Illinois State University head coach Robin Pingeton knows that the upcoming time--A.F. Time--is important for her team.
Thats A.F., as in After Finals. First-semester exams end this week and ISU gets going with its busiest playing schedule of the year.
This time of year is the best time to be a college basketball player, said Pingeton. You can feel good about completing final exams. From a players standpoint, its awesome. We have a tremendous opportunity to get better as a team.
From the standpoint of Redbird players, it will be busy. Sundays 2:05 p.m. match-up with Illinois-Chicago at Redbird Arena begins four games in eight days for the Pingetons Birds, who are 1-3. Two days later, its off to Indianapolis to face IUPUI, then back home for a Thursday match-up with Portland State. Finally, ISU heads to Indianapolis for a Dec. 21 afternoon game at Butler.
For Pingeton, every day is a chance to improve.
Whether were playing a game or practicing, the focus is on getting better as a team every day, said Pingeton. These players want to learn. Were getting down to the basics with them in practice.
Pingeton gave the team three days off from practice following Saturdays loss to Illinois. It allowed them extra time to focus on early-week finals and academic projects still to be completed. But it didnt keep them out of the gym.
In the last two days, every player has come into Redbird Arena during her time off to shoot, said Pingeton.
Illinois-Chicago is off to a 4-1 start thanks to the work of guard Chrissy Dizon and post player Dejeanette Flournoy. Dizon averages 18.6 points per game and leads the team with 24 assists. Flournoy, who was a freshman at Illinois State in 2000-01, averages 13.2 point and 11.8 rebounds per game. The Flames average 75 points per game. UIC has two wins over familiar Redbird foes: the Flames beat Northern Iowa 70-61 and won 77-66 at Air Force, who lost 85-49 in Illinois States season opener.
The Redbirds are led by Katie Donovan, the No. 2 scorer in the Missouri Valley Conference with 20.5 points per game. Donovan also ranks among the Valleys Top 10 in free throw percentage, hitting .826 Taren OBrien is among the leagues top 10 in assists and assist/turnover ratio.
