Since head coach Tracy Roller entered the scene at Ball Statefour years ago, the Cardinals have turned their program around.They've done everything except win the Mid-American ConferenceChampionship and gain an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, andthat's going to be the goal this season.
"I'd give up just about anything to be able to win that game,"senior Johna Goff said about the MAC Championship game.
Tough schedule will test Cardinals
The women's basketball team will face some tough tests thisseason as they get set to compete in a head-to-head conference andplay a very tough non-conference schedule.
The season will kick off with two four-team tournaments, theDePaul Moran Realty Classic and the East Carolina ThanksgivingTournament. The Thanksgiving Tournament could place assistant coachDuffy Burns against his former team, Cleveland State, if they meetin the championship or consolation games.
The month of December is filled with drama for Ball State.First, the Cardinals home opener against Illinois State willfeature a meeting of sisters. Assistant coach Stephanie White willprepare Ball State to play against her sister, who is a senior onIllinois State's team.
The team then competes in the Hoosier State Classic in whichthey will face Indiana State, who they beat last year in overtimeto advance in the WNIT. Louisville will feature a homecoming asNicki Collen, an assistant coach last season for the Cardinals,returns as an assitant under her husband at Louisville.
The month will be capped off on New Year's Eve in Worthen Arenawhen the Cardinals face Indiana, who defeated them 103-95 inovertime last year.
January 3 will kick of the conference portion of the schedulewith Marshall coming to Worthen Arena.
"If I had to pick right now who's going to win our conference,there would be about seven names, and that's pretty good parity ina league like ours," Roller said. "Anybody can knock anybody off inthis league right now."
Versatility allows offensive freedom
Although the Cardinals will not have the threat of Tamara Bowiein the post this season, they still return a lot of firepower.
"She (Bowie) was a great go-to scorer, when we needed a basket,we knew we could go to her and we don't really have that anymore,"Roller said. "So I kind of phrased it as a go-to team. I know wehave several players now, that at any point could be a go-to playerand it's a lot harder to stop a go-to team then it is to stop ago-to player."
Last season, the Cardinals boasted one of the best offenses inthe country, finishing No. 3 in scoring offense. Nationally theyranked No. 2 in 3-point field goal percentage and No. 5 in 3-pointfield goals made per game.
They have four returning starters in seniors Goff and JessicaReiter, junior Kate Endress and sophomore Dana Collins. Goff,Collins and freshman Tina Bolte are all players that could berunning the point guard position. Other guards for the Cardinalsinclude senior Julie Just, juniors Leah Boehme and Endress,sophomore Erica Cotton and freshman Kelsey Corbin.
In the front court, Ball State will look to Reiter in the post.Senior Erica Sutton, sophomores Krista Stewart and RaechelleHampton and freshmen Teran Warner and Becca Bajorek could also bethreats on the inside for the Cardinals.
"I really feel like we're the most versatile we've ever been,"Roller said.
What makes the team so versatile is the fact that Endress,Reiter and Stewart can play many positions. With their versatilitythe offense this year could range from a four guard offense to athree post offense.
"That's hard to stop when you're scouting your opponent, is ifthe more versatile you are as an individual player or as a team,makes it really difficult to scout," Roller said.
No matter what offense is being run out on the court, Rollersaid that everyone needs to be a role player.
"Not everybody can score 20 points, not everybody can be theone, not everybody can play all the minutes," Roller said. "So wehave to have role players that are satisfied and happy with theirrole and don't mind playing it so we can win."
The team is currently battling injuries with Sutton, Cotton andWarner all out. Collins, while not out, is still trying to battleback from an injury. Probable starters for the season will dependon how healthy the team is, but there are currently four solidstarters in Goff, Endress, Reiter and Hampton.
Defense will be main focus
After ranking No. 3 in scoring offense in the nation lastseason, the Cardinals realized that offense wouldn't get themeverything they wanted. This year they're focusing more on defensein hopes that it will allow them to go that extra step in thepost-season.
"I think we realized that we won 21 games last year because ofour offense," Roller said. "But we lost 10 games because wecouldn't guard people."
The team appears excited to go out and prove they have what ittakes to win the MAC and become the first team in school history toqualify for the NCAA tournament.
"Everyday we've got to improve," Roller said. "We can't besatisfied with where we are now or where we are in January orMarch."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
