Overlook Division II teams at your own risk.

The Huskies (Washington version) learned that lesson the hard way: Seattle Pacific, a Division II team with three starters back from a 20-9 team that won its conference title and reached the NCAA Division II tournament for an 11th straight year, stunned UW 75-67.

"It is a lesson learned," said first-year coach Tia Jackson. "It is a wake-up call for us. We definitely got knocked upside our head with a big brick, and it's time to open our eyes and see what is in front of us and get ready for it.

Don't be surprised if more Division I teams look to top Division II teams for preseason games. The Huskies (Connecticut version) played D-II champions Southern Connecticut last night. Though it was a blowout (new coach, two of their best players transfered, a third best player was injured) Auriemma mentioned he'd rather play against an organized team that can "run stuff" than a bunch of players tossed together for a a few games.

Of course, that "bunch of players" can be pretty good. A while back, John Feasel of Ohio Girls Basketball magazine spoke about the respect he has for the competitive drive of the players - some former All-Americans - on his Legends team, a preseson touring team.

"You can see the level of competition," he says. "It's intense. They want to win. It's not do or die, but they want to be competitive." He also enjoys the lessons games offer to those unschooled in the history of women's basketball. Ohio University's Dawn Heideman is one of his most committed players. Now a schoolteacher, she once led the nation in shooting percentage.

"A lot of the younger kids see a 35-year-old woman walk out on the floor and say, 'Oh, jeez, look at that old lady,'" Feasel says. "By the end of the game, after she scores 28 points on them, they're saying, 'Great game, Ms. Heideman. That was fantastic!'"