The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 55

the Pantagraph F3 Sunday, November 24, 1996 iO A I JL; KE great defensive team. We Fast non-conference start vital to success Consistent etfort key element Dan Muller A Lrf an 0 I i can be a really good offensive team, but I don't know if we can be a great offensive team." ISU could employ more fullcourt defense this year, in part because it has the personnel to do so. Another key to the Redbirds' success will be the development of good inside-outside scoring balance. Stallings believes 6-foot-7 center LeRoy Watkins and 6-6 forward Rico Hill will be consistent inside scorers to complement the scoring from the perimeter players. "Potentially it's the most bal anced we've been from a scoring standpoint," said Stallings.

"From an offensive standpoint, I think we can be difficult to cover. I want us to be hard to guard and play against defensively because we are getting after you. We should be hard to play offensively because we are execut ing." Rebounding should not be a major concern either. 4 "We're not quite as tenacious as I would like for us to be," Stallings added. "We have pretty active guys which is important.

We could and should be a good offensive rebounding team." And what would a realistic boxs- core look like after an ISU victory, Coach? "We'd shoot 52 percent from the field; 75 percent from the free throw line and attempt significantly more free throws than our opponent; have five or six more rebounds and three to five more offensive rebounds," said Stallings. "We'd have 10 to 12 turnovers and 15 team fouls." What about 3-pointers? "I'd like to see us hit 40 percent no matter how many we take," added Stallings. "I don't care if we shoot 10 or 20 just as long as they are good shots." BRYAN BLOODWORTH Pantagraph sports editor Illinois State basketball coach Kevin Stallings doesn't believe there is any question as to whether or not this year's team is going to be good. "The only question is how good," said Stallings. "The part that is exciting is just knowing that every night we take the floor this year we've got a chance to win." There are higher expectations and more excitement for Redbird basketball this year than any of the past few years.

Nearly 1,000 more season tickets (general public and stu dents) have been sold and with good reason. The Redbirds have been picked to win he Missouri Valley Conference championship in virtually every preseason poll. "Anything less than the league championship and NCAA Tournament bid would be disappointing," said junior captain Rob Gibbons. To reach those goals, Stallings said they must become a consistent team. "The key to us being a great team is consistency," repeated Stallings.

"That means you consistently make it difficult for people to score; you consistently get the ball in the basket and take care of the ball; and you don't go for long periods of time By BRYAN BLOODWORTH Pantagraph sports editor mm ot since the 1984-85 team won Ittl nine of its first 10 games has Illinois State's basketball team gotten the season off to a good start. "We need to have a very successful nonconference season," said ISU coach Kevin Stallings. "We have been anywhere from mediocre to a little above average in terms of our non-conference record and performance." The Redbirds have a 1 5-1 3 record in games in November and December in Stallings' three-year reign. And they have never won a season opener during his tenure. "Part of that is who we played," added Stallings, whose team opens the season tonight at 6:30 at Big East Conference school Pittsburgh.

"Our teams have always played well late in the year, but we need to play well early this year and I will be disappointed if we don't have a successful nonconference season." Junior captain Dan Muller said Stallings has stressed the importance of the nonconference season this year more than past years. "We're not looking at these games as just a tuneup for the conference season," Muller continued. "These are important games for the end of the year. They could be the determining factor (between an NCAA or NIT berth) at the end of the year." Stallings believes his team's non-conference schedule is competitive, but admits there are some difficult stretches in it because of the opponents the Redbirds play on the road and the successive number of road games during certain spans. "There's no one on the schedule you can really look at and say that's a win," Stallings continued.

"It's a schedule that has a bunch of schools we're capable of beating and who are Smiley hopeful van Velzen can help the team come conference time. Rob Gibbons The 6-10 center will spell Watkins inside and be looked upon to screen, defend and rebound. The coaching staff has changed his role somewhat to take better advantage of his good shooting touch from I 15-to-17 feet. Kyle Cartmill The sophomore guard will serve as Schaefbauer's backup on the wing and will be expected to provide an offensive spark off the bench. Stallings said the 6-foot Cartmill is tremendous in the open court and has good range from beyond the three-point line.

Kenneth Pierson The 6-8 jumping jack will man a wing position and back up Muller. The rangy sophomore needs to be a strong offensive rebounder. Because of his long arms and jumping ability, K.P. will block shots. Joe Hein LeRoy ixperienee-ladon foam understands irolos Pantograph photosMAUREEN O'CONNOR Kevin Stallings capable of beating us." Stallings rates the Missouri Valley Conference as "the most balanced" since he's been at ISU.

