KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Louisiana Tech coach Kurt Budke ... yes, it is strange to be writing that. And Budke knows it might take folks a little while to get used to it.

	Kurt Budke, who went Hawaiian last year against the Wahine, was 273-21 as a juco coach.

But he's not worried about taking over for Leon Barmore. He's just doing his new job. And when you've swabbed all the decks for almost two decades the way Budke has, there's not much you're worried about facing.

"Replacing Leon? Unless you're going to hire somebody who's established like a Pat Summitt or a Marsha Sharp, nobody going to be able to do that,'' said Budke, whose Louisiana Tech team faces Sharp's Texas Tech bunch in Summitt's arena at Tennessee on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2). "I feel like I've earned it. I've worked hard for 18 years in this business. I figure, 'Why not me?' ''

Budke is established, just not yet at Division I. It's interesting, in fact, to look at this coaching quartet at the State Farm Tipoff Classic. Summitt was handed the Tennessee reins right out of school.

Sharp took over Texas Tech in 1982, after being an assistant there. And Oklahoma's Sherri Coale, as surely everyone knows by now, got her shot with the Sooners after being a high school head coach and assistant.

So there's lots of different ways to make it, and make it big, at the Division I level. But Budke's way was the long road. And since he's a Kansas native, perhaps he won't mind us calling it a long yellow-brick road.

Dorothy got down it quicker, but bear in mind her career record was only 2-1: lost to Miss Gulch, beat the Wicked Witches of the East, West.

Budke's record was 273-21 in head-coaching stops at Trinity Valley in Texas (four juco national titles) and Allen County in Kansas. He was also an assistant at Friends and Kansas City (Kan.) Community College. When he joined Louisiana Tech as an assistant two seasons ago when Barmore "unretired,'' most figured Budke would ascend when Barmore left for good. And that's what happened.

Budke has nine newcomers joining Cheryl Ford, Amber Obaze, Trina Frierson and Erica Smith. Two of them, juco transfer Tamaka Clay and freshman Tarsha Crain, battled for the point guard role, that for now Clay seems to have won.

	The sleeves will be gone this year, but Cheryl Ford will be back at La. Tech.

Texas Tech is expected to start rookie Erin Grant, so both sides will have a point guard playing her first Division I game. (Also, Ford injured her ankle on Thursday, so she's questionable to start.)

Mixing in so many new players might seem like a tough task, but don't forget how much success Budke had at the juco level, where you turn over players much more.

"I'm used to bringing nine or 10 in every single year,'' he said. "I think that does give me an advantage with this year's team.''

Of course, not only will Louisiana Tech have a new coach and a lot of new players, but there are also new uniform jerseys. Don't get confused and think you're seeing the wrong team. The sleeves really are gone, finally. And the players are very happy about it. Many of them rolled up the sleeves much of the time anyway.

In the second half of the doubleheader (3 p.m. ET, ESPN), a Tennessee team that will look pretty familiar faces an Oklahoma team that won't.

Gwen Jackson and Kara Lawson are Tennessee's stalwarts; there also are seven other returning players.

"I think the leadership of Kara Lawson in the offseason was terrific,'' Summitt said. "She has become one of the most vocal leaders in my coaching career. The team has responded well to her.

"Gwen Jackson -- she has been so impressive every day in practice. She's very serious about this season, she knows she's been a player that's started strong and fizzled out. She recognizes what she needs to do, and she sets the example. I've stopped practice so many times to point out something she does. I'm proud of her and proud for her.''

Caton Hill is the only returning starter for Oklahoma; the other familiar face in the starting lineup will be Dionnah Jackson, who was first off the bench last season.

Coale is happy her newcomers will play their first game at Thompson-Boling Arena; it's the first meeting between the programs.

"What a great game to be involved in,'' Coale said. "There can't be a better way to start off.''

Mechelle Voepel of the Kansas City Star is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. She can be reached at mvoepel@kcstar.com.