Regan Wentland’s freshman season as a member of the Indiana State University women’s basketball program proved to be more educational than statistically productive.
Averaging 9.5 minutes of playing time for the Sycamores during the 2015-16 season, the 6-foot-1 former Center Grove guard/forward enjoyed a front-row seat for most of her first year of Division I competition.
Wentland has more than doubled her playing time as a sophomore for ISU (4-4), which plays at Saint Louis on Tuesday.
“Coming in as a freshman I didn’t expect to play much,” said Wentland, the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year for the 2014-15 girls basketball season after averaging 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks while leading the Trojans to a sectional title.
“I had to adjust to the pace of play, and in high school I was used to playing all the time. But I feel every freshman has to go through that. I had several talks with my coaches and heard the positive criticism I needed to hear.”
First and foremost was to be patient.
Two of the three seniors on last year’s Indiana State squad played two wing positions (shooting guard and small forward), which is also where Wentland was inserted into games.
This isn’t to say she didn’t have her moments as a freshman.
After all, Wentland did score nine points against Central Michigan, contribute five steals in a game at Missouri State and log a career-high 27 minutes of playing time against IUPUI.
Once the Sycamores’ 12-16 season was complete, Wentland put in whatever gym time was necessary to improve her perimeter shooting touch, ballhandling, endurance and focus.
Her versatility has been on display in the early stages of the 2016-17 season.
At different points, third-year Sycamores coach Joey Wells has utilized Wentland off the bench at the 2, 3 and 4 spots. With his post players in foul trouble late in a November loss at Missouri, he even attempted to make the most of Wentland’s wingspan by using her at the center spot.
She finished with three points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Wentland, who made 90 consecutive starts during her four-year varsity career at Center Grove, learned a long time ago there is value in versatility.
“In a way, I like it because I take it as a compliment that my coaches want me on the floor,” she said.
Wentland has yet to make a start at the collegiate level other than this season’s 69-55 exhibition triumph over Quincy (Illinois) University, a Division II program.
She seems on track to eventually do so. If not this season, maybe next.
“Last year Regan got caught up in the numbers game, and she wasn’t ready to play multiple positions,” Wells said. “This season, it’s all kind of clicked for her. Now she can play multiple positions, and she’s more aggressive.
“Regan was great last year. She understood it and always saw the big picture. Now it’s paid off. She’s made huge strides from her freshman season and is only going to get better.”
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Center Grove graduate Regan Wentland is playing a more substantial role for Indiana State’s women’s basketball program now that she’s a sophomore:
Year;Games;Minutes;PPG;RPG
2015-16;28;9.5;1.1;1.5
2016-17;8;19.6;3.6;4.4
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