Guest Speaker: Lisa Carlsen

Lisa Carlsen says when she arrived at Northern Illinois University, she asked herself why NIU couldn't compete with other Division I teams...and after a season on the job, she found no reason why they couldn't.

Carlsen is entering her second season as the Huskies women's basketball coach; she came to Northern from Division II Lewis University, and brought her high-speed philosophy with her.

She says basketball is best played fast, and has emphasized speed, up-tempo pace, fast transition and endurance in preparing her team for play.

But Carlsen is equally invested in her players' academic performance; she had a 100% graduation rate among her players at Lewis, and constantly reminds her charges that their careers aren't likely to lead to professional ball...but to the academic field of their choice.