What a tremendous opportunity it is.

For the first time in history, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams will host a playoff game the same night.

For the women, it is becoming a bit old hat, having hosted first round games the two previous seasons.

For the men, it is something new. This will be the first time since the magical 2000-01 season they will host a first round game.

Ladies, gentleman – The stage is yours.

For the women’s team, today’s game is nothing more than step one in its long road to glory.

The Panthers’ women have suffered demoralizing defeats in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship two years in a row now.

A victory today just means they are one game closer to getting back.

For the men’s team, today is a chance at restoring long lost glory. The Panthers’ men have not won an OVC Tournament game under the tenure of head coach Mike Miller.

A victory today means the program is heading in the right direction.

It means the team has come a long way from its 7-22 season two years ago and its 6-21 mark four years ago.

For the two coaches, today’s games also have different meanings.

For Miller, today is the opportunity to prove his worth. He has always gotten full backing from the administration, but come under fire by some (including this columnist) for lackluster results.

A victory today would not necessarily erase all those thoughts, but it would certainly shut us up for the time being. Likewise, it would give him a foundation to build his young program for years to come.

For women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee, the opportunities are limitless. He has taken a program in shambles, a program that had achieved virtually no success over its two decades, and built it into a mid-major powerhouse.

The past two seasons, he has brought his team on the brink of greatness and fallen just short. A victory Tuesday brings him one step closer to that “ultimate goal” his teams the past two years fell short of.

Yes, it is safe to say today’s games have significant meanings. While the meanings are different for each program, the goal is still the same. Win, and you are going to Nashville, Tenn., to compete for a tournament title.

Lose, and it is all over.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.