More than 15 months after hosting its first-ever Women's National Invitation Tournament game, Ball State University's women's basketball coach Kelly Packard accepted an invitation to participate in the preseason WNIT.
The Cardinals, who released the first piece of their schedule Tuesday, will play Indiana University in the first round of the 2008 preseason WNIT. It's the program's second appearance in school history and the first since 2002-03. Even though Ball State hasn't released its regular season schedule, Packard said it will be the only time this season her program faces the Hoosiers.
Packard described the preseason WNIT as the most prestigious preseason tournament in the country and said she's heard numerous coaches express their desire to participate in the tournament each year.
"Every year it has some real powerhouse programs, and they do again this year," Packard said. "It's exciting to be able to open your season with a tournament like this."
North Carolina, who advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing 56-50 to Louisiana State University, headlines this year's field of 16 teams. In all, 12 participating teams competed in postseason action last season, including Oklahoma, Arizona State and Xavier.
The eight first-round winners will advance to the next round, while the losing teams are split into consolation rounds. Packard said each team is guaranteed three games, which provides a good opportunity to tune the team for the start of the regular season.
"I think having the tournament-style structure is more important than a single game," Packard said. "It's a three-game guarantee, so you're going to get enough reps to get ready for the season."
Ball State began last season with an extremely difficult schedule as well, playing nationally ranked Louisville, along with Indiana and Temple in the first six games. The Cardinals lost all three of those contests, on their way to a 15-15 overall record.
Even though results from the preseason WNIT do not count toward the regular season record, senior guard Porchia Green said her team wants to win in the preseason so it doesn't have a slow start to the regular year.
"I see it as the same as last year, just different teams," Green said. "Every team we play is a team we want to beat, regardless of whether it's preseason, regular season or postseason."
Packard, who was hired in May, spent the previous two years working for WNIT tournament organizer Triple Crown Sports. While she's proud of her connection with the company, she said Ball State received the invitation because of the electric atmosphere more than 3,500 fans created two seasons ago.
Plus, Packard added, the WNIT has rigid criteria it follows when selecting teams. Each conference has one representative, and there is a mandatory minimum of four years between appearances. The last time Ball State competed in the preseason WNIT was the 2002-03 season.
"I have worked with Triple Crown Sports, so it's not a mystery that I was on their radar," Packard said. "At the same time, their bottom line is that the entire tournament is represented well. They're looking at teams going into the season that they feel will compete for the conference championship."
Green said the invitation shows her how far the Cardinals' program has come during the past couple years.
"It tells me they think we're a good team, and they see our potential," Green said. "Our program has come through so much, from being one of the low MAC teams to being one of the best teams in the MAC."
Packard said she hopes a successful tournament will provide a solid springboard into the rest of the season, so the Cardinals don't get off to another difficult beginning in 2008-09.
"You want to definitely come to compete and be prepared," Packard said. "Being prepared in November is a challenge. You're still trying to put all your steps in. I always say November basketball isn't always that pretty, but if we can come prepared it will enhance our focus for the start of the season."
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