2003-2004年女子篮球队的中心主题是“青春”。老詹米·加辛由于赛季结束前十字韧带受伤而退出了阵容，留下了年轻的莉安·斯蒂芬森和珍妮·德穆斯，他们是两年前印第安人最后一次进入NCAA锦标赛时在IU的球员。随着印地安大学第一个全国排名的新生班级的加入，印地安人队的一年级和二年级各有五名球员。尽管球队缺乏经验，国际联盟教练Kathi Bennett仍然对今年的表现保持乐观。\ n "我们非常年轻。我们有五名大一学生，五名大二学生，还有两名大三学生。”“我觉得这是一支非常令人兴奋的球队，毫无疑问，我们可以成为十大防守最好的球队之一。我认为这是自我来到这里以来防守最好的球队，我认为知道这一点非常令人兴奋。撇开经验问题不谈，球员和教练都把印第安人的年轻归因于球场上的无形资产。“这个年轻人给球场带来了很多活力，”二年级的后卫Cyndi Valentin说。“我们现在都在学习很多东西，当我们走出球场时，我们都很努力。”团队缺乏的主要经验，IU弥补了纯粹的天赋。德穆斯是印第安人最久经沙场的勇士，在她59场比赛的职业生涯中，除了5场比赛外，其余都是首发。德穆斯在大一和大二赛季已经取得了令人印象深刻的成绩，预计这一季她将继续前进。在她的大二赛季，她场均得到12分，4.8个篮板和2.3次助攻。作为一名新生，德穆斯在赛季开始仅4场比赛就开始首发，场均7.1分，5.5个篮板。 \nValentin is another "veteran" who is expected to perform for the Hoosiers after a stellar freshman season. During her first season in the Hoosier uniform, Valentin earned Big Ten All-Freshman team honors -- only the third IU player in the program's history to gain such honors. Valentin also became the first freshman in IU history to score 290 points, drain 25 three pointers and record over 30 steals in a season. Despite her impressive accomplishments, Valentin carries an air of humility about her game.\n"I just like being able to hype up my team and just let them know what's going on," Valentin said. "What I'm doing, what they can do and I'm willing to hear from them and know what I'm doing wrong too."\n6-foot-3-inch sophomore Angela Hawkins provides a strong presence under the hoop, averaging 6.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg last season.\n"Angie is a tremendous offensive rebounder with a nose for the ball," Bennett said. "As her offensive skills improve, she can be one of the best post players to have played here."\nAll in all, Bennett cites a core group of five people needed to step up in order for a successful Hoosier run. \n"If we're going to be successful, (DeMuth) really needs to step up," Bennett said. "I think (sophomore) Cyndi Valentin (is important). We're going to get Angie (Hawkins) back and LeeAnn (Stephenson). We need that group to really step up. Kalli (Kullberg) needs to be that consistent energized person that brings the enthusiasm and fire."\nIU's existing roster will be bolstered by an impressive group of freshman who will be fighting for starting positions.\n"On paper, they're the best class that we've ever brought in," associate head coach Trish Betthauser said. "Their skill level is much higher than any other class that we've brought in. What's more exciting is the hunger that they have. They're here because they truly want to win a championship here."\nWith such youth and talent only one thing remains squarely in IU's crosshairs for this season: The Big Dance.\n"The NCAA Tournament berth is a goal of ours," Bennett said. "That's what we want."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.
