Women's Basketball Preview - Part 6: UIC
Nov. 6, 2006
Five competitive seniors, improved upperclassmen, an ambitious schedule, three talented newcomers and a plethora of knowledge are the makeup of a successful basketball team in any coach's book.
With experience as the key to it all, UIC Head Coach Lisa Ryckbosch thinks all the elements are falling into place.
The Flames made their first-ever trip to the Horizon League Tournament title game in 2005-06, but fell short of their ultimate goal: a conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
"We expect to be able to build on last year's success," said Ryckbosch. "We have more experience and depth than we've ever had. I think that, combined with the hunger of the youth will bring out the best in every player on this team. The veterans have lived through the ups and downs, the slow starts, overcoming adversity and the ability to turns things around in tough times," continued Ryckbosch. "I think this experience will serve us well this season."
En route to becoming the second all-time winningest coach in the history of UIC women's basketball, Ryckbosch has guided the Flames to its highest-ever conference finish, produced several all-league and school record breaking players, while also steering last year's squad to its first-ever Horizon League Tournament title game.
In addition to the seniors, all the returning players have worked hard in the off season to improve their games and with all the key components coming together, the team has its sights on a Horizon League regular season championship.
Alongside the veterans, three newcomers step onto the competitive scene in college basketball.
"I am impressed with their work ethic," said Ryckbosch of the freshmen. "These freshmen understand how hard you need to work in practice. They are talented enough, competitive enough and pick things up quickly enough that they are really going to challenge and push the veterans."
All the rich talent on the 2006-07 team has Ryckbosch and the UIC women's basketball program geared up and ready for the season to start.
"We just can't wait to get going," Ryckbosch said. "We are all ready to get this done, to take the next step. We are going to find a way to make it happen. We've paid our dues, had our share of rough times and now it's time to get it done."
GUARDS AND WINGS
The deepest position on the Flames roster is at guard. Five seniors return to guide the Flames with all recording major minutes for the program since they got to UIC.
Is it feasible that all five will start? Maybe not, but each senior is an important piece of the puzzle and for the Flames to be successful, each one will have a vital role.
"These seniors have been through a great deal," said Ryckbosch. "They know what we as a coaching staff expect, they understand what their opponents are going to bring to the table, and I expect them to be primed and ready to step on the court and execute."
A two-time All-Horizon League recipient, LaShonda Grant is ready to pick up where she left off, averaging a team-high 15.1 points per game last season. After notching 30 points in a 74-62 win over UW-Green Bay in the conference tournament, Grant was named to the conference all-tournament team for her stellar performance.
Grant enters her senior season just 43 points shy of becoming the 11th player in UIC history to score 1,000 career points, and could crack the top five on the all-time scoring list before the season comes to an end.
Grant's ability to score, as well as create for her teammates, has made her a tough player to guard.
"We have seen flashes of brilliance from LaShonda in the past three years," said Ryckbosch. "I expect to see a level of consistency from her as a scorer and as someone who brings out the best in her teammates."
Krystal Hugelier has worked hard to improve every facet of her game during her tenure at UIC.
"Krystal came here as a scorer," Ryckbosch explained. "She is now a complete basketball player that has improved her assist-to-turnover ratio every season and has one of the best three-point field goal percentages in the league."
The 5-foot-8 senior guard averaged a career-best 10.8 ppg last season while netting 38 percent of her three-point attempts. Hugelier is just 175 points shy of the 1,000-point mark, and should she reach the plateau along with Grant, it would give the Flames five 1,000-point scorers since Ryckbosch's arrival.
Versatility is Jacquay Holmes' middle name because of her ability to play inside or outside.
"Quay is a tough basketball player," said Ryckbosch. "We may put her inside and dare a 6-2 post player to guard her or we can keep her on the perimeter because we have more depth inside. Regardless of the position, we want her on the floor because she makes things happen. When Quay is playing her best basketball, UIC plays its best basketball."
The conference portion of the schedule last season saw an offensive explosion from Holmes. The senior shot 54 percent from the field in UIC's last 11 games and recorded an impressive performance in the Horizon League Championship contest with 17 points.
Kelly True is the "jack of all trades" because she will do whatever it takes to get things done for the Flames. One of the best defenders on the team, the coaching staff would like her to be more aggressive offensively this season.
"Kelly has been content in her career to step back and let others take over offensively," said Ryckbosch. "We expect to see Kelly hungrier to score because she can shoot, has a great pull-up game and can run the floor as well as anyone on the team."
True led UIC last year with a 40 percent average from beyond the arc while also ranking second on the team with a .759 free throw percentage.
