A closer look at Terri Sullivan's Illini ahead of today's NCAA tournament opener against host Missouri (5 p.m. start):
TIGERS HAVE A BITE
Not only is Missouri at home, the Tigers are hot. They upset top-seeded and ninth-ranked Oklahoma to win the Big 12 tournament – in Oklahoma City no less. While Illinois is making its third NCAA appearance, Missouri is a tournament regular (13th appearance, including four in the last five seasons).
ORDER, PLEASE
Hope Howell, who spent time on the bench due to a hamstring injury, is expected to be in the starting lineup for Illinois. A second-team All-Big Ten choice, the junior outfielder is the third Illini to receive league honors three times, joining Shanna Diller and Jenna Hall. Here is the expected Illinois batting order:
ILLINI POS.
Danielle Zymkowitz 2B
Hope Howell RF
Hollie Pinchback LF
Katrina Ross DP
Lana Armstrong C
Kelley Wedel 3B
Jamie Adishian CF
Meredith Hackett 1B
Ashley Conrad SS
FRESHMAN PHENOMS
Both teams rely heavily on rookie pitchers. Missouri's Chelsea Thomas has 13 wins and nine solo shutouts. She was named Most Outstanding Player at the Big 12 tournament. Illini freshman Monica Perry (24-13) is tied with Amanda Fortune for the third-most victories in a single season at Illinois. Perry has pitched in 42 of 44 Illini games.
Z ON THE LOOSE
The Illini need second baseman Danielle Zymkowitz to continue to harass opposing defenses. The All-Big Ten pick has reached base at least once in all but three games, including the last six straight in the regular season. And once she gets on base, watch out. Zymkowitz owns the ninth-best runs per game average in the country (1.09).
NOT GOING AWAY
Get used to the NCAAs, Illini. Two of the four Illini who have started all 44 games this year are freshmen (Adishian and Hackett) and the other two (Pinchback and Zymkowitz) are sophomores. Another freshman (Wedel) has started 43 games.
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