The fall semester is winding down at Illinois State, which means final examinations are just around the corner projects and portfolios are due and teachers are more into grading mode. But the teaching mode for Illinois State basketball coach Robin Pingeton and her staff is mid-semester heading into a 1:30 p.m. Saturday game with Illinois.
We have a lot of teaching to do, said Pingeton in the wake of her teams 87-64 loss Monday at Ball State. Our players are trying hard, but we have to work on teaching them more about understanding the tempo of the game and how game conditions dictate good play.
Pingeton gave an example from the second half at Ball State. The Redbirds, 1-2, whittled a 15-point deficit to eight with solid defense and great ball movement on offense. But three chances to slice that lead to six went by the boards, and the Cardinals responded with a 15-0 run to put the game away.
We challenged Ball State. Our effort was there, said Pingeton. In the second half, we changed a few things and were right there. But we didnt respond to situations well at that point. We gave up possessions with turnovers by forcing things when we didnt have to. We didnt communicate well enough on defense. We needed to be smarter.
Pingeton knows it wont get easier this weekend when the Birds meet coach Theresa Grentzs talented trio of Tiffanie Guthrie, Angelina Williams and Aminata Yanni. Led by Guthries 18.8 points per game, the threesome has scored more than 70 percent of Illinois points this season and snared more than half the Illini rebounds. As a group, they account for 47 points and 21 rebounds per game.
Illinois, 1-3, has battled traditional heavyweights in its three most recent non-conference tests, falling to Louisiana Tech, UC-Santa Barbara and UCLA. The Illini play Thursday at DePaul before meeting the Redbirds as the second game of a doubleheader in the United Center. Illinois men face Arkansas at 11 a.m. in the opener.
Illinois is a talented team that has played a very tough schedule, said Pingeton. We dont expect things to get easier, but we are expecting to continue to meet the challenge of the competition. Our players need to understand how close we really are to teams like Ball State and Western Michiganboth of whom went to post-season (tournaments) last year and the two top teams in their division of their (Mid-American) conference.
If we can learn to improve our understanding of situations and our discipline on the court, that will make a huge difference in the outcome, said Pingeton. We are right there. I believe this team will get the job done. Were going to grow and going to get better. Its going to take a lot of teaching, but thats okay. Our staff loves teaching and our players are like spongesthey absorb more all the time. They will improve.
Off early returns, junior forward Katie Donovan might be the most improved player in the Missouri Valley and, arguably, one of the most improved in college basketball. She has nearly tripled her career average of 7.6 points per game. Her 31 points at Ball State made her just the fourth Redbird player in the last decade to surpass the 30 mark, joining Jenny Schmidt, Corinne Vossel and Joanna Stuelke.
Taren OBrien found her three-point shot and had 11 points at Ball State, while Michelle Harakas matched her career high rebounding with nine boards.
I believe in this team, said Pingeton. Well get it done, but its going to take a lot of teaching and a daily effort from all of us. Were learning a lot right now that will help us get better.
