For the sixth time in 20 seasons, Illinois State opens its conference season against Indiana State. But, with all due respect to those other five Sycamore teams, the Redbirds never opened against THIS Indiana State.
All-America candidate Kourtney Mennen and the 7-2 Sycamores have had one of the best pre-conference seasons in the programs history heading into their 2:05 p.m. Saturday matchup against Illinois State in Redbird Arena, with an offense averaging nearly 79 points per game and a defense forcing nearly 27 turnovers per contest. Teams have had trouble getting a shot to beat the Sycamores this year simply because Indiana States opponents have trouble getting shots, period. With a turnover advantage of +7.8 per game, coach Jim Wiedies teams have walloped seven victims by an average of 29 points per victory. Mennen, the leagues leading scorer (21.1) and three-point shooter (3.3 per game) heads a balanced cast which includes freshman point guard Melanie Boeglin (6.4 assists per game), the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week.
The Sycamores have dominated opponents in their victories, beating Southeast Missouri State by 11, IUPUI by 18, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois by 25 each, Akron by 28, Butler by 30 and hammering IP-Fort Wayne by 68 points (96-28).
Redbird coach Jenny Yopp feels she has a good idea of what to expect.
Its about the exact same team as last year; its still the Kourtney Mennen show with a really solid supporting cast, said Yopp. Fortunately for us weve seen some excellent defensive pressure from our (non-conference) opponents. Well see pressure from Indiana State. He (Wiedie) wasnt very happy with them after we beat them here last year. But I think were a different team.
Illinois State, 2-7, is hoping to play more like it has the last two games than earlier in the season. In a 61-59 win over Portland, the Redbirds held the Pilots vaunted offense to just 36 percent from the field. In a 71-64 loss to Indiana, the Birds committed just five turnovers in the second half. In both games, Illinois State won the rebounding battle.
Over the last month, Id say our day-to-day preparation has been the most consistent since Ive been here, said Yopp. Our team is in a much better place. We have talent enough. Were experienced enough. At Portland, we went out and got it done. That added assurance and confidence. Our kids are buying into it.
Illinois States improvement shows up in statistical areas. Boards had been a problem for the Redbirds in recent years--six straight seasons of deficit rebounding heading into 2002-03. But with the addition of 6-foot-5 Zora Skrabalova (7.1 rebounds per game) and the improvement of returnees like Katie Donovan (5.4), the Redbirds are averaging more than two rebounds per game than their opponents. Throw out Northern Illinois 47-22 domination and the Birds have out-boarded their other eight foes by a combined 5.5 rebounds per game.
Zoras presence makes a difference for us, said Yopp of the No. 6 rebounder in the Missouri Valley. But, I think as a team we are more athletic and stronger. Weve made more of a commitment to rebounding. Were scoring more points and rebounds are producing more chances for us. As Ive said before, rebounding is the glue that brings things together at both ends of the floor.
Led by Stacey White (.789), Skrabalova (.786), Sharon Blade (.727) and Taren OBrien (.722), the Redbirds are shooting better than 67 percent from the free throw line--a pace which would produce the best free throwing at Illinois State in five seasons. Erin Keeney, whose five three-pointers against Indiana were just one short of the Illinois State single-game record, gives the Redbirds another perimeter threat to go with OBrien, White and Jaci McCormack.
Weve shown some more perimeter offense lately, said Yopp. If we can get the inside offense going at the same time, well be able to challenge defenses even more.
