Players lost:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Alicia Sheeler 31/30 28.6 160 330 .485 4 21 .190 40 59 .678
Sarah Wustrack 10/0 2.4 2 14 .143 2 8 .250 1 1 1.000

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Alicia Sheeler 75 154 229 80-3 27 40 17 50 0.54 28 364 11.7
Sarah Wustrack 0 0 0 0-0 2 0 0 1 2.00 7 7 0.7

 

Players returning:

  GP/GS Min FG FGA FG% 3 Pt 3Pt A 3 Pt % FT FTA FT %
Susan Blauser 31/30 30.5 204 374 .545 0 2 .000 124 161 .770
Allison Curtain 31/7 26.0 126 282 .447 28 72 .389 119 144 .826
Tauja Catchings 28/28 31.7 133 329 .404 0 1 .000 100 149 .671
Melissa Parker 30/30 34.1 113 302 .374 66 196 .337 43 55 .782
Lisa Guarneri 31-26 23.8 50 128 .391 20 59 .339 18 33 .545
Kylie Martin 31/3 12.9 45 101 .446 2 15 .133 34 53 .642
Dawn Vada 31/1 13.8 39 81 .481 0 0 .000 25 34 .735
Holly Wilson 25/0 6.7 18 40 .450 0 0 .000 22 37 .595
Cindy Dallas* 3/0 14.7 9 16 .563 0 0 .000 8 11 .727

 

  Off Reb Def Reb Reb PF-D Assists Steals Blocks TO A/TO High Points Ave
Susan Blauser 93 133 226 92-4 60 37 21 92 0.65 32 532 17.2
Allison Curtain 56 68 124 92-3 75 60 9 96 0.78 24 399 12.9
Tauja Catchings 108 112 220 89-4 103 41 24 86 1.20 26 366 13.1
Melissa Parker 14 61 75 58-0 99 36 4 71 1.39 24 335 11.2
Lisa Guarneri 26 65 91 51-0 116 40 3 85 1.36 16 138 4.5
Kylie Martin 21 39 60 23-0 23 15 2 33 0.70 14 126 4.1
Dawn Vada 20 54 74 62-0 21 8 5 30 0.70 12 103 3.3
Holly Wilson 14 23 37 43-1 1 4 4 4 0.25 11 58 2.3
Cindy Dallas* 5 8 13 10-1 1 1 2 1 1.00 14 26 8.7

*Cindy Dallas suffered a torn acl after the third game of the year

Additions:

Kristi Faulkner 5'7 G Glen Ellyn, Ill #42*  #135! Street & Smith HonM All-American
Karen Hagberg 6'3 F/C Palatine, Ill #67*  #55!  Street & Smith Hon M All-American
Shavonna Hunter 5'7 G Hazelcrest, Ill #85!  

* Blue Star Top 100 Seniors

!  All Star Girls Report

Illinois goes into the 1999 season with four key players returning.  Seniors Susan Blauser, Tauja Catchings, Melissa Parker and soph Allison Curtain are a well-balanced, potent offensive quartet.  Parker it a top three point shooter; Blauser can be unstoppable in the post; Catchings will slash with the best of them and Curtain is a dangerous scorer from about anywhere.

The Illini will miss the graduated Alicia Sheeler most on the boards.  In 1998, Illinois was a very good rebounding team, and an exceptional one on the offensive boards.  They will need to replicate that effort in 1999.  Cindy Dallas, who redshirtted after suffering an acl, is likely to get the first chance to replace Sheeler.

In 1998, Illinois was an average defensive team.  It hurt them in close games and on the nights when their offense was held in check.  Catchings battled a knee injury much of the year and that may have hurt the Illini defensive effort.  Grentz is turning her team into a quicker, more athletic one.  That should result in better defense.

Grentz has a non-conference schedule that should get her team ready for the league season, and for a run in the post-season.  They play Final 4 candidates Notre Dame, Connecticut and Georgia as well as the US National Team.  They also play likely ranked Texas and Kansas.

The conference schedule may play a factor in the final standings, and it may be to the detriment of the Illini.  Illinois only plays Penn State once and that's at State College.  While playing the league favorite only once may seem like an advantage, the lack of opportunity to hang an L on the Lady Lions in Champagne may be the difference in a close conference race.

Grentz' first teams at Illinois had a mental toughness that was a major factor in the resurgence of the program (or is it more accurately a surgence).  The 99 team needs to develop that toughness. 

If they can stay healthy and shore up their defense, this has the potential to be Theresa the Terrible's best Illinois team.

By position:

  Point guard.  Guarneri is the true point guard on the team, but  Parker will likely start at the position, so that she and Curtain can be on the floor at the same time. She isn't a great ballhandler, but she is adequate, doesn't turn the ball over and does a good job of setting up her teammates.  

  Swing players.  Catchings and Curtain are both solid all-around players and will provide Grentz with one of the top 2/3 combinations in the conference. .  Catchings is one of the top defenders and rebounders in the league.  Offensively, she can be slowed if teams can stop her drive and force her to take jump shots.   In addition to being one of the league's most entertaining players, Curtain shows promise of being one of the most well-rounded.

  Post players.  Blauser stepped in last year and proved to be one of the top post players in the conference.  She moves very well and  has an excellent arsenal of post moves.  A key to the success of the Illini will be the center spot.  It's likely that redshirt freshman Dallas will replace Sheeler.  She doesn't have the bulk to compete with some of the aircraft carriers some teams have in the middle, but she should be one of the more athletic post players in the league.  

  Bench.  Grentz should get some help from her bench.  Guarneri is a quality back-up guard.  Martin at guard and Vada at forward got some time last year, although neither was a significant contributor.  It's likely that one or two freshmen will make the rotation.  If they can produce, Hagberg at post and either Faulkner or Hunter could play regularly.

Strengths:  Offense, coaching, versatility

Weaknesses:  Defense, slowness, lack of depth

Key games:  @ Wisconsin Jan 4, @ Purdue Jan 20

Key Player:  Tauja Catchings.  She needs to stay healthy.  If the Illini defense is to improve, she will be the key.  She also may need to score more.

Questions Illini fans are asking:  Can Grentz recruit the one top high school player she needs to take her program to the next level?

 

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