Coming in with junior college experience, senior Jackie Parker has matured in just one year with the Flames. Parker's stout defensive game will serve as a key for the Flames this year.
Entering this season ranking first on the squad in steals (1.7 spg), Parker has improved her game tremendously on the offensive end of the floor.
"We have all seen how she has the ability to take over defensively by guarding the basketball as well as any player I have ever seen," said Ryckbosch. "What has been impressive in the preseason is her much improved understanding at the offensive end."
In addition to the five seniors, junior Megan Cummens, sophomores Meghan Hutchens and Jill Hushka and freshmen Briana Hinkle and Jessie Miller are potential pieces to the puzzle of success for UIC.
Cummens has matured another year and has the size and basketball smarts to be a factor.
Hutchens used her freshman year to learn the system, but as a sophomore she is ready to take it to another level.
The coaching staff is ready to see her take the next step.
"She has great size, ability and knows how to put the ball in the basket," said Ryckbosch. "We are very encouraged from what we have seen from her because she is an improved basketball player from last season."
Six-foot-one sophomore Jill Hushka worked hard on her game this summer and will push for time in the UIC rotation.
"A tireless competitor, and leader on and off the court, Jill's game has developed," said Ryckbosch. "Look for her to take advantage of opportunities to be on the floor."
With talent-filled newcomers, Ryckbosch is excited about her freshman class.
Jessie Miller and Briana Hinkle have picked up on things quickly in preseason and have been as competitive as anyone on the squad. Ryckbosch's philosophy is if you compete and produce, you put yourself on the floor.
"Briana brings quickness to the equation, much like Parker," said Ryckbosch. "Teams could have a tough time getting the ball across half court with certain line-ups."
An explosive athlete, Miller knows how to get the ball to the basket and make things happen. A student of the game, Miller's intensity and competitiveness matches her considerable talent.
Although Ryckbosch is unsure how these freshmen will fit into the mix at this point, she knows that they will push the upperclassmen and work hard to vie for time on the floor.
CENTERS
With more height and size at the post position, the Flames are expected to bring a tougher inside game this season. Sophomores Nikki Grobbecker and Ashley Hluska, junior Nicole Rinaldi and freshman Cassie Johnson will all be battling for time.
UIC's fourth newcomer Ashanti Walker will redshirt this season due to a knee injury that occurred in the preseason.
Impressing the coaching staff in preseason is the 6-foot-3 Straford, Ontario native Grobbecker.
"She went home last summer and worked on her game," Ryckbosch said. "She has improved and has stood out early on. Grobbecker is a more confident offensive player and she is a better defensive player. We have high expectations for her this season."
Rinaldi, last season's starting center, will be looked upon to pick up where she left off in 2005-06. She paced the Flames on both ends of the court last season, leading the team with 42 blocks and a .545 field goal percentage. Growing confidence and maturity this year make her an increased threat.
"Nicole beats players up and down the court, blocks shots and showed her willingness to want the ball more in the conference tournament," said Ryckbosch. We are excited about what she brings to the mix."
Freshman Cassie Johnson has show great promise in the preseason. Johnson has the size and the desire to be in the mix for the Flames and her work ethic and physical shape will work to her advantage.
"We not only need an offensive presence inside," said Ryckbosch. "We also need a stronger defensive presence inside and Cassie has the ability to fill that role."
Hluska had off-season knee surgery and is in the process of returning to form. If Hluska is healthy she has chance to be a physical offensive threat.
"If Ashley is healthy and gets her body back to where it needs to be, I think that she can be a vital part of the inside mix," said Ryckbosch.
SCHEDULE
UIC's schedule is one of the toughest since Ryckbosch took over the program in 2002.
"We are very excited about adding some high quality teams to this year's schedule," said Ryckbosch. "The opportunity to play three Big Ten teams, as well as DePaul at home is certainly a challenge, yet it is one we feel as though we are ready to tackle."
UIC's 2006-07 non-conference schedule will be used as a stepping stone for a competitive league slate.
The Flames are set to battle fierce opponents at home and on the road, totaling eight home contests in the months of November and December. UIC kicks off the season hosting three straight against Western Michigan, Illinois and Central Michigan.
The Flames then tangle with Eastern Illinois, Evansville and crosstown rival Northwestern in ten days to close out the month of November.
In December, UIC faces Wisconsin on the road, while hosting Air Force, Bradley, DePaul and Northern Illinois at the Pavilion. The Horizon League schedule begins on Thursday, Dec. 28 when UIC battles UW-Green Bay in Wisconsin.
"This team is fired up and ready to take on the challenge of elevating the program to new heights in 2006-07," said Ryckbosch.
