While Illinois State coach Jenny Yopp is still sorting through some things to establish a regular playing rotation, junior Taren OBrien looks to be the Redbird point guard most of the time. Yopp has high expectations heading into the Redbirds 2002-03 regular-season opener at 1 p.m. Saturday (central time) at Western Michigan.
Yopp, a point guard at North Carolina in her playing days, understands the challenge of being the teams quarterback.
The point guard needs to control the ball, said Yopp. Were at our best when Taren sparks the offense and the defense.
The cast around OBrien will include a mix of veterans, players returning from injury and newcomers. Returning starters Sharon Blade (a post) as well as Katie Donovan (a wing) figure to be in an eight-to-10 player rotation. Stacey White, who played a post position much of last year, returns to her natural spot on the perimeter. Sophomore Michelle Harakas, a part-time starter last year, is another available post player. Jaci McCormack and Sophie Tirtiaux, both coming off season-ending injuries a year ago, also are part of the perimeter mix. Tirtiaux can also play in the post.
Junior college transfers Zora Skrabalova and Erin Keeney are other pieces of the puzzle, along with senior perimeter player Steph Reichle, who has been limited in preseason by knee and leg problems, but hopes to be ready to go against Western Michigan. OBriens back-up is junior transfer Desiree Gutierrez.
We have players emerging, said Yopp, who has 14 healthy players when Reichle can practice. Weve stayed relatively healthy and that has helped our practices.
Only sophomore Chris Kutschinski, who has been battling back problems in recent weeks, likely wont be available to Yopp. Kutchinski, from Ann Arbor, and Harakas, from Redford, are both Michigan natives along with Redbird assistant coach Cherie Swarthout. The Broncos have three starters returning from a team which was 16-15 overall, 11-5 in the Mid-American Conference last year.
Western Michigan will be a good challenge for us, said Yopp, whose Redbirds were 7-20 in 2001-02. The fact that they play five players who can play away from the basket will challenge us defensively.
But, no matter who Yopp tries to match-up with against WMU, she believes OBrien--the Birds leader in points and assists last year--can make a difference for Illinois State.
Our point guard needs to control the ball, said Yopp. She can improve all other positions.
The Redbirds turn around and play their home opener at 7:05 p.m. Monday against Butler in Redbird Arena.
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