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w o m e n ' s b i g t e n b a s k e t b a l l Anyone's Game A handful of teams could contend for title BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com T he Big Ten is set to become much tougher. A year from now, the league adds Maryland and Rutgers, a couple of traditionally strong women's basketball programs — more so for the Terrapins of late — that will add not only national credibility to the Big Ten but solid competition as well. "You have got to be really solid all of the time," Purdue coach Sharon Versyp said. "If you have a good year, then that's great, but you've got to keep your footing the Nebraska Forward Jordan Hooper should surpass the next year. Those recruiting classes have to keep going. barrier by the time her career The competition and the schedule difficulty just went 2,000-point,1,000-reboundShe is one of the reasons Necomes to an end this year. up and I think we have the chance to be the No. 1 con- braska could challenge for the Big Ten title in 2013-14. ference in the country." look at the Big Ten, with teams listed in predicted order For now though, Versyp and of finish. her coaching counterparts will All-Big Ten worry about the league as it 1. Michigan State Gold and Black's best guess at this year's Allcurrently exists, as 12 teams Big Ten teams: 25-9 overall, compete for a Big Ten champi- Name Yr./Pos.School 10-6 Big Ten onship. It might come down to a First Team The Spartans return five of Minnesota select few, including Michigan Rachel Banham Jr./G their top six scorers from a seaSr./G Michigan State State, with a veteran roster and Klarissa Bell son ago, putting them in posiSr./F Nebraska a host of players returning from Jordan Hooper tion to win their second conferMaggie Lucas Sr./G Penn State injury; Nebraska, with star for- Morgan Paige ence championship in the last Sr./G Wisconsin ward Jordan Hooper; Penn State, four years. the two-time defending champi- Second Team After winning it in 2010-11, ons that will lean heavily on Big Emily Cady Jr./F Nebraska Michigan State has dropped a Iowa Ten Player-of-the-Year Maggie Samantha Logic Jr./G spot in each of the last two years, So./F Northwestern Lucas; and Purdue, which has a Maggie Lyon finishing in a tie for third last Jr./F Michigan State trio of senior guards hoping to Becca Mills season. A majority of the roster Courtney Moses Sr./G PURDUE lead the way. returns, including five players The top half of the league — Third Team who averaged between 7.6 and and perhaps a surprise team, Ashley Adams Sr./C Ohio State 10.5 points per game; Guard KlaSr./G PURDUE like Wisconsin, could sneak into KK Houser rissa Bell (10.5 ppg) and Kiana Sr./G Illinois the mix — appears strong. But Amber Moore Johnson (9.3 ppg) led the way. Sr./F Minnesota questions abound in the bottom Micaella Riché It's not only the veterans — Taylor Wurtz Sr./G Wisconsin half, as teams look to rebuild. Suzy Merchant's squad has nine They better do so quickly, be- Player-of-the-Year: Lucas, Penn State upperclassmen — that have cause time is of the essence. Coach-of-the-Year: Suzy Merchant, Michigan the Spartans feeling good, but Following is Gold and Black's State the newcomers, too. Redshirt 92 IllustrateD volume 24, issue 2 f