CARBONDALE (WSIL)-- SIU women's basketball team had their season come to an abrupt halt right before they were set to play their first game in the Missouri Valley Tournament.I got a chance to talk to Head Coach Cindy Stein who says it a bit of shock at first and a little disbelief. Coach said the reality of the situation didn't sink in until the bus ride home
"It hit them like oh my gosh were done like this season is over. we thought we were going to have a 20 win season we thought we had a great chance to win the tournament," said Coach Stein. "Now we can't prove ourselves and that frustration of unfinished business I think really weighed on everybody and still weighs on everybody."
It's the what ifs that will never be answered. The Salukis graduate 5 seniors including All -MVC Honorable Mention Nicole Martin. Replacing those seniors a challenge, and with the coronavirus recruiting is looking a little bit different.
"Honestly I like it because we do zoom meetings and we get to see their face.You actually get a little bit better response than when they are on the phone and we can't see them. So it actually makes them more accountable, they have to sit up and pay attention, but I actually like it but it has definitely moved our recruiting into a different format. You can show kids a little bit more what your talking about- we can show them power points and virtual tours and it gives the kids a better idea of what Southern Illinois is all about."
5 women have already committed to the program, Coach Stein feeling good about what each player brings to the team.
"We probably won't add anybody for this coming year unless we really feel like they are an impact player. So, we look at the transfer portal right now, but we think with the 4 incoming freshman and the junior college transfer
that that is a solid group fro us. We have one scholarship left - we will use it if we can get a high impact player type player, but the things we looked at for this group was a high motor. We want kids coming in with a lot of energy obviously skill level is huge
One of those signees, a local product Jeniah Thompson of Carterville, who helped guide the lions to a 3rd place state finish this past year
"I love Jeniah and I love Jeniah's game. She is a hooper. She is a hoophead and she loves to play. I think she is a little bit of a diamond in a rough and I think she is just going to get better. I know at Carterville Matt Crain used her in a bunch of different ways, she probably played every single
position on the floor. We may use her the same way she is so strong. She can go underneath and bang with the big kids. She can step out a hit the 3 she can handle the ball. I just think she is someone who is just going to get better and better. I'm really excited about Jeniah.
In addition to the new players this year, Coach feels they have a veteran senior group in Makenzie Silvey Rachel Podlowski and Abbey Brockmeyer to lead this group all the way to an MVC title.
