Taryn Olson started with a clean slate after former head coach Brady Sallee left Eastern for Ball State last spring.

Olson, a junior who spent two seasons on Sallee’s roster, didn’t play a major role in Sallee’s roster rotation, averaging seven minutes per game her freshman season and five her sophomore year.

Already, Olson is having her best year yet, averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game this season.

Olson has been the first center off the bench this season, spelling starters Mariah King and Sabina Oroszova.

She said everything changed for her when Eastern head coach Lee Buchanan got the head coaching job after Sallee’s departure and told her she was going to play no matter what this season.

“I saw that as an opportunity and wanted to do something with it,” Olson said. “I didn’t have a choice.”

Buchanan hired John Swickrath as an assistant coach in the offseason. Olson said she and Swickrath, who coaches the post players, have developed a good relationship.

“He has been working with me on my technique and getting me out further, getting me some shots farther out,” Olson said.

King, a senior forward, plays her position as a post player who can step outside and shoot the ball. Olson said she is learning how to do that.

Buchanan said having Olson and King going against each other in practice everyday has benefited Olson greatly.

“Mariah is a tough matchup,” Buchanan said. “She’s quick. We pull her out on the floor sometimes. It makes Taryn not just have to sit in the post. It makes her move her feet and be active.”

Olson said playing against King has helped her get stronger and adjust from the high school game to the college game.

Not only, though, has Olson gotten stronger playing against King, but her confidence has improved, too.

Olson said the comfort in knowing she can do whatever she wants to on the court as long as she puts her mind to it has made the biggest difference this season.

“If I make a mistake I play the next play as a new play,” Olson said. “I don’t think about it. I don’t let it get to my head like I used to.”

Olson has been consistent this season, scoring a season-high six points in two games and grabbing eight rebounds in the win against Indiana-Purdue-Indianapolis.

Buchanan said it’s easy to help her improve because she’s such a coachable player.

“She listens to what you say and tries to apply it,” Buchanan said. “Those players are easy to coach.”

Buchanan said Olson is “at the tip of the iceberg” from where she can go from here. He said, “the sky is the limit.”

“Players have to put in the work,” Buchanan said. “See the pay off. Then hopefully that makes you hungrier for that pay off.”

Buchanan was the associate head coach on Sallee’s coaching staff, but he said when he became head coach he might have given Olson hope.

“If a player feels like she has a chance, she’s willing to work,” Buchanan said.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-2812 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.