Even though a high-speed style helped the 2003-04 Illinois State womens basketball team made made three-point shots than any of its predecessors and averaged more points than the previous 13 Redbird teams, head coach Robin Pingeton expects to pick up the pace in 2004-05.
We want to play up-tempo, said Pingeton, who earned Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors as her team improved from seven wins in 2002-03 to 16 last year. Its something we started to implement last year. This year, we are much more athletic and much deeper. That will enable us to play a lot more full-court and up-tempo.
The Redbirds return their two scoring leaders from 2003-04, including Valley scoring champion Katie Donovan and Jaci McCormacks 11.4 points per game as the Birds averaged 72.6 and were No. 4 in the nation in three-point field goals per game with 7.58.
Pingeton likes the experience, athleticism and versatility that Donovan, McCormack and Iowa State transfer
Megan McCracken bring to the perimeter spots. Although four-year starting point guard Taren OBrien has concluded her eligibility, Pingeton doesnt think a successor needs to be designated.
Megan McCracken will likely play point guard, but we want all of our perimeter players to be interchangeable, said Pingeton. Jaci and Katie can handle the ball and (freshman) Tiffany Hudson is a point-guard type who will see some time on the perimeter. But all our perimeter players have to be versatile.
Maybe the biggest difference between the 2003-04 team and the one which begins its exhibition season with a 2:05 p.m. Sunday match-up with Odyssey, a team of former college players from the Chicago area, might be the speed of the post players. The Redbirds have added 6-2 junior college transfer Holly Hallstrom and 6-2 freshman Lashawn Johnson to a deep list of post players.
We want our points to come off full-court pressure and transition and you have to have post players who can run the court well to do that, said Pingeton. We have that.
Pingeton and her staff dont have a starting five picked for Sunday. They plan to use all 14 players.
We havent talked about a starting lineup yet, said Pingeton. Its important that all of our kids get experience and we want as many as possible to be out there for several rotations.
ISU plays its second exhibition at 2:05 p.m. Nov. 7 against Saint Xavier before opening the championship season Nov. 12 at Notre Dame in the SportsView.tv Preseason Womens NIT.
