Talk with Kara Wile about basketball and her mouth and eyes telegraph her immense love of the game. Growing up in Indiana, where basketball is the only sport, added to her passion.
“It’s complete madness in Indiana,” Wile said. “Every night there’s something going on with basketball, whether it’s high school or college.”
A highly rated, often-honored point guard, Wile decided to play her college ball at Saint Louis University.
“One of the reasons I came [here] was coach Pizzotti,” Wile said. “She knows what buttons to push to get the most out of me and the team.
“I think I’ve given her a few gray hairs. She didn’t have any when I got here, but she does now,” Wile said with a smile.
Since joining the Billikens in 1996, Wile has been the starting point guard. She took the reigns and started dishing dimes like no other SLU point guard had before. She owns four of the top ten places on the all-time assist leaders list.
Last year she broke the single season assist record with 130. This past weekend, Wile shattered her own record, pushing her single season leading total to 138.
Until recently, Wile had been ranked number one in the nation in assists. She has since fallen to third place.
Impressive as her numbers might be, Wile isn’t looking for individual awards while her team struggles.
“It’s good that I can keep up on that end, but it would be better if we were winning,” Wile said.
After a 5-0 start, the Billikens have been on a downward spiral.
“Everyone got hurt, everything went down hill,” Wile said. “We lost four people with a lot of playing time. We’re just now getting back to where we were.”
While the Billikens regroup for a late season run, Wile is impressed with her teammates.
“Everyone has stayed positive, we’ve got nine more games to go and no one is hanging it up or quitting.”
Included in those nine games are road contests against Conference-USA powers Tulane and Marquette. With Tulane ranked in the top 25 and Marquette in the top 30, it will be a challenge for the Billikens to topple either squad.
“Hopefully we can upset Tulane on Friday; that’d be a great way to get back to winning,” Wile said.
Though the Billikens are 1-6 in C-USA, they still have a chance to qualify for a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
“With the exception of Marquette and Tulane everyone is pretty equal,” Wile said.
As her playing career is coming to an end, Wile isn’t done with basketball.
“I want to coach college ball,” Wile said. “I sit in after our practice and watch the men’s team, I want to surround myself with as much basketball as possible.”
Wile has been sitting in on the men’s practices all four years she’s been here.
“I got to sit in on (former SLU men’s coach Charlie) Spoon’s practices for three years,” Wile said. “The first thing I did when I met coach Romar was ask him if I could sit in on his practices.”
Wile hasn’t been alone on her four year journey here at SLU. She has received a tremendous amount of support from her parents.
“My parents come to almost all of my games,” Wile said. “My dad has missed three games my whole career. My mom has missed less than ten; I appreciate that support.”
Wile has enjoyed her time here in the Gateway to the West and has no regrets about her senior season.
“No matter how the season turns out, it’s been fun,” Wile said. “My teammates have been great and it’s time to move on to another part of basketball.”
