After back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships, a three-peat was expected from the Sioux -- considering they returned the national player of the year in Jenny Crouse in addition to starters Jaime Pudenz and Katie Richards.
The road to the Pine Bluff Convention Center -- site of today's Elite Eight national title game between UND and Arkansas Tech -- hasn't been an easy one for the Sioux. There have been more bumps and roadblocks than expected.
"It's been a long road," UND coach Gene Roebuck said Friday, the tournament's off day. "We've had more adversity, as far as injuries go, than I've ever had in all my years as a coach. This year has been a lot of hard work for our players. It hasn't been fun all of the time."
Injuries sidelined power forwards Lynda Hass before the season and Mandy Arndtson nine games into the year. The lack of depth didn't stop UND from winning the North Central Conference title, though a handful of its games against second-division teams were close.
Despite the injuries, lack of depth and unexpected close games, the transition-oriented Sioux made it to Pine Bluff, where they are a decided favorite against Tech -- a smaller team that prefers the half-court offense.
In fact, Tech has only one player taller than 6 feet.
But Roebuck isn't taking anything for granted against Tech, a depth-depleted team that has struggled against bigger, transition-oriented teams.
The Sioux coach also downplayed the notion that UND's emotional, hard-fought 87-81 semifinal win over No. 4-ranked Emporia (Kan.) State on Thursday night was the real national title game.
"When I coach a team, I coach them to respect their opponent," Roebuck said. "And our players are smart enough to realize that. As far as I'm concerned, our biggest game of the season is against Arkansas Tech."
The title game will be a contrast in styles, as UND has averaged nearly 21 more points per game than Tech during postseason play.
"Tempo is a key," Tech coach Joe Foley said. "If (the Sioux) can get the game in the 80s, then it will by far favor them."
Tech is led by forwards Angie Harris (15.8 ppg) and Khelli Mulen (15.1). Harris is the taller of the two, standing 5-foot-11. The Golden Suns are counting that their forwards can somehow maneuver inside against bigger UND. They're also banking on continued strong perimeter shooting from freshman guard Mindy Lasater (12.6).
Tempo also concerns Roebuck. In NCC games at South Dakota, Minnesota State-Mankato and Nebraska-Omaha this season, the Sioux struggled. All prefer the half-court game.
"You have to do what your team does well and do it better than what the other team does well," Roebuck said.
That means the Sioux want to rebound well early and ignite their fast-break offense.
But does UND have enough left in its emotional gas tank after the win over Emporia?
"Our emotion will be even higher now," said UND's Richards, who supplied the emotion and 26 points against Emporia in one of the program's best-ever wins. "It's a relief to have Emporia out of the way.
"But Tech didn't get here by just stepping on the floor. They've got some good quickness."
Both teams have tradition. Tech is only in its second year as an NCAA member, but the Golden Suns won national NAIA titles in 1992 and 1993. The Sioux are attempting to become the second school to win at least three straight national titles. North Dakota State won four straight from 1993-1996.
"We still have a lot of energy left," Richards said. "We still have a lot to prove."