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.

