Coach Jenny Yopp and her players admitted that they werent too surprised when they found out that the Illinois State womens basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference this season at the leagues Basketball Media Day Tuesday in St. Louis, Mo.
It is what we expected to be ranked, but not an indication of our expectations as a team, said Steph Reichle, a senior guard for the Redbirds. We have talented players and we are working to improve everyday on what it takes to win. I think we have the players and dedication to do it.
Yopp agreed with Reichles statements.
Steph said it well, said Yopp. The challenge we face is to focus on what we know. To others in the conference, we are an unknown, but what we know is that we are building the confidence to go with our talent, experience and work ethic to improve and be successful.
For the Redbirds, Valley Basketball Media Day seemed to get the players excited about the opportunity to get on the court and compete.
The whole (preseason media) experience is a eye-opener, said Katie Donovan, a sophomore forward. It makes me hungry to show that Illinois State needs to be on the map with the best teams. But we can only show that on the court.
Illinois State holds its first exhibition game at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday, November 10, against the Ohio Premier All-Stars at Redbird Arena. The first regular season game is scheduled for November 23 at Western Michigan at 1 p.m.
