Rene Portland, like a master chef, has spent the past month toiling over a boiling kettle, hoping to come up with a dish that's better than anything she's brought to the table before.
The coach of the No. 7 women's basketball team has added ingredients accordingly. Ample amounts of speed, penetration, long-range shooting and defense, all thrown together without the aid of a proven recipe. How will it turn out?
If the proof really is in the pudding, Portland and the new-look Lady Lions will find out at 7:30 p.m. today at Rec Hall, where they hope to give Syracuse a mouthful of their possibly potent offense.
And to hear Portland tell it, the Lady Lions are more than ready to hit the court and get the season underway.
"I know they're bored of practice," Portland said. "The kids look tired and somewhat bored of the whole process."
The Orangewomen would undoubtedly love for Penn State to maintain its apathy, because they need all the help they can get. With only two starters back from last season's 6-21 finish, Syracuse comes into Rec Hall outmatched in virtually every spot.
Coach Marianna Freeman, in her first season at the helm of the Orangewomen after a 10-year assistant coaching stint with Big Ten power Iowa, is optimistic despite the odds.
"Penn State is a tough matchup for us," Freeman said. "We're going to have to play our best game, and we have to go in thinking we have a legitimate shot of being able to compete."
With a roster consisting of four freshmen and five sophomores, this Syracuse squad has inexperience to match its lack of talent. The weight of the team should fall onto the capable shoulders of 6-foot-5 senior center Holly Oslander. One of the best post players in the Big East, Oslander could give the Lady Lions trouble inside with her shot blocking and rebounding. If Penn State can contain her, however, the Orangewomen could be blown off the court.
Needless to say, Portland is hoping that the boredom will cease when the Lady Lions hit the floor to debut their brand-new offense. The three- and four-guard lineup that Penn State will use this season is still full of kinks, and Portland wasn't elated by the progress -- or lack thereof -- the team has made recently.
"They've been doing a whole lot of standing around lately," Portland said. "When we run five-on-five, they really don't do what they're supposed to be doing."
Portland's key concern, as it has been from the first day of practice, is the post. Senior forward Helen Holloway is a lock at four-spot, but the other post position is cloudy. Junior center Missy Masley is expected to get the start tonight, but sophomore Kim Calhoun, to Portland's surprise, is hot on her heels.
"It could be a toss up as to who starts for us, and I didn't expect that," Portland said. "Kim came back much improved, and I need Missy to calm down some."
The guards, as expected, will key the Lady Lion attack. Sophomore Tina Nicholson will run the point, with junior Katina Mack and senior Jackie Donovan starting in the two and three positions. Freshman Tiffany Longworth, whose nervousness in the past few days led Portland to jokingly state that, "I don't think she has any fingernails left," should be the first Lady Lion off the bench, followed by junior Carla Coleman.
While Portland said she was pleased with the overall guard play, she allowed a little concern about the adjustments needed from the point guards.
"A lot of responsibility lies on the point guards," Portland said. "They know the playbook inside and out, but it just hasn't become a part of their life yet."
In the meantime, Portland is trying to get her squad out of its funk with some good ol' fashioned motivational talk.
"I just said to them, 'There's nothing like putting on your uniform, putting on your warm-ups, and hearing the band starting, hearing the fans,' " Portland said. "And you could just see them get goosebumps. They'd be thrilled to see people there for their opening. I'm sure people are curious about this team."
