Big 12 women basketball coaches, players look forward to upcoming season

DALLAS (AP) _ Despite losing 31 key starters, players and coaches of the Big 12 are looking to make another showing at the NCAA Tournament next spring. <br><br>``I do not see the conference being weak

Thursday, October 31st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ Despite losing 31 key starters, players and coaches of the Big 12 are looking to make another showing at the NCAA Tournament next spring.

``I do not see the conference being weak in any way, shape or form,'' said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, who led the Sooners to the league's first showing in the Final Four. ``There will be a changing of the guard in terms of personnel, the people who lead teams.''

Oklahoma lost two-time All-American Stacey Dales after being beaten by Duke in the Final Four. The Sooners are picked to finish fourth in the league in a preseason conference coach's poll, after finishing No. 2 in the nation last year.

Texas coach Jody Conradt said she believes the talent of this year's newcomers league-wide will offset inexperience.

``We are one of the youngest conferences this year, yet we still have enough talent to be competitive game in and game out with any other conference,'' Conradt said.

Coale and Conradt were among the Big 12 coaches and players who discussed the caliber of the league as well as their championship hopes Wednesday at the Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day.

While other team's discussed the players lost in the last year, Texas A&M coach Peggie Gillom said the Aggies could have an advantage with four returning starters.

``I think there is a window of opportunity for us,'' Gillom said. ``The Big 12 lost a lot of great players. So I think the opportunity is there for us and other teams to get into the top brackets.''

Kansas State goes into the season picked to finish second in the conference. The Wildcats have only lost one starter and boast the league's preseason player of the year in center Nicole Ohlde.

``She is one of the most premiere post players, not only in the conference, but in the country,'' said Kansas State coach Deb Patterson. ``She has tremendous talent and is well-deserved in all the preseason honors she has been receiving.''

Iowa State, picked in the preseason poll to finish sixth, lost all-conference center Angie Welle and forward Tracy Gahan.

``The only thing that never seems to change is Texas Tech. They're always good. Death, taxes and Texas Tech,'' said Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly. ``Kansas State, Texas and Texas Tech will be in a lot of preseason Top 10 rankings. Anytime you have two schools in the league that are realistic Final Four contenders, the league can't be down overall. I think at the end of the year, our league will be where it always is _ one of the best in the country.''

Many teams in the league had hoped an appearance in the Final Four would establish the league's place as a national powerhouse, but find themselves facing questions _ this time about the lack of experience.

``I obviously think it is the best conference in the country from top to bottom,'' said perennial favorite Texas Tech coach Marsha Sharp. ``I think we have proven that over several years and not just a one-year stance last year.

``I think the last thing to do was to get a team to the highest level of playing in the country and Oklahoma took care of that for us last year. I think some people finally decided on the national level that the Big 12 was for real.''

Texas Tech was picked this year to win the Big 12 championship title in the preseason poll.

Despite lower expectations for Oklahoma, Coale believes her team can still be a contender.

``We do not look at our team and say it was a very special thing and treasure that the rest of your lives because it may never happen again,'' said Coale, who expects to be a Final Four contender every year. ``We understand how special it is, but we have an expectation to get back there.''