Oklahoma taking on label of Big 12 favorite and more

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma women's basketball team isn't afraid to talk about the high expectations it has for the upcoming season. <br/><br/>The Sooners' hopes are based on the confidence

Thursday, October 19th 2006, 5:34 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma women's basketball team isn't afraid to talk about the high expectations it has for the upcoming season.

The Sooners' hopes are based on the confidence built during their unprecedented 16-0 run through Big 12 Conference play in the regular season and their sweep through to the championship in the conference tournament.

Their season ended in the round of 16 with a loss to Stanford, and the team's focus now is on getting farther this time. Coale says her team wants to win a national championship.

The Sooners return all 5 of their starters, including Courtney Paris, the nation's #4 scorer and top rebounder last season as a freshman.

Of course, the Sooners will have to get by Texas A&M, which also returns its 5 starters and has been tagged as the league's #2 team.

Among other teams expected to contend are Baylor and Texas, which will try to rebound from Jody Conradt's third sub-500 season in 30 years in Austin.