[3/16/05].

Chris Long remembers his family, but the coach of the ultra-successful Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters sees his wife, Claudia, and two children, Jack and Bailey, only on occasion.

His extended family in Vicksburg, his hometown and where he played and coached before going to La. Tech, can see him after Tech home games. He’s on the road in a constant shuffle of recruiting, preparation and coaching.

&#8220Being an assistant coach here for six years, I had an idea of what to expect,” Long said four days before his team was scheduled to open the NCAA Tournament against Florida State in Denver. &#8220I knew it would be a lot of travel and long hours.

&#8220It’s a 12-month job because you are always recruiting. You are either recruiting for the early signing period or two or three years down the road. That’s the biggest difference between high school and college, you never get away.”

Long rose to Tech’s head coaching job after a two-year stint as the girls’ varsity coach at Vicksburg High. He coached superstar Catrina Frierson for two seasons and when Frierson went to Tech, Long followed.

He worked under legendary women’s coach Leon Barmore, then Kurt Budke before being hired as the team’s head coach last year.

The results in his first campaign are what Lady Techsters’ supporters have come to expect. The team won 26 games, finished 15-1 in the Western Athletic Conference, won the regular season championship and then the conference tournament.

Having been ranked in the Top 25 for most of the season, it caught the players and coaches at Tech a little off-guard when they were announced as a No. 11 seed in the 64-team tournament.

&#8220Our ranking equates to a four seed,” said Long, who quickly turned his disappointment into a positive. &#8220We have a player from Boulder, Colorado, so we are excited for her.”

If Tech can get by Florida State on Saturday, it would either meet perennial power Stanford or Southeast Missouri State in the second round.

Long’s team could have an advantage in the high altitude of Denver. Many of the WAC schools are in higher altitudes and the Techsters just completed a tournament sweep in Reno, Nev. The higher altitudes make breathing difficult and conditioning a premium.

&#8220I used to not put much stock into playing in higher altitudes,” Long said. &#8220But now I think there is something to it.”

Mississippi doesn’t have much to cheer about after this basketball season – none of the Big Three even earned a National Invitation Tournament berth – but that doesn’t mean Mississippians aren’t having an affect on the postseason.

Long earned WAC Coach of the Year honors in his first season, has keyed his team’s mental and physical toughness and is in prime position for a run deep into the tournament.

Ten years ago, Long was roaming the sidelines coaching the Vicksburg Junior High team, and now is on the biggest stage in women’s college basketball.

Tip-off is Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Long should get plenty of air time.