Coaches Ready for Basketball Season

Men's

Entering the fourth season of the Derek Thomas era, the Western Illinois men's basketball team has a flourishing foundation. Preseason all-conference guard David Jackson (Huntsville, Ala.) leads a core of six returning letterwinners. In 2005-06, Jackson led Western in nine statistical categories, including points and minutes per game. He will be joined by sharp-shooting guards Troy Okeson, a senior who shot 44 percent from 3-point territory through 15 games last season before falling injured, and Chris Gonzaleze, a 42 percent shooter from behind the arc.

"I have a couple guys who have played here for two-plus years, and understand the system and the league and what it takes to win," Thomas said.

Thomas expects all six of his newcomers to impact the team immediately, and is especially anticipating the on-court arrival of Purdue transfer Xavier Price, who will become eligible in January.

Women's

After winning four straight Mid-Continent Conference titles, the Western Illinois University women's basketball team is starting its hunt for the fifth. This hunt will have to be made without the services of two-time Mid-Con Player and Defensive Player of the Year Zane Teilane '06 and All-Mid-Con second team member Samantha Greer, who has completed her athletic eligibility.

"I like the phrase 'I stay ready so I don't have to get ready,'" Women's Head Coach Leslie Crane said. "That is pretty much how this program runs. We are always going to do the things necessary to win games. Our goals are to always vie for the conference championship and to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Nothing has changed, so there is not really any pressure because we have always strived for this success. Our players are hungry, they are fighters and they are winners. They come in knowing what they need to do to win ball games."

With the loss of Teilane and Greer, who averaged 16.4 and 10.1 points respectively, it will be interesting to see who will step up to fill in the scoring for Western. DeeDee Murphy was a strong addition to the Western roster in 2005-06, averaging 4.4 points and 2.3 rebounds a game after transferring from Moberly Area Community College. Others expected to step up for Western are the team's six sophomores. This season brings three new faces to the court in junior transfer Samantha Quigle and freshmen Katy Clark and Jordon O'Brien.

For a complete listing of Western Illinois Athletics events and information, visit www.wiuathletics.com.

 

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