BY JASON FARMER
Blackburn Sports Information
With the leaves coming down quickly and the weather getting colder, it means it's time to move from outdoor sports to indoor sports. It is time for basketball season. The 2011/2012 basketball season for the Blackburn College Women's Basketball Team will see Jen Windmiller take over the reigns as head coach. Just one year ago, Windmiller was the head assistant and now she is getting the Beavers ready for the new season as the new head coach.
"I am extremely excited," Windmiller said. "It is kind of nerve-racking, but I am just very anxious."
It won't be an easy task as the Beavers bring back only three players from a year ago, but Windmiller is counting on all three of them to step up and help lead the team. The Beavers three returners; Andrea Kleinsorge, Rashonda Willis, and Shelby Smith will also be the captains for this year.
"We are just getting the concept right now with the team newcomers and the returners from last year's squad – it is about playing basketball" Windmiller said. "They have a lot more freedom as far as making plays."
Kleinsorge (a senior center) and Willis (a junior point guard) are the only upperclassmen on the team. Smith is a sophomore and is coming back from compartment syndrome surgery. She will play forward for the Beavers.
"A lot of turnover," Windmiller said. "We are not necessarily a young team, but we are an inexperienced team right now. We have role players who are going to have to step up and be key contributors."
The beginning of the season will be rough for the Beavers. Blackburn will play back-to-back home games on November 15 and 16 and then start a road trip that will keep the Beavers playing away from Carlinville until early January.
"We start off at home right off the bat," Windmiller said. "We play Aurora University on the 15th and then Lindenwood-Belleville on the 16th. Then we have a day off and head up to North Central and play that Friday and Saturday and we are on the road until January 14th."
Blackburn will play a minimum of 12 consecutive road games this year. Included in those contests are the tournament at North Central and another over Christmas break at Huntingdon College.
"It is a challenge," Windmiller said. "Any athlete can tell you that you are not supposed to win games on the road, you are supposed to steal them. Fortunately having an inexperienced team, they going to learn a lot and they are going to take a lot of lumps right off the bat. If we can win some on the road, we should be able to take care of business at home."
The Beavers will follow their road trip with a five-game home stand against conference foes.
While the season is just about a week away from starting, practices with the full team have just begun as players were involved in other sports.
"Half of our squad consists of soccer and volleyball players," Windmiller said. "They missed the first couple weeks of practice."
Last year the Beavers played to a 10-15 record but do to an ineligible player ended up finishing the season with a 5-20 record. With a coach who knows the returning players, improving upon the five wins is well within the Beavers reach this year.
"I just want them to focus on one game at a time," Windmiller said. "My expectations are to get better every day. I want us to be able to compete day in and day out."