NORMAL - Playing 38 or 39 minutes, which Boo Richardson did in five games last season, likely won't happen on Illinois State's basketball team this season.

First-year coach Tim Jankovich all but promised that during the Redbirds' Media Day on Thursday. "Unless it's triple overtime, maybe," he quipped, "but I do want to reserve the right in case we have to."

As ISU prepares for the official start of practice Saturday, Richardson is smart enough to look around and know no one is promised any minutes this season. That goes for backcourt and frontcourt players, alike.

"If you can't guard and pick a guy up baseline to baseline or check him and get a rebound, you're not going to play. He's already told us that, no matter how talented you are," said Richardson, the 5-foot-8 senior guard. "Saturday is a big day because there's going to be 15 guys out there competing for time. No one has a starting position."

Jankovich eventually would like to settle on a nine-player rotation by the time the Missouri Valley Conference season begins in late December.

Who those nine will be is up for grabs, but Jankovich believes there will be plenty of competition. The Redbirds return eight players from last season's 15-16 squad plus two junior college transfers, two redshirts and freshman guard Alex Rubin.

Guards Chamberlain Oguchi (Oregon) and Landon Shipley (Austin Peay) are sitting out this season as transfers, but will practice with the team.

From Richardson (9.8 points, 4.9 assists per game) to Valley Freshman of the Year Osiris Eldridge (9.5 ppg) to Valley Most Improved Player Levi Dyer (12.1 ppg), Jankovich likes the talent he inherited and can't wait to get started.

"I do see a team that has a lot of parts. There's very good potential there," said Jankovich, who served on Bill Self's Kansas staff the last four years before replacing Porter Moser at ISU. "As a staff we've had discussions whether we're stronger inside or outside. That's good.

"We have a balance of a number of perimeter guys who can shoot the ball and drive it, and a balance of big guys who play inside or stretch you outside. Because of that, it makes me more optimistic."

What Jankovich doesn't want is players logging extensive minutes.

Richardson had 19 games where he had 34 or more minutes last season. His backcourt running mate, Dom Johnson (8.3 ppg), registered 13 such games. The 6-11 Dyer went 32 or more minutes three times.

"His philosophy is up tempo and no holding back. If you're tired, you're going to get a sub no matter what," said senior forward Anthony Slack (9.4 points, 5.7 rebounds). "He wants us to go all out for as long as we can."

Ideally, Jankovich said he'll settle on five guards and four big guys in the rotation. Before that happens, Jankovich envisions using almost his entire roster during nonconference games.

"Every year I've been in coaching, at this time you think 'we're 11 or 12 deep.' Everyone looks similar at this time of year because you haven't done things to separate them," said Jankovich. "You haven't seen how tough they are or how well they learn the whole system or how their basketball IQ comes out … Every year you feel we can play everyone before paring it down."

Even though he is new to Division I basketball, junior guard Emmanuel Holloway knows the intensity in practice will be high.

"It's going to be a battle. It's been a battle in the summer and preseason," said Holloway, who spent two years at Iowa Western Community College. "The best battles might be in practice."

Dyer found an inside game to go along with his long-range shooting (60 3-pointers) last season and was named an honorable mention all-league selection.

He knows that means nothing.

"I think it's going to be, from day one, you have to fight for your minutes," said Dyer. "I think it's always that way when you get a new staff or head coach in. You start from ground zero and have to work your way up."

Guard Sead Odzic transferred to ISU from Southern California last December. Odzic will be eligible when first-semester grades are posted, probably debuting Dec. 22 at Ball State. He believes practice will keep him sharp until he can get in games.

"We have a bunch of talented guys and a bunch who can go out and play and put up big numbers," he said. "We'll push each other in practice, and in games Coach J will be able to rotate 10 guys in and constantly have fresh guys and everyone can play hard. That will be an asset to our team."

Sophomore forward Dinma Odiakosa, who redshirted last season, and junior Brandon Sampay plan to give ISU defense and rebounding in the frontcourt along with Dyer, Slack and junior Mike Vandello.

Last month, the 6-8, 255-pound Sampay re-aggravated a left ankle injury he first suffered last season at Howard College in Texas. Sampay, who stepped on Odiakosa's foot during individual workouts, wore a cast for a week before switching to a walking boot for another week. Sampay pronounced himself ready to go Saturday.

No one, it seems, wants to be left behind.

"There's going to be competition for everybody," said Sampay. "Everybody is fighting for a spot."

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Redbird facts

Head coach: Tim Jankovich, 1st season

Nickname: Redbirds

Conference: Missouri Valley

2006-07 record: Won 15, Lost 16 (6-12 in Valley)

RETURNING STARTERS

Player…Pos….Ht….Cl.

Levi Dyer…C…6-11…Sr.

Osiris Eldridge…G…6-3…So.

Dom Johnson…G…6-0…Sr.

Boo Richardson…G…5-8…Sr.

OTHER RETURNING LETTERWINNERS

Brandon Holtz…G…6-4…Jr.

Julius Moor…G…6-3…Sr.

Dinma Odiakosa…F…6-8…So.

Anthony Slack…F…6-7…Sr.

Mike Vandello…F…6-7…Jr.

NEWCOMERS

Emmanuel Holloway…G…6-2…Jr.

Sead Odzic…G…6-3…So.

* Chamberlain Oguchi…G…6-4…Sr.

Alex Rubin…G…6-1…Fr.

Brandon Sampay…F…6-8…Jr.

* Landon Shipley…G…6-1…Jr.

(*) - sitting out as transfers.