Big Ten Women’s Basketball: The Top Teams to Watch

The Big Ten is one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball and this season is shaping up to be another great one for women’s hoops. Here are the top teams to watch in the conference this season.

Introduction

In recent years the Big Ten has become one of the top conferences in women’s college basketball basketball fans from all over the country tune in to watch the Big Ten Tournament each year, and many of the conference’s teams are consistently ranked among the nation’s best.

So, which teams should you be watching this season? Here are the top five Big Ten women’s basketball teams to keep an eye on:

The Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is one of the most competitive conferences in women’s basketball. Here are the top teams to Watch This Season

-The University of Maryland Terrapins are the defending conference champions and are looking to repeat. They are led by superstar guard Alyssa Thomas, who is one of the best players in the country.

-The Ohio State University Buckeyes are always a force to be reckoned with in the conference. They have a deep and talented team that is led by All-American guard Kelsey Mitchell

-The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers have a young and talented team that is on the rise. They are led by rising star freshman guard Jessica Shepard.

-The Purdue University Boilermakers have a experienced and battle-tested team that is looking to make a run at the conference title They are led by veteran guard Carsen Edwards

The Top Teams

In women’s basketball, the Big Ten is loaded with talent. Here are the top five Teams to Watch this season.

1. Maryland Terrapins
The Terps are the defending conference champions and have made the NCAA tournament each of the last 15 years. They are currently ranked No. 4 in the country and have one of the best players in the nation in guard Alyssa Thomas.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 5 in the country and are coming off a season in which they made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament They are led by guard Tayler Hill, who is averaging 18 points per game

3. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are currently ranked No. 8 in the nation and have made it to the NCAA tournament each of the last 18 years. They are led by center Plumley, who is averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game this season.

4. Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 11 in the nation and finished last season with a record of 27-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play They are led by guard Maggie Lucas, who is averaging 19 points per game this season.

5 Iowa Hawkeyes The Hawkeyes are unranked but still dangerous, finishing last season with a record of 22-11 overall and 11-5 in conference play

The Players to Watch

The conference season is just getting underway, but there are already a few standout players in the Big Ten Here are the ones to watch this season

Katelynn Flaherty, Michigan: The junior guard is one of the best scorers in the country, averaging 21.8 points per game She’s also a good shooter from long range, hitting 39 percent of her three-point attempts.

Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State The senior guard is one of the most experienced players in the conference and is averaging 18.4 points per game She’s also a dangerous three-point shooter, hitting 43 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.

Nia Coffey, Northwestern: The senior forward is averaging 17.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the Wildcats. She’s a versatile player who can score inside and out and is a force on the defensive end as well.

Tori Jankoska, Michigan State The senior guard is averaging 19.2 Points per game for the Spartans. She’s a great shooter from all over the court, hitting 49 percent of her shots from inside the three-point line and 41 percent from outside it.

The Coaches

In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. In the Big Ten some of the nation’s top women’s basketball programs go head-to-head in what is always one of the toughest conferences in the country. The following is a list of the league’s Top Teams as well as a brief description of their head coaches

Ohio State: Jim Foster
A coaching legend, Jim Foster has been at Ohio State since 2002. He has won 8 conference championships and led the Buckeyes to 3 Final Fours. His teams are known for their tough defense and he is one of the winningest coaches in women’s College Basketball history.

Penn State: Coquese Washington
In her 9th season at Penn State Coquese Washington has led the Nittany Lions to 3 straight Big Ten Championships and 6 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. She is a 2-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and was recently named one of ESPNW’s 25 most influential women in college sports

Iowa: Lisa Bluder
Lisa Bluder is in her 16th season as Iowa’s Head Coach She has led the Hawkeyes to 3 NCAA tournament appearances and 2 WNIT appearances. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2009 and has guided Iowa to 4 20-win seasons.

Nebraska: Connie Yori
In her 11th season at Nebraska, Connie Yori has turned the Cornhuskers into a perennial power with 7 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2014. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2014 and led Nebraska to its first ever conference championship in 2014-2015

The Fans

The Big Ten is home to some of the most passionate fans in women’s basketball. From the “Sea of Red” at Nebraska to the die-hard fan bases at Iowa and Purdue, there is no shortage of support for these teams. Here are some of the top teams to watch in the Big Ten this season:

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers have one of the best home court advantages in the country, thanks to their passionate fans. Nebraska is coming off a Sweet Sixteen appearance and will be looking to make a run at the conference title this season.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes have a loyal and dedicated fan base that follows the team wherever they go. Iowa is coming off a successful season in which they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament The Hawkeyes will be looking to build on that success this season and contend for a conference title.

Purdue: The Boilermakers have some of the most passionate fans in women’s basketball. Purdue is coming off a Sweet Sixteen appearance and will be looking to make a run at the conference title this season.

The Rivalries

There are some great rivalries in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Conference this year. Here are a few of the top teams to watch:

The first rivalry is between the University of Maryland Terrapins and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights These two teams have been neck and neck all season, with both teams taking turns in the conference lead. They will meet again on February 28th in a game that is sure to be a thriller.

Another top rivalry is between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan State Spartans These two teams have also been trading leads all season, and their February 21st match-up is sure to be just as exciting as their first meeting.

Finally, there is the rivalry between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers These two teams are always intense when they meet, and this year is sure to be no different. They will face off on February 14th in what is sure to be a hard-fought game.

The Championships

The Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament will be held from March 3-7 in Indianapolis. This year’s tournament is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years with a number of top teams contending for the title. Here are the top teams to watch at this year’s tournament:

1. Maryland Terrapins
The Terps are currently ranked #2 in the nation and are the defending Big Ten champions. They have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, led by dynamic guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. They will be a tough team to beat in this year’s tournament.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are currently ranked #4 in the nation and are one of the most well-rounded teams in the country. They have a great mix of experience and youth, and are led by Big Ten Player of the Year Kelsey Mitchell. They will be a force to reckon with in this year’s tournament.

3. Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers are currently ranked #6 in the nation and are one of the most dangerous teams in the country. They have a balanced attack that is led by guard Carsen Edwards, who is one of the best scorers in the country. they will be a tough team to beat in this year’s tournament.

4. Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans are currently ranked #7 in the nation and are one ofthe most experienced teams in the country. They are led by Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jaida Hampton, who is one of the best defenders in the country. They will be a tough team to beat in this year’s tournament

The Future

In recent years the Big Ten has been one of the most competitive conferences in women’s College Basketball Here is a look at some of the top teams to watch in the coming years:

-The University of Maryland Terrapins have won two straight conference championships and are currently ranked No. 2 in the country. They are led by senior center Brionna Jones, who is averaging nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

-The Ohio State University Buckeyes are another team to watch in the coming years. They are led by guard Kelsey Mitchell, who is averaging almost 25 points per game The Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 6 in the country.

-The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are another team on the rise in the Big Ten They are led by center Megan Gustafson, who is averaging nearly 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Hawkeyes are currently ranked No. 10 in the country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Big Ten is full of excellent women’s Basketball teams Though any team could come out on top, the four teams mentioned above seem to have the strongest odds. No matter who you’re rooting for, it should be an exciting season full of hard-fought games.