Editor's note: Louisiana Tech's Brooke Lassiter, a senior guard and two-year co-captain, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.

Nov. 13, 2001

The weather here in Ruston is beautiful and everyone is excited about the success our football team has experienced in its inaugural season of competition in the Western Athletic Conference.

	Brooke Lassiter averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season.

I know firsthand how hard the guys worked this summer because a few of my teammates and I ran and participated in conditioning workouts with them for a majority of the summer. It is apparent their hard work in the offseason is paying great dividends for them. Congratulations guys and keep up the good work!

The wait for the college basketball season has come to an end and it is now time for the games to begin. I can't wait for our opening game this Friday against Michigan; our team is ready to take the floor against a good team that defeated us in Ann Arbor last year. We still remember the feeling we had as we left Michigan last November and do not want to experience that awful feeling again!

Michigan is a very good team and our coaches are working hard to have us prepared for the competition on Friday and for the rest of the season. This game will be serve as a great barometer for our team and I think we will respond in a positive way. My family is coming for the game and I'm excited about seeing them and spending time with my sister. It should be a fun weekend!

This year's team has great potential and the expectations are running rampant here in Ruston. Chemistry is an important part of any team and this year's squad is no exception. The maturity our young squad gained last year will be invaluable to us as the season progresses.

Having everyone back from last season is such a blessing and we are very comfortable playing with each other. This comfort level is a major positive for this year's team. We are so excited about the return of Catrina Frierson and the addition of freshmen Erica Smith and Kenzi Bond. All have blended well with the returning players and give us the potential to be a very good team come time for the NCAA Tournament. Time will tell the destination of this team, but for now we are just ready to take the floor!

Not only has this week been busy on the court but also in the classroom. This week is finals week, which makes for lots of stress and confusion to go along with our normal schedules. I will be extremely excited to see Thursday come to an end because this has been the hardest quarter of my academic career and it's difficulty has prompted me to look forward to finishing up my undergraduate degree in May!

I have to say a special congratulation to my friend John Harris on his graduation this quarter and for his "basketball advice"! A big load will be lifted off our shoulders on Thursday and the team will be ready for the big game on Friday.

I must end for now and finish studying for my finance final. I wish everyone a wonderful week and remember to be thankful for the many blessings we have been given!

See you next week.

Brooke