I spent a few hours Tuesday visiting with both Kelli Lindley and Reagan Rossi, working on season previews for both their teams, which appeared in the IPT earlier this week.

One thing I didn't write about for either team is the big opener tonight, as the College of Idaho ladies take on Northwest Nazarene in the Crusaders gym at 5:30.

Yes, it's an exhibition for both teams, so at the end of the year, the outcome won't matter on either teams record, nor make a bit of difference in terms of postseason play.

But this game definitely means more than your typical exhibition, so much so, both coaches struck up conversations with me about their Canyon County rival.

As well they should, as this matchup not only is this season's battle for area bragging rights between the schools, but features plenty of other intriguing tidbits.

First, both teams are coming off trips to their respective national tournaments — NNU advanced to the first round of the NCAA Division II event and the C of I to the first round of the NAIA Division II playoffs.

Second, both teams are picked by their respective leagues to be teams to beat, and potentially right back where they finished last season — at nationals.

The Coyotes were picked for the first time ever to win the Cascade Conference, while the Crusaders were the third pick in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but it's a virtual coin-flip for the top four spots in the GNAC in that league's preseason poll.

Of course, those conversations with Rossi and Lindley focused more on what their rivals are doing than polls or the postseason, mainly because these teams weaknesses are directly countered by their rivals' strengths.

For the Yotes, the loss of All-American Christon Vander Esch will leave a void inside, especially considering that the C of I will also play without another post tonight, Whitney Owen. Owen is still playing volleyball, and will be in action on that hardwood instead of with the hoop team.

Why is that a big deal?

NNU's strength year-in and year-out is their inside play, and this year is no exception with potential GNAC Player of the Year Kristin Hein leading an experienced group that also includes Jennifer Williams, Briaunna King and newcomer Katharina Schulte to Buhne from Germany. At 6-foot-4, Schulte to Buhne will certainly challenge the Yotes, whose tallest forwards are 6-0.

Of course, that'll be a good test for the C of I ladies, who will see some tough inside play in their league schedule, especially from Southern Oregon and 6-2 Jacki Speer.

So both Rossi and Lindley know, if it's a half-court game, the Crusaders could hold an edge.

But, getting into the half-court game is where the Yotes hold the edge with their up-tempo, 94-feet of "Coyote Chaos."

The C of I will run zone and man-to-man presses all night at NNU, trapping the ball handler, double- and triple-teaming players to deny inbound passes, and, quite literally, causing chaos.

It's tough for most seasoned point guards to handle the pressure — last season senior NNU point Mallory Whipple had six turnovers against the C of I's chaos.

Making things interesting for the Crusaders this time, NNU will be without Whipple, who graduated, calling on sophomore Julianne Bazzi senior shooting guard Janee Olds and freshman Heather Adams to break the C of I press.

A great first test for NNU's trio, as the Crusaders will no doubt be asked to break pressure during the season.

Which style will win out, the inside attack or the full-court press? The one that does likely will decide tonight's winner.