(Editor's note: Purdue senior Katie Douglas, a 1999-2000 Kodak All-American, has shared a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.)

March 11, 2001

	Katie Douglas led the Big Ten in scoring last season with a 20.4 average.

Well, the selection show is finally over and March Madness is about to begin. For all of those who don't already know, we are a No. 3 seed in the Mideast Region. We will face UC Santa Barbara on Friday. The other two teams in our bracket are LSU and Arizona State.

I am very excited for the NCAA Tournament to start. We will prepare all week and be ready to go on Friday. And this week is exceptional because we are on spring break and therefore have no classes to attend. There is not much else I would like to do than get ready for the tournament without having to worry about class.

I am also excited for this year's tournament not only because this is my last go around in the NCAAs, but also because of what happened last year. It was not tournament experience we expected. We lost in the second round to a very talented Oklahoma team, but we're hoping to advance farther this season. Personally, I know that last year's experience is going to motivate me to come out and perform the way I am capable. We have a tough challenge ahead, but we are focusing on our first game right now.

Other than focusing on basketball this week, I intend on doing some home improvements around my apartment. I probably could be called a "pack rat" and need to start disposing of some of the clutter in my apartment. I am also looking forward to seeing some movies. Since there are not a lot of people around campus, I might even try to make it to the mall and do some early spring shopping. I have to get gift ideas for my birthday, which is only a couple of months away.

	BOILERS IN THE BIG DANCE
	Make sure to check out Purdue's team page in ESPN.com's complete coverage of the NCAA Tournament. Then be sure to read the other player diaries from ESPN.com and FANSonly.com: Duke's Georgia Schweitzer Stanford's Carolyn Moos ASU's Liz Paulson

I think that the time on spring break will not only be beneficial for myself, but also for Scooby, my seven-month old puppy. We will get the opportunity to spend some quality time together and hopefully learn some new tricks. The only one I want to perfect is "play dead." I am not too sure about how to teach him, but I guess my only option is to teach him by example.

The last item on my "to do" list for the week is to go inspect my future living quarters with my four future roommates. I am pretty happy to say that the landlords are starting to renovate the apartment and hopefully all will fall into place. I am going to convince my roommates that since I am the oldest (athletically), I need to have the biggest room. It is going to be a big adjustment since I love living by myself. But it is definitely going to be an adventure.

Anyway, I am about to go to practice and get geared up to play UC Santa Barbara. We have practice all week and get to go out once a day and enjoy a meal together. We should be well rested, having Sunday off to watch the selection show together. And we are ready to start preparing for the upcoming weekend.

Until next time ... KT