Last Sunday, while her Lady Lions charged joyously off the Bryce Jordan Center floor at halftime leading Florida International by 14 points in the second round of the NCAA Women's Tournament, Penn State coach Rene Portland hung back, watching her team with a wide smile that said "They did it."

Not "it," as in defeating FIU (which the Lions did go on to do in impressive fashion), but "it" as in remarkably turning their season around. The about-face Joe Paterno's Nits did this fall comes to mind, but the difference is that these Lions are wreaking havoc in the postseason, and these Lions now have the chance to measure themselves against the ultimate yardstick.

Still, you wondered what Portland was thinking, not only as she strolled into the locker room Sunday, but also as she watched her Lions these last two months.

Is this the same team that was 9-7 on Jan. 7? Is this group of aggressive freshmen and sophomores who continue to make eye-popping plays the same one that had trouble even setting up its half-court sets? 'Coming into their own' doesn't even begin to describe what this bunch has done.

When Portland challenged them to win 10 straight, they won eight. When she warned them about an early exit in the Big Ten Tournament, they nearly won the darn thing, succumbing to Indiana in the final. When she presented each of them with a small wooden replica of the Jordan Center as a sign they needed to protect their home floor during the first two rounds of the NCAAs, they ran their opponents right out of the building.

The Lions are playing beyond nearly everyone's expectations right now. Judging by that grin, maybe even Portland's. And it's a good thing, too, because tomorrow, they'll have to play even better.

UConn has been doing to opponents what Mike Tyson (in his pre-ear chomping, children-digesting heyday) did to opponents' faces. The Huskies are capable of getting every starter in the scoring column before their opponent even gets on the board.

They'll hurt you inside, with 6-2 forwards Swin Cash and Tamika Williams, or outside, with All-Americans Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. And not only can they score like Tom Cruise at a mid-life mixer, but they can defend as well, so well that on any given night the Huskies may grab more rebounds (they average 46 a game) than they allow points (just over 50 per contest).

UConn doesn't just defeat opponents -- it demoralizes them. They're big, quick, athletic and well-coached, a team that frequents Final Fours more often than most teams even make it to the Dance. Right now, folks in Storrs are looking at the Lions simply as the next meal for their beloved sled dogs, but in spite of what you might read on ESPN.com, the Huskies just might be beatable.

To knock off a seemingly invincible basketball team, you need the following: A proven scorer, someone who is capable of heating up in a hurry and throwing in a dozen points before you can blink. You need strong coaching -- a leader who knows what her team does best and has an answer when that isn't working. You need aggressive, hands-to-the-floor, get-that-junk-out-my-face defense. And, above all else, you need a Herculean dose of luck.

Well gang, Penn State has two out of the four, and heck, the way their defense -- particularly their guards -- has picked things up of late, why not make it three.

As for luck, well, this young group -- the one that got walloped by Villanova in its home opener, fell on the road to a sloppy Michigan State team and was pounded by Iowa at home -- is believing in itself now and playing with a passion and drive that not only has its fans believing the impossible this season, but drooling for seasons to come.

They've done "it." They've come this far. And don't think they'll be too surprised -- especially Portland -- if they go a little further.