While most students and athletes will enjoy being at home with family for Thanksgiving break on Wednesday, Ball State women's basketball team travels to Valparaiso.
To maintain the intensity coach Kelly Packard saw in Ball State's last game at Evansville, she has her team practicing against male opponents.
"I see a really harsh difference in our practice intensity when we go up against the guys," Packard said. "Some of that is because of the physical nature they bring. Their defensive pressure is different than what we give each other. The days we use them I see a huge difference in our intensity."
The Cardinals defeated the Crusaders 71-64 last season. The Crusaders never held a lead in the game.
But Packard still has concerns about Valparaiso's game.
"They have some guards that are gifted scorers," she said. "Betsy Adams is leading them in scoring. She gets off the dribble right and left, has a lot of change of pace and hesitation moves. Containing her will be a key for us."
Packard also said Valparaiso's frontcourt players hit are difficult to block out, and rebounding will be another key.
So far this season, Packard has been pleased with her offense getting the ball into the post to players such as senior Emily Maggert and junior Suzanne Grossnickle. But lately, she has been concerned because she feels her team is too focused on getting the ball down low.
"I've got an opposite problem today, where I had to remind them that we're touching our post so often we're forgetting we have shooters on the outside," Packard said. "It's almost come full circle that touching the post is such a habit now that distributing out and recognizing the guards is the next step."
With the game being the night before Thanksgiving, Packard said her players would enjoy the time they have with each other. But the holiday will not necessarily mean more bonding.
"They value every little bit of time they get," Packard said. "They always bond, but they always do a great job of enjoying one another's company. We'll just add some sweets and baked goods to it this time."
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