Double Duty

As a coach, she says, you always want to be prepared. "I have read the books, taken the class." She's done everything but break down film.

When she gets a chance, she talks to other female head coaches who have had babies while on the job. It's not a large sorority. "We are the deviant ones," Agnus Berenato, coach of the University of Pittsburgh women's team and mother of five, says with a laugh.

Frese groans when she opens an e-mail from her brother, who suggests naming the twins Pat and Geno -- after the head coaches of Tennessee and UConn.

1 p.m. In the locker room, players retie their shoes and joke with one another. They turn to watch a video screen as Daron Park -- who has taken over much of the physical coaching demands for Frese -- uses a laser pointer to illustrate certain quirks in Ohio State's game.

Frese has already given them a speech about how they must conquer the "fatigue factor" with toughness. "It's all about toughness," she says. "You need to be able to play a 40-minute game."

Chalk talk is over. "All right," somebody shouts. "Let's go get some shots up!"

1:45 p.m. During shoot-around, Frese talks with ESPN announcers on the sidelines. Junior Kristi Toliver, who sank a buzzer-beater in 2006 against Duke to send the national championship game into overtime, pauses during the practice. She thinks Frese will have no trouble juggling the personal and professional. "I don't think anything can slow Coach B down, even with a couple of babies in her belly." She adds, "Hopefully we will get to babysit."

Freshman forward Drey Mingo, who hopes to be a pediatric cardiologist, is going with Frese and Thomas this weekend to see the sonograms. "She's kind of like a mother away from home," Mingo says. "We're all just a bunch of babies, anyway."

The women gather at center court, like one big, successful family. They raise their hands in the air. "Champions. On three. One . . . two . . . three . . . Champions!"

3 p.m. The pregame meal is in the Terrapin Room of the Sir Walter Raleigh restaurant, not far away. It's decorated with a baby shower theme -- baby bottle centerpiece, pink and blue baby bracelets and pacifiers and balloons.

4 p.m. Frese goes to take a shower and get her hair done.

5:30 p.m. She reappears in a burgundy maternity blouse and black slacks. Her hair is down. She smiles. Camera-ready, she pauses in the hallway for a TV interview.