WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — When Leilani Mitchell opted to transfer to Utah from Idaho for her senior year, she listed the opportunity to win a championship and play in the NCAA tournament as factors in her decision.
Both have come to fruition.
The Utes went 16-0 to claim the Mountain West Conference's regular-season title, and on Saturday Mitchell joined head coach Elaine Elliott and teammate Morgan Warburton on an elevated stage answering reporters' questions at an NCAA venue.
"It was neat and really exciting," said Mitchell, who will lead the Utes (27-4) into a first-round game at Purdue (18-14) today. "I'm just trying to soak it all in and get used to everything."
It's all a bit surreal, she admits.
"It is, kind of, when I just kind of think about it," said Mitchell. "I talk to my friends and they're like 'You're living your dream.' And I really am. I've been wanting to do this for so long. So it's just exciting."
Her coach agrees.
"She's getting it, and I'm just pleased for her," said Elliott.
BIG LITTLE BATTLE: One of the most intriguing things to watch today will be the play at point guard. Utah's Mitchell is 5-foot-5 inches tall and will have a size advantage over FahKara Malone of Purdue, who is 5-3.
"I think it's going to be a tough matchup," said Malone. "Leilani Mitchell does everything well. She takes care of the ball, she controls the tempo and she can knock down shots."
GOOD TO BE DANCING: After a media availability in the afternoon, the Utes practiced at Mackey Arena. Before taking the floor, Elliott acknowledged it was good to be back in the Big Dance after a one-year absence.
"Absolutely. This is it and I'm glad our kids are here doing this," she said. "This is what they wanted."
What Elliott doesn't like, though, is a lower seeded team like Purdue being able to play NCAA tournament games at home just because they're hosting.
Elliott noted that, for the greater conversation, it's something that's still wrong with the women's tournament.
NOTES: Utah and Purdue will be meeting for the first time. The Utes also haven't ever played the other teams in their West Lafayette bracket — Tennessee and Oral Roberts ... Purdue is 14-1 in NCAA tournament first-round games. Utah is 5-8 but has won its past four openers. The Utes' last first-round setback was in 2000 (73-58 to Illinois) ... Every Big Ten Conference tournament champion since 2003 has advanced to the second round and beyond ... The Boilermakers are 2-0 in the NCAA tourney against current members of the Mountain West Conference — having defeated Colorado State (1998) and New Mexico (2005) ... This will be the 13th time since 1989 that Mackey Arena has hosted first- and second-round NCAA tournament games. The 40-year-old on-campus facility has also housed the regionals in 1992 and 1997 ... Unseasonably cool weather resulted in snow flurries Saturday morning.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com