Looking for a team that could go a long way once the NCAA Tournament arrives?

	Nancy Lieberman doesn't have a say in who should win the award named after her for the nation's top point guard, but the ESPN analyst says Giuliana Mendiola should be a finalist.

Try the Huskies -- the Washington Huskies.

Two years ago, Washington reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Though the Huskies were a No. 6 seed, many regarded them as the tournament's Cinderella team after beating third-seeded Florida and No. 2 seed Oklahoma.

But once again Washington has proven it's a team that shouldn't be underestimated. The Huskies are the No. 2 seed in the Pac-10 tournament, handed then-No. 6 Stanford its worst league loss in 12 years in February, and sport a 21-6 record as the postseason begins. Yet, Washington is easily one of the most underrated teams in the country.

Coach June Daugherty, who boasts a 244-158 coaching record, deserves a lot of the credit for the Huskies' success. During her tenure, Daugherty has guided Washington to its first Pac-10 title since 1990, its first 20-win season since '95 and to the greatest turnaround in Pac-10 history (from ninth place in 2000 to the league title in 2001).

Daugherty, who very appropriately has been named one of 25 finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award, was a great hire by Washington seven years ago. She has been able to keep the majority of the state's best recruits "home" (half of her 16-player roster are kids who prepped in Washington). And despite a WNIT appearance last season, she has allowed the Huskies to keep pace with Stanford, which has set the tone in the Pac-10 -- and on the West Coast -- for many years.

The Huskies, which sit at No. 41 in this week's RPI, have tremendous versatility and depth. The Huskies, who go 10 players deep, returned their entire starting lineup from last season, and this is now a group of season, experienced veterans. Junior Giuliana Mendiola leads the way, pacing the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg), which is amazing considering she's a 5-foot-11 point guard. She also ranks second on the team in steals (45) and free-throw shooting (84.3 percent) and third in 3-point shooting (44.7 percent).

Mendiola also is shooting a remarkable 54 percent from the field. Typically, somewhere between 46 and 47 percent is considered good for a guard who gets most of her points from the perimeter. And considering she has the ball in her hands roughly 80 percent of the time, Mendiola's 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio is pretty impressive, too, and says she's making some really good decisions with the ball.

	Loree Payne ranks second at UW in scoring (14.8 points).

For some, senior guard Loree Payne might be most well known for her buzzer-beating shot that sank Old Dominion in the first round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. But Payne, a co-captain, has been everything to this team these past couple of years. She led the Pac-10 with 72 3-pointers last season, and has hit 63 of her attempts from beyond the arc this season. Her range -- more than half of her 332 shots this season have come from 3-point land -- stretch the opponents' defense, and that could mean trouble for foes who aren't familiar with her come NCAA Tournament time.

Same goes for Andrea Lalum (11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and Emily Autrey (10.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg), who round out Washington's foursome of double-digit scorers. The Huskies average 77 points per game and have taken 206 more 3-pointers than their opponents.

In addition to their offensive balance, the Huskies also are a tremendous defensive team, allowing just 66 points. They work hard on defense, and make their opponent work hard to get a shot off.

So why haven't more people heard about the Huskies? Maybe it's because they're on the West Coast, and that half of the country is tucked away in bed by the time they're tipping off their games.

But that might work in Washington's favor later this month. Not many teams will have a feel for Payne's range or Lalum's rebounding skills. They won't know about Autry's quickness or sophomore Kristen O'Neill's athleticism.

And the bottom line is that Washington, which has won four of its last five games, is exactly the type of team that will make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

Nancy Lieberman, an ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's basketball coverage. Contact her at www.nancylieberman.com.