No offense to Michael Jackson, but this is it for the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team.

Nearly seven months to the day after former coach Dana Eikenberg's resignation was announced April 2, the Salukis return to SIU Arena court controversy-free in facing Division II Quincy University at 3:05 p.m. today in the exhibition opener for both teams.

The Lady Hawks are the top preseason pick of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, receiving eight first-place votes and 58 total points spread amongst the league's 15 coaches. Quincy is coming off a 27-5 season that saw it achieve a No. 9 national ranking and the regular-season GLVC championship in 2008-09.

"They made over eight 3s a game last season and shoot the ball exceptionally well," said SIU coach Missy Tiber. "They're just a fundamental team."

Quincy has four starters back from last year - 5-foot-11 forward Lindsey Stellflue (11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), 5-6 guard Whintae Irby (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 5-10 forward Janette Burgin (10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and 5-11 forward Courtney Shuman (9.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg) - as the Lady Hawks will go for their seventh 20-plus win season in the last eight years.

"They played in the NCAA tournament last year," Tiber said. "Just a very good Division II basketball team."

SIU returns one starter (6-foot junior forward Katrina Swingler) and five letter-winners from a 9-19 season and welcomes nine new faces and a new up-tempo offense for 2009-10.

"It's a lot of running," Swingler said of the adjustment to the new offense. "It's just getting in shape and knowing where you've got to go."

It's a crucial weekend for the Salukis, who also have two official visits scheduled with potential recruits. One of them is 5-1 point guard Olivia Patterson out of Byron P. Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas. Patterson is a Class 4A state semifinalist who was named an all-district and all-region athlete in leading the Knights to a 29-9 record as a junior last season.

With prospects in attendance, getting off to a good start will be key for SIU.

"I think it's extremely important," Tiber said. "I think (Quincy) is a good challenge. Last year, Drake beat them by five and they beat Western Illinois by double-digits.

"It's a team you've got to be ready to play."

pete.spitler@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5073