Chapman is 'premier post player'

Some say the quiet ones are always more dangerous.\nThis silent predator for the women's basketball team comes in the form of a 6-foot-5 inch junior from Montpelier, Ind. \nHer name is Jill Chapman.\n"She's that soft-spoken person," senior guard Heather Cassady said. "Every once in a while, she'll hit a big shot that will get her going, but most of the time she's kind of reserved." \nChapman, at a glance, doesn't seem menacing. She's quiet by nature, and is the person who listens to everyone else talk rather than do it herself. \nShe doesn't say much on the court, but if her hand is raised, and the ball is coming her way, the defense better be ready -- for a jumper, hook shot or a lay-up. Chapman is hitting more than 56 percent of her shots this season.\n"She's a great player," said Katie Abrahamson, associate head coach at Michigan State. "She's big and strong, and it forces our defense to always be aware of her. She's one of the most premier post players in the country."\nIt is this ability that helped Chapman land the Big Ten Player of the Week honor twice this season. Chapman and Purdue All-American Katie Douglas are the only two players in the conference to accomplish this feat. \nThe first time Chapman received the award was in November when she helped the Hoosiers to a quick 5-0 start. The Hoosiers played four games in six days. Chapman averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds during those four contests.\nChapman garnered the award for the second time during the first week of Big Ten play, after leading the Hoosiers to consecutive victories against Ohio State and Penn State. Over the span of both games, Chapman averaged 31 points and 20 rebounds.\n"Jill is one of our keys," coach Kathi Bennett said. "She's made strides in her defense and running the floor. When she's playing well, that definitely gives us a chance against anyone."\nHer strong performances aren't limited to those games.\nChapman leads the Hoosiers in scoring at more than 14 points per game. She is also IU's rebounding leader with an average of 7.7 per game.\nThe Blackford High School graduate ranks fourth in the Big Ten in scoring and her rebounding numbers place her in a tie for fifth place in the conference.\nIt's important to Chapman to maintain those numbers, because it means she is keeping up her playing philosophy.\n"I like to lead by example," Chapman said. "I try to go and work hard, and hopefully people notice that."\nShe doesn't take her strong games for granted, and goes to great lengths to make sure her game is at its best each night. \nAmong staying focused and preparing for her opponents, she sticks to a game day routine.\nBut Chapman almost didn't even know she had one, and was dangerously close to snapping her tradition. \nHer ritual? \nShaving her legs. More specifically, shaving the left limb before the right. In the past, she relied on a caffeinated drink before each game, but now she makes sure to keep her tradition going.\n"Now that I know about it, I have to make sure I do it, or else," Chapman said.\nBut broken ritual or not, a happier Chapman takes the floor each night. In the spring of 2000, IU fired former head coach Jim Izard and brought in Bennett. Chapman said she is more content with the new staff and the direction of the program.\n"The team is more together this year," Chapman said. "The coaching staff is so fun to be around. They love the game, and it makes the team love it even more because we show the dedication the coaches put into it."\nThe Hoosiers have staggered lately. Sunday, IU faced Penn State in a game that turned into a Nittany Lion blowout. Despite the loss, Chapman is confident the Hoosiers have what it takes to turn their situation around.\n"We've just got to keep working hard," Chapman said. "Sometimes it's going to be ugly, but if we keep playing hard, we'll get loose balls, we'll get rebounds, and we've just got to keep bouncing back as a team"