In the wake of two high-scoring exhibition game victories, Illinois State womens basketball coach Robin Pingeton is pleased with her teams offense heading into the 2003-04 season opener at 7:05 p.m., Wednesday (Nov. 26) vs. Air Force in Redbird Arena.
These players have made some great strides, said Pingeton, who has been on the job as Redbird head coach since April. On offense, they have a really good grasp of our system. Weve shot well, especially from the three-point line, and I think we have a lot of weapons.
An offense which has produced 73 and 94 points in two exhibition games is particularly significant because no Redbird team has averaged above 65 points per game since the 1996-97 season. The Redbirds have made nearly 33 percent of 62 three-point shots, attempting 31 in each game. No Redbird team has ever shot more than 30 treys in a regular-season game and 11 is the school record for three-pointers made.
I believe we can play better defense and can rebound better, said Pingeton. I think if we just play harder we can improve, and Im confident those things will get better because they are based on effort.
Pingeton inherited 12 returning players from a program which hasnt seen double-digit victories since 1997-98, but the players have convinced their coach they want to make the effort.
I have to give these girls a lot of credit, said Pingeton. They are very committed and just as driven as the coaches are to make this season a success. Weve asked them to come to practice every day to compete and they have done that.
The daily competition in practice has kept Pingeton open-minded about defining roles, although shed like to get to a set rotation and starters by the time Missouri Valley Conference play begins.
Its a nice problem to have, said Pingeton. We have players who excel in certain situations more than others. Well get to a set lineup, certainly by conference play, because I want to players to be comfortable in their roles.
Air Force returns four starters from a team which finished 7-21 last seasonthe same record as Illinois State. The Falcons top returning scorer and rebounder is former Dunlap High School star Shawna Neff, who led USAF to a 66-48 win over Colorado-Colorado Springs in the second USAF exhibition game. The Falcons dropped a 74-61 decision to Regis University in their first tune-up.
Third-year coach Ardie McInelly has two other Illinois natives on her roster in freshmen Ashley Cwiakala from Downers Grove South and Andrea Taylor from Aurora Central Catholic.
Its the first time one of the three service academies has met a Redbird basketball team.
Pingeton said the Redbirds specific preparation for Air Force may not start until three or four days ahead.
We still have things we have to work on from our teams perspective, but we will want our players to be completely prepared, with an offensive and defensive game plan put together by our staff, said Pingeton.
The first three regular-season games for Illinois State come in rapid succession, with Western Michigan coming to Redbird Arena for a 2:05 p.m. start Nov. 30 and a 6 p.m. road game at Ball State just two days after that. On Dec. 6, the Redbirds play Illinois at Chicagos United Center.
