Ready or not.

The College of Southern Idaho women's basketball team opens its 2009-10 season tonight, facing Western Wyoming Community College at the two-day Sheridan Tournament. For a team with 10 freshmen and only one returning starter, it's a night of mixed emotions.

"This is probably the most unprepared I have been to start a season, but also the most excited I've been to start a season because that's what we need," said CSI head coach Randy Rogers.

His players have similar vibes.

"A lot of the girls are both very nervous and excited to play, so it will just be good to see how the freshmen step up and play," said sophomore post Maddy Plunkett.

The good news for No. 8 CSI is that Plunkett will be on the floor for today's 5 p.m. tipoff. After missing all of last season with a torn ACL in her right knee, Plunkett sat out all of October with tendinitis in the knee. She wasn't expected to play until late this month, but returned to practice on Monday and will come off the bench to "play sparingly this weekend," according to Rogers.

"She makes our team better when she's on the floor," said Rogers. "She's such a skilled kid and has a mental toughness that we need."

Plunkett said her knee is "nowhere near 100 percent," but she's excited to return to the court. "I'm super, super, super happy," she said. "I can't even explain how happy I am."

Redshirt freshman guard Kiki Lockett also returned to practice this week after being sidelined with a foot injury and will also play in a reserve role.

In Western Wyoming, CSI will face a team similar in size and attack to Treasure Valley Community College, a squad the Golden Eagles scrimmaged last Saturday. WWCC returns sophomores Kada Williams and Lindee McKinley, who both averaged nearly 10 points per game last season.

Rogers said Western Wyoming is undersized but moves the ball well and shoots well.

The bigger test for CSI comes on Saturday against tourney host Sheridan College at 3 p.m. Sheridan lost last year's NJCAA scoring leader Tahnee Robinson (28.9 ppg) as well as former Shoshone High star Kori Bingham, but returns some key pieces from a team that made the NJCAA tournament.

"I've never been able to just run away from a Sheridan team, no matter how good my team was. We've always struggled against them," said Rogers, who praised Sheridan coach Frank McCarthy.

CSI is home next week for games against Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, preseason No. 6 Midland (Texas) College and No. 1-ranked Central Arizona.

"It'll be good for us," said Rogers. "That's what it looks like if you get back to the national tournament."