Tuesday, November 7, 2017 // TIP OFF 2017
7B
Big Ten Breakdown: Familiar foes present challenge
Heartbroken.
That’s
how
the
Michigan
women’s basketball team felt last
March on selection day. Despite
finishing
third
in
a
strong
conference,
the
Wolverines
failed to qualify for the NCAA
Tournament
for
the
fourth
consecutive year.
Michigan made the most out
of the situation, though, winning
the Women’s National Invitation
Tournament (WNIT) to claim
their
first-ever
championship
banner.
But
a
consolation
bracket
championship
isn’t
the
end
goal for a team that finished
with a 28-9 overall record. The
24th-ranked
Wolverines
are
pushing to prove themselves
worthy of a tournament bid this
season.
The dynamic duo of senior
guard Katelynn Flaherty and
junior center Hallie Thome, as
well as senior forward Jillian
Dunston, all return. Flaherty
and Thome were both selected
as part of the preseason All-Big
Ten Team. Freshman guard Deja
Church and freshman forward
Hailey Brown could also be
difference makers.
While the Wolverines have
talent and depth on the roster,
there
are
plenty
of
teams
standing in their way. The Daily
breaks down this year’s Big Ten
conference:
No. 5 Ohio State
Coming off a 28-7 season —
which included a Sweet Sixteen
appearance and a share of the
Big Ten title — the Buckeyes
look to be Michigan’s toughest
competition.
Ohio
State
returns
four
starters, including senior guard
Kelsey
Mitchell
and
fifth-
year senior forward Stephanie
Mavunga. The latter was a star at
North Carolina for the first two
years of her career before joining
the Buckeyes. Despite missing
time due to injuries, she averaged
a double-double and was active
on defense as a shot blocker.
Mitchell was nominated as
the preseason Big Ten Player
of the Year by both the coaches
and media. It’s not a shock
why. A skilled shooter and the
conference’s
highest-scoring
player
last
season,
Mitchell
starred for Ohio State and has
been a starter ever since joining
the program.
Also returning are fifth-year
senior
guard
Linnae
Harper
and redshirt junior guard Sierra
Calhoun. Like Mavunga, neither
started their careers in Columbus,
transferring from Kentucky and
Duke,
respectively.
Calhoun
started
in
every
game
last
year, and Harper accompanied
Mitchell in playing on the USA
Women’s U-23 National Team.
The Buckeyes defeated the
Wolverines last year in their sole
meeting, and they are talented
enough to do the same this time
around.
No. 15 Maryland
The Terrapins reached the
Sweet Sixteen, ending the season
with a 32-3 record. They won the
Big Ten Tournament for the third
consecutive year.
Maryland, though, returns just
two starters in sophomore guard
Kaila Charles and senior guard
Kristen Confroy. Charles had an
outstanding freshman season,
making the All-Big Ten Freshman
Team. Confroy is a reliable three-
point shooter and is one of just
two seniors on the team.
But Maryland will need others
to shine if it wants to compete
in March. The team has a strong
sophomore class — the No. 1
recruiting class that year —
that could provide the answer.
Sophomore guards Sarah Myers
and Blair Watson, as well as
sophomore forward Stephanie
Jones, are all back. The latter two
battled injuries last season, and it
is crucial for them to stay healthy
for the Terrapins to make a run
this year.
Aside
from
Charles,
Maryland’s former top-ranked
recruiting class doesn’t appear
to have panned out yet. But if her
classmates can stay healthy, there
may not be as big of a drop-off as
many expect.
Michigan State
The
Spartans,
meanwhile,
return four starters. Last season,
they made an NCAA Tournament
appearance
and
finished
21-12. Fifth-year senior guard
Branndais Agee, senior forward
Taya Reimer and sophomore
guard Taryn McCutcheon were
all standout players and will
contribute again this year.
Michigan State has already
faced
hardship,
though.
Freshman
guard
Claire
Hendrickson tore her ACL during
the team’s first practice and is
expected to miss the season.
The Spartans have plenty of
experienced players they can rely
on, but Hendrickson’s injury is a
blow to their depth.
Michigan
State
beat
the
Wolverines in both meetings last
year, and it could be a thorn in
Michigan’s side this year, too.
Iowa
The Hawkeyes missed out
on
the
NCAA
Tournament
last spring, but they still have
a lot build on. They return
four starters from last year’s
team, which made the WNIT
quarterfinals and finished with a
20-14 record.
Junior
forward
Megan
Gustafson started every game
her sophomore year and will
likely play a bigger role. She’s
a skilled rebounder who can
help the team establish itself
in the paint. Sophomore guard
Kathleen Doyle, who was invited
to the USA U-19 tryouts during
the summer, will also help carry
the team.
Iowa was a high-scoring team
last year — averaging 76.1 points
per game — and will likely be
this year as well. The Hawkeyes’
powerful
offense
will
be
challenging for defenses across
the conference.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers found
trouble last season, finishing 10th
in the Big Ten with a 15-16 overall
record. They might have better
luck this year, though, as they
return seven upperclassmen.
Senior guard CarIie Wagner
and redshirt junior guard Kenisha
Bell were among the team’s top
scorers last season and both will
return. Sophomore guard Gadiva
Hubbard will as well. She missed
eight games due to injuries and
illness, but made a clear impact
when
she
played.
Hubbard
scored 28 points in Minnesota’s
final game against then-No. 4
Maryland. If she stays healthy
this season, the Golden Gophers
could take a step forward.
Indiana
The Hoosiers have trended
upward the past few years. Their
overall record has consistently
improved, and last year they had
a program record number of wins,
finishing 23-11 and advancing to
the WNIT quarterfinals.
This
year
will
feature
a
different, younger squad with
five new freshmen on the roster.
See BIG TEN, Page 8B
ROHAN KUMAR
Daily Sports Writer
KATELYN MULCAHY/Daily
Michigan coach Kim Barnes-Arico and the Wolverines will have a challenging road ahead, as the Big Ten boasts two teams in the top 25 in Maryland and Ohio State.