It could hardly be the way Jessica Huffman hoped to crack into the starting five but the Whiteland, Ind., native is making the most of her opportunity to be Eastern’s new floor general.

The freshman was thrust into the lineup after Megan Edwards, as the team affectionately calls “Midge,” suffered a season ending knee injury in the team’s second exhibition game prior to the start of the regular season.

Huffman’s emergence as starting point guard comes at a perfect time, as head coach Brady Salle introduced a new scheme that plays perfectly to her abilities.

This season Sallee installed a new high-octane offense to go along with a full court pressure defense. The two have worked hand-in-hand to create one of the top scoring offenses in the country, as the Panthers have averaged 88.2 points through the first five games of the season.

The team has struggled on defense in the span as well, as the team has given up nearly as many points as they have scored. Two opponents have broken the century mark consecutively and those 100-point letdowns have the Panthers giving up 87 points per game this season.

In Tuesday night’s 101-72 drubbing at the hands of Illinois State Sallee said after the game he didn’t want to “raise the white flag” and slow down the team’s pace to neutralize the hot-shooting Redbirds.

It was a smart move as Sallee recognized the game would not matter in the long run and to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference the Panthers would need as much time as possible in the new system.

Sallee’s scheme requires high-energy players to take the ball to the basket and play smothering, full-court defense and Huffman is the ideal player for both roles.

Huffman is fearless driving to the hoop, is confident in her shooting and has quick hands that cause opposing point guards fits while they attempt to bring the ball down court. Those traits have appeared early, in just the first five games of her collegiate career, with Huffman leading the team in scoring (19.8 points per game) and steals (19).

However, her intensity has one catch. Huffman must learn to be more careful with the ball. Her 25 assists are overshadowed by her 40 turnovers.

But given the circumstances of her rise to starter, Huffman can hardly be criticized.

Huffman will be a cornerstone of Sallee’s new up-tempo offense and defense as the team develops.

Junior Brittney Coleman and freshman Ashley Thomas appear to have the abilities necessary to play well in Sallee’s system and the return of Ellen Canale from mononucleosis adds yet another high energy player.

Sophomore Rachel Galligan will be the rock in the post for the Panthers and senior Meggie Eck will be the marksman from beyond the arc but it will be the play of Eastern’s young guards that will make or break the season.