"There are seven, maybe eight teams that have a legitimate chance at finishing in the upper division," said Stallings, whose team was picked as the preseason conference favorite." The Redbirds finished second in the Valley last year with a 13-5 record. What does Stallings think it will take to win it this year? "15-3 will win it without question," said Stallings, who added that he would find it very difficult for a team to go undefeated in league play. "You have to take care of yourself at home and win the games you're supposed to win on the road. That was our downfall last year." Antonio Cooper was last year. Khali! Ourguis The 6-9 freshman forward from Belguim will be used inside.

He is very athletic and has good size and quickness, but needs to gain experience. Ben Holmstrom A transfer from Miami (Ohio) who has been plagued by a bad ankle during his collegiate career. The 6-8 junior is an inside player with good shooting range. He is currently out indefinitely because of the ankle injury. Ryan Crowley The 6-5 freshman guard is a recruited walk-on from Naperville Central.

"It's Ryan's job to raise the level of intensity and competitiveness in practice," said Stallings. Nic Stotler The 6-foot freshman guard, also a recruited walk-on, hails from Bethalto Civic Memorial High School. "Just like Ryan, it will be Nic's role to make practice situations as tough as he can for the veter ans," said Stallings. without scoring. "I'm a great believer that you develop consistency in practice that your practice habits have more to do with your play and how consistently you play than anything else.

Our practices have been good, but we haven't become the kind of practice team yet that we need to become." The Redbirds will attack the game in the same manner as past season with primarily a man-for-man defense and motion offense. "But we'll have to win with our defense, although I'm not one of those people who believes you only win with defense," Stallings continued. "It takes a combination of both, but I think we have a chance to be a and rebounding on the inside. He has very high skill levels for a guy his size, according to Stallings. "It's just a matter of Rico being consistent and pushing himself and playing as hard as he can," added Stallings.

"If Rico has a great year then this team will probably have a great year. He needs to play as tenaciously as he can." LeRoy Watkins The 6-7, 265-pound junior center must be the Redbirds' force inside. He improved his stamina and physical strength in the off-season, which should allow him to play for extended periods of time. "LeRoy has to be our inside threat and he needs to do it on a consistent basis," said Stallings. "He can't score 22 points and have 12 rebounds one night and four and three rebounds the next.

"He has worked hard on his inside moves. He needs to shoot 55 to 60 percent from the field because of where his shots are coming from. He defends well because he has good defensive instincts." Skipp Schaefbauer The 6-3 guard will be looked upon to provide perimeter scoring. He is the strongest player on the team who bench presses 355 pounds and owns the team's best vertical jump at 332 inches. "He is a complete offensive player and a rugged defender," said Stallings.

"He is an excellent shooter who will stretch out some defenses with his 1 By BRYAN BLOODWORTH Pantagraph sports editor Illinois State's basketball team returns eight Iettermen from last year's 22-12 team, which 'advanced to the quarterfinal round of the National Invitation Tournament. Add in Division I transfer Skipp Schaefbauer, a starter at East Carolina and the fact that none of the players on the 15-man roster is a senior and it paints an optimistic picture for the upcoming season, i But who will actually be doing what for the Redbirds to be successful? Dan Muller The Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season is the Redbirds' most consistent player overall. The 6-foot-6 junior forward will primarily play a wing position, but will be used inside on occassion. we neea uan to become a primary scorer," said ISU coach Kevin Stallings. "Dan needs to rebound and score and he will have some ballhandling responsibilities, but his value is that he is very intelligent.

He doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He is our best conditioned player who can play for long periods of time at a high rate of intensity." Rico Hill The 6-6 sophomore forward may be the Redbirds' most talented and gifted athlete. Hill must provide ISU consistent scoring 4 I Rico Hill Jamar he has the ability to take the ball to the basket. He is one of the best passers, it not the best, on the team." Schaefbauer also is a good ballhandler and could play point guard if the situation arises. 4 vs v.

Jamar Smiley The 5-1 1 junior guard, who led the Missouri Valley Conference with 6.7 to rank 13th nationally, will run the show. He has to make sure everybody is in the right spot. "We really play off his enthusiasm and energy," said Stallings. "Any scoring he gives us is a plus, yet he is very capable of providing it. He has a tendency to hit big shots with the game on the line." Steve Hansell The 6-4 guard will serve as Smiley's backup.

He possesses a good outside shot and the ability to slash to the basket. Hansell has very long arms and is among the team's better defenders. His versatility could have him playing a wing position at times. Ronald van Velzen An ankle injury early in the preseason has slowed the 6-10 center's progress. "The two weeks he missed in practice were devastating from a learning curve," said Stallings.

"Ronald has a variety of offensive skills and can help us by becoming a scorer on the low block." Stallings is Till i Mr- Watkins The 6-7 freshman forward has tremendous outside shooting range and has shown a knack for rebounding. He needs to become physically stronger and will primarily be used as a designated shooter much like Stiff tremendous range and Page DesigrvSCOTT CHtESfcMAN..