According to Illinois State women's basketball coach Jenny Yopp, its time to get your game face on. With five freshmen, five sophomores, two juniors and just one senior, the Redbirds are even younger than a year ago, but ready to develop and advance as they begin practice Saturday (Oct. 13).
Although youth will be served again this year with heaping helpings of playing time, Yopp is looking for better performance and increased productivity.
Were going to have a number of young players on the court at all times, said Yopp. Were going to have skilled athletes on the floor as well. What will determine how much we move up in the Valley will depend on how well those players have developed their skills and how well we can play as a unit for extended stretches.
The returning players not only came through the rigors of perhaps the strongest Missouri Valley Conference in history in 2000-01, but also have shown those opponents a few things.
Last year, less than two months before Southwest Missouri State went to the Final Four, Jackie Stiles and the Lady Bears trailed Illinois State in Redbird Arena late in the second half. The Bears rallied, but SMS head coach Cheryl Burnett used the post-game press conference to predict a bright future for Yopp and her young Birds.
The 2001-2002 team has an opportunity to take some giant steps toward that future.
Senior Kristi Larson has had nearly a year to recover from foot surgery to correct problems that have nagged her during her entire Illinois State career.
With her size and experience, Larson could lead a talented group of post players including sophomores Sharon Blade, the Birds leading scorer a year ago. Blade hopes a dedicated off-season to improving her strength and speed will help her rebounding and defense. Michelle Harakas and Belgian Sophie Tirtiaux are freshmen with skills and significant experience. Versatile junior Stacey Nickerson has post and wing skills.
Talented wing players Steph Reichle and Jaci McCormack had similar freshman seasons. Both showed game-dominating skills before injuries ended their seasons prematurely.
Reichle, a junior, is entering her second season after major knee surgery. Her two-year total of 88 steals is among the best ever at Illinois State. McCormack should bounce back from the ankle problems which ended her freshman season last February, but not before she posted some impressive offensive numbers against opponents like Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee and several Missouri Valley teams during the first half of the season.
Sophomores Stacey White and Beth Huston bring extra dimensions to wing spots. White hits the three-pointer as deftly as she hits the floor for loose balls. Huston has played both the point and the wing. Chris Kutschinski and Canadian Katie Donovan, both freshmen, could help give ISU the best wing depth in the Valley.
Taren OBrien, whose freshman season was interrupted by knee surgery, could be ready to run the Redbird attack with her soft passes, slashing drives and long-range shooting.
The non-conference schedule has a home-court advantage, but some steep challenges. Illinois and Indiana out of the Big Ten maintain the Redbirds traditional rivalry with that league, while Louisville, Ball State and Wisconsin-Milwaukee all have recent post-season bids under their belts. It all prepares the Birds for the Missouri Valley, which has been at its competitive strongest over the past three seasons (seven different Valley teams have gone to the NCAA and/or NIT).
The Redbirds now can add some experience to their talent. With good health and continued improvement by players, Yopps game face figures to be a smile more often than not.
