1. OHIO STATE
2007-08 Record: 22-9, 13-5 (1st in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Samantha Prahalis (Commack, NY), Amber Stokes (Gahanna, OH)
Key Losses: Marscilla Packer (15.1 / 3.1 / 3.4), Tamarah Riley (6.3 / 6.3 / 1.6)
What 2 Expect: The Buckeyes will again ride the coattails of All-America Honorable Mention center Jantel Lavender. The freshman exploded onto the Big Ten scene last year, becoming the first person - man or woman - ever to win the conference’s Player of the Year honor as a first-year player. The 6′4″ Lavender, who averaged 17.6 ppg and 9.9 rpg, will be surrounded by an experienced core of players. Seniors Star Allen and Ashlee Trebilcock both return 8+ ppg scoring averages and junior guard Shavelle Little will wreak havoc in the backcourt (79 steals in 29 games last season). Complementing the experienced backcourt will be freshman phenom Samantha Prahalis. And when we say phenom, we mean better than phenom. Prahalis averaged 30.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 7.2 steals her senior year at Commack High School (Commack, NY) en route to a McDonald’s High School All-America honor. Nicknamed “The Show” by Glenn Nelson of HoopGurlz.com, she’s an electric player and a proven winner that will fit right in with this Buckeyes squad.
2. MICHIGAN STATE
2007-08 Record: 23-14, 10-8 (5th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Courtney Schiffauer (Boardman, OH), Taylor Johnson (Lakewood, CO), Porschè Poole (Canton, OH)
Key Losses: Courtney Davidson (7.1 / 2.2 / 1.5)
What 2 Expect: In her first year as MSU head coach, Suzy Merchant did a great job of getting her Spartans to win the close games; they went 10-1 last year in their games decided by five points or less. This year some of the pressure is off and the Spartan squad can try to top their Big Ten leading 23 wins from 07-08 with the addition of a couple great freshman, and the maturation of what was the youngest team in the Big Ten. All five starters are returning, including the Big Ten record holder for single-season blocks, Allyssa DeHaan. But while DeHaan plays some of the best D in the conference, she doesn’t let that stop her from dominating on the other side of the ball, as well. Look for her to be a leading candidate for player of the year if the junior has another season like her 150 blocks, 531 points, and 271 boards of last season. This Spartan season could result in a trip to the big dance as they improve on what was already a strong team, continue to build chemistry (losing zero starters and going into year two with Coach Merchant), and can plan for more long term goals with only one senior on the roster.
3. MINNESOTA
2007-08 Record: 20-12, 11-7 (3rd in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Kiara Buford (St. Paul, MN), Brianna Mastey (Becker, MN)
Key Losses: Leslie Knight (13.6 / 5.9 / 2.3)
What 2 Expect: Gophers Head Coach Pam Borton likes to play an extremely aggressive, up-tempo style of defense that, in turn, generates easy fast-break buckets. This being the case, Borton will be in love with her team for the ‘08-09 campaign. Full of scrappy, defense-oriented athletes that love to run, the Gophers, whether they know it or not, could be primed for a deep run into March. Senior guard Emily Fox, the team’s leading scorer last year, returns to find a plethora of freshmen forwards that fit perfectly as outlet passers. 6′1″ Brianna Mastey, a Minnesota Ms. Basketball finalist, could be a legit contender for an immediate starting spot. She epitomizes the aforementioned trait of a rebounding defender that loves to get out on the break and run.
