McKENZIE, Tenn. - Last year, when the Bethel College Lady Wildcats, as they were known then, trod upon the boards of Oman Arena and took part in the NAIA national women's basketball tournament, I wrote that Bethel belonged on that grand stage.
The Lady Wildcats were a play or two away from knocking off Oklahoma City in the opening round of the tournament. In fact, Bethel held a 13-point lead in the first half, but the tournament veteran OKC squad kept chipping away and took the lead. Bethel had a shot at the end, but couldn't convert.
Bethel's initial foray in the Division 1 NAIA tourney lasted 40 minutes, but on the drive home, I thought these girls might have gotten a whole lot more out of it than just those few fleeting moments. Many Lady Wildcat fans were hoping the regular season could begin the very next day. A few more were thinking a big future was in store for the Lady Wildcats.
And why not? The Lady Wildcats return almost everybody from last year's team and they return with a lot of energy, excitement and high expectations.
Fast forward to Jan. 23, 2010. Bethel, ranked 19th nationally, is 12-7, 3-3 in the TranSouth Conference. They are stinging from a 75-70 overtime loss at home against Lyon College. Lyon isn't exactly bad. It has a 13-6 mark, 3-3 league ledger and could be on the precipice of an NAIA ranking.
But this was a home loss.
Was this a devastating loss? It was at home, it was in overtime. If there weren't teary eyed and pissed off players, then this team has no soul. My guess is that this one will roll around in their sneakers like a jagged rock.
Note I said this was a devastating loss, not fatal. Bethel has struggled with inconsistency this year. It has been good enough to press No. 1-ranked Union to the brink. It has been good enough to make NCAA Division 1 member Southeast Missouri nervous. This team has the chops.
There are 10 games left with some big home dates and some road games that could produce interesting results. Bethel needs signature victories at home and on the road. Martin Methodist will be a challenge at Pulaski this week. Bethel visits sixth-ranked Freed-Hardeman next Saturday. That date should be circled. There are road games at Trevecca and home dates with Union and Freed. They should agree that home losses, moving forward, are now unacceptable.
Former Indianapolis 500 champ Gordon Johncock once said, "Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet." There is going to be heaps of opportunity in the days ahead. What about the preparation?
Monday, before practice, I suggest the Lady Wildcats get together without the coaches and decide what they want to do. They need to refocus their efforts, take an individual and collective look in the mirror and decide if last year's 40 minutes was good enough. The team leaders need to have a serious, heart-to-heart with the remainder of the team. It doesn't need to be a finger-pointing session, in fact, each player should be pointing the finger back at herself. Bethel wins as a team and loses as a team.
I could spew the platitudes, like "one team, one beat," or "teammates pulling on the rope in the same direction," or all that other crap they make Nike posters out of. It will be up to these girls to figure out what it's going to take to bring it all together.
Coach Chris Nelson and his staff will have a plan and if the Lady Wildcats focus, dedicate themselves, play hard, play smart, play defense, block out and take good shots, they will have a chance to not only get back to Jackson, but do some damage there. Remember, this team was a whisker away from beating a Final Four team. With these next 10 games, and the league tournament, Bethel can make headlines or be consigned to the "where are they now" annals.
Bethel is a good team, teetering on being great. Knowledgeable fans know that. Opposing coaches know that. Coach Nelson and his staff knows that. But one important question remains: Do the Lady Wildcats know it?
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