibes that have surrounded the program in the past still follow the Wolverines. In so many games they have had bounces not go their way, or had an opposing player suddenly enter a zone and have career games against Michigan. Such things happen in sports, but it seemed more often than not to happen to the Wolverines this season.
Consequently, a sizable losing streak - dropping seven of nine - was too much to overcome for Michigan.
But what cannot be overlooked is what Guevara has done for this program and its future. She has brought a winning frame of mind to the Wolverines. No longer will they settle for being cellar dwellers or sure victories for other teams.
Michigan has determined players who are hungry for success, having sampled some earlier this season. Wolverines were still diving all over the place, fighting for loose balls, even though they were down by 50 points to the Wildcats.
But, most important, they have a coach who won't give up just because of one devastating loss.
"The mindset now is to win the last two games at home," Guevara said. "Our goal is to finish 15-10 overall, 7-9 in the Big Ten."
Two games still remain for the Wolverines, along with the Big Ten tournament. The season isn't over, not just yet. With the conference tournament, anything is still liable to happen.