It would be hard to imagine a better start to the 2006-07 basketball season than the Ball State University women's basketball team has gotten off to in its first four games.
The wins are piling up at a record-setting pace. This is the third time in 32 years that the Cardinals have started the season 4-0. With one more victory, the Cardinals will be 5-0 for the second consecutive year, and two more wins will place Ball State at 6-0 for the first time in school history.
The four wins were not against cupcake opponents, either. The Cardinals opened the year with a 62-58 statement victory at the University of Michigan. In the home opener, Ball State avenged last year's final-second loss at Wright State University, beating the Raiders 75-68.
Then last weekend the Cardinals won their BSU Credit Union Thanksgiving Tournament for the second straight year, defeating IPFW 73-62 in the championship game. Head coach Tracy Roller said she's never seen a team more determined to achieve success than this year's squad.
"This group is so focused right now, more than any other group I've ever been around," Roller said. "They're really wanting to win as a team, and they're really wanting to play well together."
Potent, steady starting lineup
The most important aspect of the rotation, the team's starting lineup, has been constant in all four games.
Ball State has used the five-player starting combination of Julie DeMuth, Kelsey Corbin, Lisa Rusche, Porchia Green and Audrey McDonald in each game this year. So far the five starters have provided a high-octane attack on offense, averaging 53.7 points per game and combining to play 138.7 out of 200 minutes per contest.
DeMuth living up to hype
Entering her junior season, Julie DeMuth had a whirlwind of expectation surrounding her. So far, the forward has proven the hype was well deserved.
In four games, DeMuth is averaging 15.3 points per game and 8 rebounds, including a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double against Wright State.
DeMuth has led the Cardinals in scouring three times this year and has been the leading rebounder twice. Roller said her team follows the lead DeMuth sets.
"I think there is so much expectation on Julie that she can often get overlooked," Roller said. "She's played great for us this year, and I think our team definitely goes as Julie goes."
Deep bench is Cardinals' backbone
Ask DeMuth who's responsible for the bulk of the Cardinals' success and the junior is quick to move the spotlight away from herself. DeMuth credits the solid depth of Ball State's bench for taking the pressure off the Cardinals' starters.
"We're a very deep team," DeMuth said. "A different person can step up every game. That makes us a tough team to beat."
Indeed, the production Ball State has received from its reserves this season has been invaluable to the Cardinals. The bench has produced an average of 27.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in four games, with sophomore guard Kiley Jarrett and freshman power forward Kalynne Proctor both receiving more than 20 minutes a game.
It's just the beginning
It's been a great start, but the players on Ball State's roster swear there's still more to come. Sophomore guard Porchia Green said every win Ball State earns in the early portion of the season gets the team closer to a possible NCAA tournament bid.
"Each win is just another step to our goal of reaching the NCAA tournament this year," Green said. "Our motto this year is 'sixty-four' for the number of teams in the tournament. Our goal is to be one of those sixty-four teams."
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