Here we go...the season opener is less than 24 hours away. Pretty exciting, huh? I think so.

What I am hoping is that the saga of Brittany Hunter's knee fades into the background and doesn't overshadow what should be an exciting year.

Just a few things I want you to keep an eye on this season:

* Tina Charles' defensive development. If she becomes half the player on defense that she is on offense, she may be the nation's best player by the end of her sophomore year.

* The emergence of Renee Montgomery as an elite player.

* Who proves to be the most valuable off the bench after Ketia Swanier. With proper conditioning, it should be Kaili McLaren.