By Kyle Soppe
The Richmond Spiders have won five of six games to open the 2011-2012 season, most of which have come in convincing fashion. But the schedule toughens, as in-state rivals VCU and Virginia take on the Spiders later this week. As the youngest team in the A-10, many players on the UR roster have never been a part of these bragging right games. To gain insight about the season up to this point, and the intense Virginia games, I sat down with redshirt junior Rachel Bilney.
Rachel now that you have recovered from a devastating 2010 knee injury, what has changed for you? Coming into this season, your career high in points was 12, and you have matched or surpassed that number four times in six games this year. You’re also scorching from behind the arc (46.2%) and are second on the team with a 1.5 assist to turnover ratio. How were you able to improve so much coming off of a red shirt season?
I think being able sit and watch teaches you a lot about how the team operates. As for the improvement, I guess I just had more time to practice. We lost a ton of points to graduation, so I had to take on a larger role.
Obviously the 5-1 start is phenomenal, but what does it mean to be the Queen of Virginia? You lead the Spiders into VCU on Thursday and then Virginia comes to the Robins Center on Sunday. How can you keep the momentum from the season’s first three weeks going?
The games this week are big opportunities to make a statement. VCU is always a tough battle and obviously UV is a great team; it’ll give us a chance to see where we stand in the state of Virginia.
You were forced to watch the 68-53 win last December against the Rams from the sidelines, but they have a workhorse inside in Courtney Hurt (22.8 ppg and 9.6 rpg). She’s scored 92 points in VCU’s last three games, and seems to be among the nation’s elite inside. Rebounding has been a strength for your Spiders this season, how can you limit Hurt’s second chances?
Any player that can pull down 20 rebounds in a game is pretty impressive. But rebounding is a group effort, not just the responsibility of the post players. We can not count Gen [Okoro] for double digit rebounds every night. But Hurt isn’t their only weapon, so we will need to focus on their team as a whole. All five players on the court need to rebound.
Richmond is yet to lose to the Rams in your three years on campus, what’s the secret behind the success?
It’s always a battle and a hard fought game. I guess we [herself and sister Sam] are good luck charms.
Sunday afternoon, Joanne Boyle returns home, as she was Richmond’s head coach from 2002-2005. She was very successful, registering three consecutive 20 win seasons along with an at large berth to the 2005 NCAA tournament. What do you know of her legacy?
During my freshman year, there were some players who had been coached by her. They said she was a true competitor and knew how to win. I don’t believe that it’s a coincidence that she has had success where ever she has coached. People make their own success, and I am sure she will be successful at UV sooner rather than later.
Virginia was ranked in the nation’s top 25 until a loss to California last week. They beat you last year, but that was a different team. No member other than Abby Oliver scored more than one bucket in last season’s 75-62 defeat. What will make this year different?
You said it, our youth. Teams don’t know our faces, and that should work to our advantage. We feel as if some teams will overlook our team, as Abby Oliver is the only name most recognize, but we like that role. This year our defense has been solid, but we need to be able to score when we absolutely need a bucket. Our offensive consistency can improve, and will help us win big games as the season moves forward.
Lastly, all good players must have a good nickname. It’s a rule here at Pickin Splinters, and you’ve certainly earned the honor. What can we refer to you as from this moment forward? And I’m not taking no for an answer, either you give me a nickname or you will be assigned one, and you don’t want that.
Hahaha. Wow, you really put me on the spot here. I guess if I had to pick a nickname, and this hasn’t really been used all that much, but I’d go with “Sass”. A few teammates used it for me a while ago, and Coach Shafer yelled it once. Nobody calls me Rachel, it’s always Rach, but I don’t know if that really counts.
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