It's finally game day for Texas women's basketball as they begin their quest for the SEC Conference Championship. We all remember what happened last season when the Longhorns lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Championship game. I'm sure most of the team remembers how that game went and doesn't want to have the same outcome as last year.
However, the Longhorns have two rounds in front of them before even thinking about playing on Sunday.
Today's game consists of them taking on the Alabama Crimson Tide. You might be familiar with that name since the Longhorns closed their regular season schedule last Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Let's take a look at some of the keys to tonight's matchup for Texas against the Crimson Tide.
1. Find a way to get Madison Booker open for a mid-range jumper
You already know that the Crimson Tide is going to be ready for Madison Booker charging to the rim tonight. What the Longhorns need to do is find ways to get Booker open by moving her around for open jump shots. Whether that's on the left or right side of the court, get her open and watch her swish those Kevin Durant-like mid-range shots. She can definitely nail them from anywhere on the court.
2. Don't allow second-chance opportunities for points
I feel like I can't stress this point enough, but the Longhorns can't allow the Crimson Tide to get second-chance opportunities. Texas has almost lost some of its games this season by allowing opponents to grab offensive rebounds and capitalize on them. Keeping the ball away from the Crimson Tide is another key to the game, because they almost came back and won in the fourth quarter by rebounding their missed shots.
3. Jessica Timmons must be guarded
Crimson Tide guard Jessica Timmons went off on the Tennessee Volunteers last night for 23 points. She was really finding her groove last night, and the Volunteers had no answer for her. Vic Schaefer is probably already coming up with a strategy to slow her down and contest her shots.
Texas will have a long night if they can't find a way to slow her down. With the way she played last night, her name better be at the top of the scouting report despite playing five days ago.
4. Set the tempo in the first quarter
I always say this, and I'll probably say it in my Dallas Stars pregame article against the Colorado Avalanche later today, but set the tempo coming out of the opening tip-off. Many games can be decided by a basketball team's energy level in the first quarter. We saw it when the Longhorns took on the Vanderbilt Commodores earlier in conference play. If the Longhorns get out to a comfortable lead in the first quarter, I have no doubt they will advance to the semifinals tomorrow.