Should the Women's championship split away from the Men's tournament and play at a totally different site and on a different week then the Men's championship?

One of the big supporters of a "divorce" is OSU's women's head coach, Kurt Budke who's team has reached this Saturday's championship finals at 6pm against Texas A & M. The first time the Cowgirls have ever reached the finals at the Big 12 tournament.

Budke feels that Women's basketball is ready to stand on its own and not be overshadowed by the Men's championship.

While the men play in front of sell out crowds in the new 18,500 seat Sprint Center the women are down the street at the old Municipal Auditorium and haven't come close to filling the 10,700 seats.

Most of the other power conferences do separate the women and men's basketball tournaments. The Big 10, for instance, play in the same city but the dates do not overlap.

Arguments for a divorce include having your own event and getting all the media attention and fan support. Arguments to keep the two married come from the Big 12 Conference office and include making it easier for fans to go to one site to support both teams and not taking as much time away from classes for the student athletes. There is also considerable savings in travel and hotels for teams and fans.

At this point only Budke and Texas A & M coach, Gary Blair are for a divorce among Big 12 women's coaches and right now they have a pretty good forum since its their two teams in the championship finals this Saturday at 6pm here in Kansas City.

Blair was quoted this week in the Kansas City newspaper as saying, "We don't need to piggyback off anybody. Why not try something else? You can't be afraid of change. No, we can't fill it up now, but why bust our dream?"

And at least for now it will remain a dream. The Big XII office points out that the ten other schools are not interested in breaking up the marriage of the men's and women's post season tournaments. The Presidents, athletic directors, coaches, players and fans all appreciate that the combined events (same week and same city) are convenient and cost effective.

So there will be no divorce but like any good marriage you still have to be open to new ideas and changes and you have to work at it to keep everyone happy.