4. IOWA
2007-08 Record: 21-11, 13-5 (1st in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Kamille Wahlin (Crookston, MN), Shante Jones (Dayton, OH), Kelly Krei (Iowa City, IA), Hannah Draxton (Fergus Falls, MN)
Key Losses: Johanna Solverson (10.3 / 5.1 / 3.3), Krista VandeVenter (4.6 / 5.0 / 1.4) Jenee Graham (2.9 / 5.1 / 2.3)
What 2 Expect: A lot of freshmen getting minutes. Head Coach Lisa Bluder has done an unbelievable job recruiting a class which, if just the four of them were on the court as a separate team, could be competitive in the Big Ten. These four girls, all of whom were McDonald’s High School All-America nominees, will join a talented group of vets that is headlined by senior guard Kristi Smith. Smith led the Hawkeyes in scoring and assists last year and will have some great backcourt help this season with the freshmen flood. Where the Hawkeyes will struggle in ‘08-09, however, is under the basket. U of I loses its top three rebounders from last season in Solverson, Vandeventer, and Graham, and will need to get real creative to overcome this massive gap considering there’s no one to really fill this void. Perhaps help comes from 6′6″ center Megan Skouby, who snatched 3.2 boards a game last season and will have less company in the paint this year. Another possibility could be 6′2″ freshman Krei, who might get asked to play a little bigger than the game she’s been accustomed to all through high school.
5. PURDUE
2007-08 Record: 19-15, 11-7 (3rd in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Brittany Rayburn (Attica, IN), Chelsea Jones (Fort Smith, AK), Chantel Poston (Milan, TN)
Key Losses: Kalika France (8.4 / 5.4 / 2.4)
What 2 Expect: Purdue is returning their two statistical leaders in senior center Danielle Campbell and senior forward Lakisha Freeman and only losing one starter, the two year Boilermaker transfer from Maryland, guard Kalika France. Head coach Sharon Versyp has high expectations for her top freshman recruit, Brittany Rayburn. Rayburn could be expected to fill the hole at guard right away, and her precision jay will be welcome on the court. Forward Keshia Mosley was coming off the bench in her first year, but her efficiency could have Versyp looking to her to take on a more dominant role this season. Last year she averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 boards, and shot almost .500 from the field in only 13 minutes of play.
6. INDIANA
2007-08 Record: 18-15, 10-8 (5th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Danilsa Andujar (Miramar, FL), Sasha Chaplin (St. Petersburg, FL), Lindsay Enterline (Monroeville, IN), Ashlee Mells (Grand Prairie, TX)
Key Losses: Nikki Smith (7.4 / 1.8 / 1.1)
What 2 Expect: The 2008-09 season, unfortunately for the Hoosiers, won’t likely look much different that of 07-08. IU’s top four scorers will be returning, including team statistical leader Jamie Braun (14.5 pts, 6.1 boards, 3.5 assists). But their top four scorers from last year only got them to the middle of the pack. Head coach Felisha Legette-Jack may have to look to one of her freshman to step up and be the difference maker. Perhaps the spark can come from freshman guard, and McDonald’s All-American nominee, Ashlee Mells. She is as exciting to watch without the ball as she is with, and has quick enough hands to mix things up on defense. Plus the freshman can really develop behind the leadership of the team’s four seniors.
7. MICHIGAN
2007-08 Record: 19-14, 9-9 (7th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Janell Smith (Kalamazoo, MI), Jamillya Hardley (Grand Rapids, MI), Courtney Boylan (Minnetonka, MN), Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, OH)
Key Losses: Krista Clement (5.5 / 3.5 / 2.5), Janelle Cooper (9.0 / 4.5 / 2.0), Ta’Shia Walker (3.9 / 1.7 / 0.3)
What 2 Expect: Kevin Borseth returns as head coach for his second year with Michigan, and with five seniors on his roster, one might expect team continuity to come with some ease. But the loss of two big contributors will likely be a setback, at least until a couple freshman step up. Minnesota’s 2008 Miss Basketball and freshman guard Courtney Boylan could be just the girl to make this happen. If so, the biggest worry for the Wolverines may fall to their post-play. Both the U-M go-to bigs, junior center Krista Phillips and senior forward Stephany Skrba, have had some knee problems, and both tend to avoid playing “back to the basket” ball. Yet Coach Borseth makes no secret of that fact that he intends to go inside to them often, and have the frontcourt run the offense when possible. This will be an adjustment for Phillips and Skrba.
