Part of what has made the 2009-10 basketball season extraordinary is that lightning has struck twice.One year ago today, it was both teams — the men and the women — that were finished with postseason play after early bows in their respective National Invitation Tournaments.To think both programs would still be playing in the Big Dance at this time last year after last season’s debacles would be nothing short of ludicrous.Maybe some could see the men coming. The hiring of superstar coach John Calipari, the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and the return of Patrick Patterson hinted of an early turnaround.But Matthew Mitchell’s squad? Come on, how many of you thought the women would be playing in the Sweet 16 after three straight WNITs? Don’t all speak up at once.As great and as transcending as the men’s revival has become, some would argue the women is even a better story. Mired in mediocrity and picked to finish 11th in the preseason in the Southeastern Conference, UK is now just one of 16 teams left in the entire country.It’s the Cats’ first regional semifinals since 1982 and now they have an opportunity to win three straight tournament games for the first time in school history. The women applaud the men for what they’re doing, but excuse them while they step away to make their own history.”The challenge now, for us, is to make certain we are not celebrating what we have already done and understand what the opportunity is,” UK Hoops head coach Matthew Mitchell said Friday before departing for Kansas City, Mo. “That is all that we have talked to them about. The whole tournament, we have talked to them about winning it with their mind and being mentally sharp and focused. That will be the message. I think they will be excited and I don’t think that we will have any trouble to get them to give a great effort.”The message heading into the Sweet 16 matchup with No. 1 seed Nebraska (32-1) is not to get complacent. Just because history has been made doesn’t mean it’s time to stop rewriting the history books. Plenty of more pages are left to be filled.”It is really important now that they don’t get satisfied or get in a point in the game where they say, ‘Look, we have done enough and this has been a good season,’ ” Mitchell said. “We want to try to push it as far as we can and we have a great shot to beat Nebraska. I am not saying that we are going to, but we clearly have the ability to advance to another round and that is the conversation that we are having now.”The road, at least on paper, would appear to come to an end in the first game in Kansas City. Nebraska ranked just behind record-setting Connecticut in terms of dominance this season and didn’t lose its first game until Big 12 Tournament. What in the world would give Mitchell any confidence that the Cats could pull off arguably the upset of het tournament?Look no further than the Michigan State win in Freedom Hall last week. Against a bigger, taller, more physically imposing Spartan squad, the Cats won the battle inside and dictated the up-tempo rhythm. UK won going away, 70-52.”I think they believe that they can win,” Mitchell said. “I really do. I was so impressed in how they beat Michigan State. Michigan State had a lot of weapons and a lot of things that concerned me. I thought that we played with a lot of heart and confidence. We didn’t play fearful or like we were overwhelmed by the circumstances and that is a great sign.”That is what you are looking for as a coach. You are looking to see if they are confident and if they understand the game plan. If they execute that, it lets you know they are not nervous or thinking about other things. They are thinking about winning.”UK will once again have to match a daunting post player. Big 12 Player of the Year Kelsey Griffin, standing at 6-foot-2, averages 20.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. In addition to her presence in the paint, the Cornhuskers have three players that average 11.8 points or more per game.”When you get to this point, no matter what region you are in, the four teams that make it to this point in your region are going to be tough,” Mitchell said. “That is what I told the players, is that we need to play tough because that is what you should have to do at this point in the year. We are down to the final 16 teams in the country and we are one of 16 teams that still have an opportunity to play in this tournament and it is going to be tough.”What gives Mitchell the most confidence going into Sunday’s 10 p.m. ET game is the work ethic and bond his team has shared this season.Following the win over Michigan State, Mitchell spoke at length about the disappointment he would feel to have this season end. When senior forward Amani Franklin walked into his office last week, he realized just how close this season is to coming to a close.He doesn’t want it to end. Since their midseason SEC run, something special has been brewing, and now is not the time to become complacent with it.”I have said many times that they are a really special group,” Mitchell said. “I have loved all of our teams that we have had a chance to coach at Morehead State and here. This team has clearly come together and played for each other and supported each other. They want to win. Right now, I love this team because it is the team that I am coaching now. I wouldn’t want to be coaching anybody else right now.”