Don’t ask Kansas University women’s basketball coach Marian Washington whom she will start tonight against Illinois.
She really doesn’t know, and might not make a decision until just before game time.
Regular starting guard Jennifer Jackson and sometimes-starting center Nikki White both are ailing and might not be able to play, let alone start.
Tipoff for KU-Illinois is 7 tonight at Allen Fieldhouse, with delay telecast available in Lawrence at 3 p.m. Wednesday on cable channel 66.
Jackson took a blow to her left eye in KU’s victory Sunday against Louisiana-Monroe. White broke her nose during a shoot-around Saturday, and though she played that evening against Alabama-Birmingham, she did not play Sunday against UL-Monroe.
“I don’t know what they’re going to rule relative to Nikki and Jennifer,” Washington said of KU’s medical staff. “Hopefully they’ll let me know early so I can decide.”
Both Jackson and White had X-rays taken Monday. White’s showed a fracture; Jackson’s did not. Both complained of headaches Monday and were held out of contact practice.
“We’re in terrible shape,” Washington said. “Jennifer poor soul. She was fouled, and in the process the kid just ran right into her. Her eye is just really messed up, and the other kid fractured her jaw. Thank got it wasn’t a fracture of any kind (for Jackson).”
In addition to the two injuries, the Jayhawks (3-1) returned from a three-game, six-day road trip with two victories and a loss.
Now they’re facing their first top-25 challenge of the season. The Illini (2-1) come in ranked No. 24 nationally.
“It’s a win-win situation for us,” Washington said. “They have a very fine ball club, but for us right now we’re definitely focused on Kansas. We’re still trying to get to know each other. We’ve got a lot of new players. At moments we feel pretty good, and at moments we lose chemistry out there. It’ll be a year-long process, but every game everybody has stepped up at one point or another. We’ve had some challenges, but we’ve had players step up.”
Washington counts this portion of the schedule among the challenges. Tonight’s game is KU’s third in a string of five games in eight days. Then, after this weekend’s KU Credit Union Classic, the Jayhawks will go two weeks with only an exhibition game.
“We put that second exhibition game in so we could get a game in there,” Washington said. “It’s very challenging. We have seven games in 15 days. But you’re only as prepared as you are challenged, and our kids really are challenged.”
Washington expects a challenge from Illinois, which beat the Jayhawks, 61-59, last season in Chicago. Four Illini starters average in double figures in scoring: Allison Curtin, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, 15.3 points per game; Shavonna Hunter, a 5-7 sophomore guard, 14 ppg; Iveta Marcaskaite, a 6-4 freshman forward, 12.7 ppg; and Anne O’Neil, a 5-11 freshman center, 10.7 ppg.
“We will be forced to have to execute and stay focused,” Washington said. “It’s real important that we see some progress on defense. We’re trying to manage the basketball better. The last two games, we only turned it over 16 times, and that’s outstanding. Illinois is a great ball club. They lost handily to Tennessee, but most teams will. I really think they’re good. We don’t have anything to lose. That’s as true a statement as I’ve ever been able to say. People realize that we’re a team almost half of us are brand new. It does take time.”
Kansas will play host to the KUCU Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Jayhawks will face Eastern Illinois on Friday night, then either St. Joseph or Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.
Probable Starters
No. 24 ILLINOIS (2-1)
F Iveta Marcaskaite, 6-4, Fr.
F Cindy Dallas, 6-2, Fr.
C Anne O’Neil, 5-11, Fr.
G Allison Curtin, 5-11, Jr.
G Shavonna Hunter, 5-7, Soph.
KANSAS (3-1)
F Brooke Reves, 6-0, Sr.
F Jaclyn Johnson, 6-1, Sr.
C Kristin Geoffroy, 6-6, Jr.
G KC Hilgenkamp, 5-10, Jr.
G Selena Scott, 5-6, Jr.
Tipoff: 7:05 tonight, Allen Fieldhouse.
TV: Live locally on cable channel 66.