8. PENN STATE
2007-08 Record: 13-18, 4-14 (10th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Zhaque Gray (Chicago, IL), Emily Phillips (South Bend, IN), Renee Womack (Lansdale, PA)
Key Losses: Kamel Gissendanner (13.4 / 6.5 / 1.3),
What 2 Expect: The Lady Lions only lost one player from last year’s team, but she was a big piece of their puzzle starting every game and leading the team in boards and among the top three in almost every statistical category. Coach Coquese Washington will look to senior guard Brianne O’Rourke and junior guard Tyra Grant to be the leaders on the floor. But someone, most likely senior forward/center Rashida Mark or sophomore center Janessa Wolff, will need to increase their post productivity to replace the loss of Gissendanner. Unless Coach Washington wants to play a small line-up, don’t expect any of the three freshmen to get starting minutes, as the guard spots are pretty locked up with Grant and O’Rourke, but going small and using speed might not be a bad idea, and PSU might need that kind of a spark from time-to-time.
9. NORTHWESTERN
2007-08 Record: 5-26, 1-17 (11th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Allison Mocchi (Wheeling, IL), Maggie Mocchi (Wheeling, IL), Brittany Orban (North Canton, OH)
Key Losses: Nadia Bibbs (8.4 / 3.6 / 6.0), Sara Stutz (4.8 / 1.6 / 3.5)
What 2 Expect: It won’t hurt for last year’s worst team in the Big Ten to be guided by someone used to winning. First year coach Joe McKeown comes to the ‘Cats from George Washington after taking GW to the post season 19 times in 22 seasons, and becoming the winningest coach in school history. Not to mention all three of his freshmen come from successful programs – and coach plans to use that, and McKeown plans to use that to get the entire squad thinking like winners and understanding what it takes. The focus this year will be getting better defensively, rebounding the ball, and being physical. And NU will definitely rely on Amy Jaeschke to play as big as her 6’5’’ height. In fact, Coach McKeown says he isn’t going to let her out of the paint for the entire first month of practice. The Wildcats also have Kristin Cartwright returning from injury and she and Jenny Eckhart will also be looked to for leadership.
10. WISCONSIN
2007-08 Record: 16-14, 9-9 (7th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Jade Davis (Lone Tree, CO), Jamie Russell (Rock Falls, IL), Ashley Thomas (Wilmette, IL), Anya Covington (Edwardsville, IL)
Key Losses: Jolene Anderson
What 2 Expect: Head coach Lisa Stone’s Badgers come into this season less four seniors – three of them the team’s top scorers from last season, and one, Jolene Anderson, was Wisconsin’s all-time leading scorer. So it seems quite easy to assume that is might be a rough start to the season for the UW ladies. But the freshmen coming in have talent and athleticism. Three of the four first-years were McDonald’s All-American nominees, and they all show dedication to both sides of the ball. It should be a good competition for minutes with sophomore Lin Zastrow and junior Mariah Dunham trying to make more of an impact, too. And perhaps the question for this team is, will competition breed success?
11. ILLINOIS
2007-08 Record: 20-15, 8-10 (9th in Big Ten)
Key Additions: Macie Blinn (Greenville, OH), Fabiola Josil (Coral Springs, FL), Eboni Mitchell (Decatur, GA), Lana Rukavina (Wheeling, IL)
Key Losses: Lori Bjork (10.0 / 2.5 / 2.4), Rebecca Harris (10.1 / 2.3 / 3.4)
What 2 Expect: Six girls from last years team are gone and four freshman are joining this year’s squad. The massive roster change could make it a challenge to find some consistency, and Coach Jolette Law will have to hope her team can find chemistry early. The Illini statistical leader, junior Jenna Smith, returns and will be heavily relied upon for her experience, and with few other post players to turn to, she’ll be counted on inside, as well. Coach Law says she will be focusing on rebounding and conditioning, and with so many freshman in the rotation and so few players on the bench, conditioning could be more of a problem than she may hope. Look for freshmen to make an impact immediately, but U of I may have trouble getting to/through the post season, especially if the team suffers any injuries.
