BOULDER, Colo. -- Even though her return to Colorado is under some rather tense circumstances, Coach Rene Portland says that she's moving slower than the last time she was here.

When the women's basketball team arrived in Boulder Tuesday for it's Sweet 16 game against Mississippi to be played tonight, Portland noticed a change as the bus drove down aptly named Baseline Road in downtown Boulder.

"It was nice to drive back in here and not be in such a hurry," Portland said. "I was always in a hurry to get to the babysitter or some place. Now I can just come in on the bus and worry about playing basketball."

Portland was Colorado's coach for two seasons from 1978-80, compiling a 40-20 record.

But besides wins, Portland also compiled a family. In her two seasons for the Lady Buffaloes, she gave birth to her two sons, Stephen and John Jr.

In fact, during yesterday's news conference, one of the Colorado officials said that Portland "still holds the record as the most pregant basketball coach."

Portland was very happy about making the trip back to Boulder but when she considered that her schedule this year included 19 road games, she wondered how Colorado was left out.

The Lady Buffaloes won the Big Eight title and finished the season ranked No. 24 in the country, thus making them a perfect addition for Penn State.

"My players were looking over the schedule and realized that this is one place we missed and I don't know how we did that," Portland laughed.

If anybody knows about tough times in the women's NCAA Tournament it would be Ole Miss Coach Van Chancellor.

In the 11 years of the tournaments existance, Mississippi has gone to every one - making the Regionals in nine of those years. However, Chancellor has never been to the Final Four and he states a good reason why.

"Our problem in the Regionals --I'll tell you our problem," Chancellor said. "When we've had our best teams, we've had to go through another team's home court."

Indeed, the luck of the draw has not been in the Lady Rebels' favor.

In 1982, their first year in the tourney Mississippi lost a First Round Regional game to Memphis State in Memphis, Tenn.

In 1985, Chancellor took his team into Bowling Green, Ky., for a Final Regional loss to Western Kentucky.

In 1986, the Lady Rebels lost to Texas in Austin for another loss in the round of eight.

In 1987, it was Long Beach State beating Ole Miss at Long Beach, Calif.

After getting a break in 1988 the streak continued in 1989 as the Lady Rebels went to Auburn, Ala., for a defeat by Auburn.

More of the same in 1990 as Mississippi rolled into Stanford, Calif., for a matchup against the eventual national champion Cardinal.

Finally last year, the Lady Rebels lost their First Round Regional game in Nacogdoches, Tx., to host Stephen F. Austin.

Tonight's game in Bouldar will provide Chancellor the opporunity to give a sigh of relief.

"This is the first time we haven't had to play somebody at (their) home in I don't know how long," the coach said.