Manhattan, Kan. -- A year ago the women's basketball team found itself in its first post-season national tournament. Now -- thanks to the success of last year's team -- the team gets its first appearance in the preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.
The 16-team contest is the premiere preseason tournament in the country for women's collegiate basketball.
Entering the season with its first preseason national ranking at No. 46, the Cardinals face No. 5 Kansas, its toughest opponent since playing No. 1 Connecticut last season.
"We know that they are a very good team and that we are playing at their place," Ball State coach Tracy Roller said. "We know what they can do to us and we are just going to have to execute."
Perhaps the single largest obstacle the cardinals will have to overcome is the play of all-Big XII senior Nicole Ohlde. The 6-foot-4-inch center highlights a squad that averaged more than 75 points per game a year ago and is returning its top four scorers.
While both teams have similar playing styles, focusing more on perimeter shooting, fast-break opportunities and hard cuts to the basket, experience and talent level separate the Wildcats from the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have only one senior on the team and are relying on freshman Dana Collins to lead them at the point guard position.
"I am certainly not worried about anyone not being motivated," Roller said. "But the biggest thing I am worried about is them just getting jittery or scared from lack of experience."
As a bench mark for comparison, Kansas State easily defeated Kent State in the NCAA tournament last year, 93-65. The same Kent State team had twice defeated Ball State, including the Mid-American Conference championship game last season.
A key for the Cardinals will be to force the Wildcats into making poor decisions and forcing turnovers as they had more than 17 turnovers last year on their way to a final AP ranking of No. 11.
Roller, who strives to get the most out of her players talents and abilities, said she has her team not so much focused on this one game, but rather the "big picture" -- winning the MAC and making it to the NCAA Tournament.
"We're using this game as another step to reaching what our ultimate goal is in March," Roller said. "As a player, I would want to play the No. 5 team in the country any time. They are going to make us better. We're looking at this game as, 'just give us a chance.'
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