CONFIDENCE vs. confidence

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 3 -- Sacramento State Women’s Basketball will tip-off against the University of San Francisco at the War Memorial Gym in San Francisco this Wednesday evening. The Hornets recently defeated San Jose State and had a strong showing against Santa Clara, despite coming up short in the end. The Dons were recently on the other end of a close game and return home after a one-possession victory against Oregon State in Corvallis. On paper, the Dons have almost every advantage. With the Hornets’ increasing confidence, though, this contest could go either way.

The Hornets’ phenomenal shooting performance against Santa Clara tells the story: Their expectations are on the rise. Shooting percentages are a good measure of success, but they ultimately rely solely on individual players' actions. This is problematic because the game is played together -- in an intimate setting -- with five players deeply affecting one another. The Hornets have been playing as confident individuals; to win, they will need to play as a confident team.

The Dons have have displayed resiliency during the pre-conference schedule while splitting two Pac-10 road games. They are a savvy team able to protect and shoot the ball against great opponents. Their weakness is passing: As go the assists, so go the Dons.

The identity of a team changes everyday, especially in the context of stressful games. Sometimes players end up on the same page when these changes occur, and other times each player has a different idea of what the team is trying to accomplish. The pre-game task is thus one of making explicit the team's identity and mission.

Will the Hornets' goal to reduce turnovers be superior to the Dons’ effort to create shot opportunities for others? Tune in and find out!