Updates from around the B1G

[Norm Peterson]

I was riding in the same boat as HB.  That's why you Norm, help to make this is the best wbb forum in the land.

Nowhere near as much as you, my man.

 

However, you're very much correct in your last statement.

[Row6Seat10]

Illinois:

 

You're coming off a down year, 2-14 in Big Ten play. You didn't have much depth and you were pretty small. How much improvement do you expect, and where will we see that improvement?

 

Bollant: "We'll be much improved. We have six new players and probably five of the six of them are going to play and maybe be our best players. Chatrice White is a freshman and has a chance to be our leading scorer. Kylie Simmons (a transfer from Missouri) could be as good as any point guard I think that we'll play against. Just immediately, we have a really good point guard and a really good five and it transforms your program. Brittany Carter (a fifth-year transfer from Ball State) will probably be our starting two. She's really talented as well. Kennedy Cattenhead was our most highly recruited freshman coming in and then she tore her ACL and had to sit out. She's gonna play. We have a lot of new kids. (Freshman) Brooke Kissinger is shooting the ball great. (Freshman) Amarah Coleman is doing great. It's exciting to think about how much better, how much more talented we'll be."

 

 

Everyone's excited for Chatrice White, the McDonald's All-American. How fun is that for you to get her in practice and really see her in the orange and blue?

 

Bollant: "It is really exciting. Last weekend was a recruiting weekend on the road with all the coaches. Everybody asks right away, 'How's Chatrice doing?' Even kids from great AAU programs come in and it takes them a year or two (to play well). It's not going to take Chatrice a year or two. The one thing I'll say is the way we practice, kids who are talented get better fast because of the level of intensity and the teaching that goes on in practice. She has taken off. Where she's gone from just this summer to now is unbelievable. How much better Jacqui's gotten, how much better Kennedy's gotten and Kyle and Brittany, the kids who are really talented and learn well, they've gone off. Chatrice, I tell coach, she's been everything we hoped she would be."

 

 

https://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1690985

[Row6Seat10]

Michigan St.

 

http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=103755

 

How healthy is your team now?  Do you have any physical problems?
COACH MERCHANT:  Yes, we have physical problems.  As many of you know, I get asked a lot about Madison Williams.  She's had four ACLs and a total of seven surgeries.  Just had another one on Thursday to clean some things up.  So bless her heart. She's really in a place right now where she's just trying to be able to live a normal life, honestly, not wake up in pain.  And we lost Branndais Agee this summer, who had a great postseason, really second half of the season, but great postseason for her.  She blew her ACL in the summer.  That's been a little frustrating.
We've had some kids nicked up a little bit, couple concussions here and there.  I don't know, maybe it's something in the water in East Lansing, I'm not sure.  We've had our share.  But we're coming back.  Those two kids obviously will be out, but everybody else is practicing and healthy at this point and/or coming back.

 

 

[Row6Seat10]

Rutgers:

 

When asked during Thursday's Big Ten Media Day whether she saw the Big Ten differently now versus during her Iowa tenure, she said she definitely did.

 

"Top to bottom that the Big Ten is a much stronger conference."

 

Getting more specific, she said that the conference used to be top-heavy with Iowa, Ohio State and Purdue—then everyone else.

 

"There's no way that you can say that now," Stringer added. "It would be those schools for sure. But in addition to that now you've got Nebraska and Michigan State and Michigan, and there is no one that you can count out."

 

 

Scaife, Copper and Butts will form the basis for Stringer's starters this season and will have to play hard on a consistent basis to give the Scarlet Knights a chance in the Big Ten.

 

It's a challenge the team and their coach isn't shying away from.

 

"I'm excited," she said at the end of her press conference. "I'm excited. Excited. Excited for the challenge."

 

http://www.nj.com/college-basketball/index.ssf/2014/10/rutgers_womens_basketball_stringer_has_her_team_ready_for_a_big_challenge.html

[Row6Seat10]

14 Teams, 14 Things:

 

http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/womens-basketball/2014/10/16/big-ten-womens-basketball-teams-things/17376579/
 

Nebraska

 

The good news is the Huskers return four starters. The bad news is one of them isn’t Jordan Hooper, last year’s Big Ten Player of the Year.

 

Instead, Nebraska has seven newcomers to go with its experience.

 

“Losing a player of Jordan’s caliber changes who we are. It changes our spacing and makes other players expand their game,” coach Connie Yori said. “We’re trading seven for one. Maybe we could take those seven and make them into Jordan, but we’re not there yet.”

 

[Row6Seat10]

Iowa:

 

Iowa women's basketball looks to continue success with Logic

 

"It's not about her getting points," head coach Lisa Bluder said. "In one game she will have 20 points because we needed her to have 20; the next game she will take one shot. It is unusual to have a kid that does what you need her to do to win and not worry about the stat sheet. ... It's not about her, it's all about the Hawks,"

 

 

[Row6Seat10]

Iowa:

 

Have you ever had a more solid returning core than this group?

 

This is one of our most solid returning groups we have ever had. Anytime you return four starters, along with the quality of these women and how well we have done the last several years, compounds that. Everybody's expectations should be high for our basketball team, and I certainly want our players to have those same types of expectations.

 

 

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101714aaa.html

[HB]

Iowa:

 

Have you ever had a more solid returning core than this group?

 

This is one of our most solid returning groups we have ever had. Anytime you return four starters, along with the quality of these women and how well we have done the last several years, compounds that. Everybody's expectations should be high for our basketball team, and I certainly want our players to have those same types of expectations.

 

 

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101714aaa.html

 

Sorry to hear this.  Not a Hawkeye fan.

[Row6Seat10]

Illinois:

 

Bollant seeks correct combination

 

Chatrice White    6-3    Fr.    C
Bollant has already said that the McDonald’s All-American out of Nebraska and No. 27 player overall by ESPN’s Hoop Gurlz can be a program changer for the Illini. She’ll certainly shore up Illinois’ post scoring and rebounding after averaging 24.9 points and 14.2 rebounds as a senior at Shelby-Rising High School.

 

 

Kissinger, the third member of the freshman class, didn’t receive the national recognition but is something of a dark horse candidate to be a consistent contributor as a freshman in the Big Ten.

“Not a lot of people knew about Brooke. We did. We’ve been recruiting Brooke since she was in eighth grade,” Bollant said. “I think Brooke might be a kid that most people wouldn’t think she’d come in and be an impact player. It’s a little early to tell what she’s going to do defensively, but offensively she’s making a difference right now.”

 

[HB]

 

Iowa:

 

Have you ever had a more solid returning core than this group?

 

This is one of our most solid returning groups we have ever had. Anytime you return four starters, along with the quality of these women and how well we have done the last several years, compounds that. Everybody's expectations should be high for our basketball team, and I certainly want our players to have those same types of expectations.

 

 

http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/101714aaa.html

 

Sorry to hear this.  Not a Hawkeye fan.

 

 

But it was fun to see Iowa lose to Maryland yesterday.  (Sorry, wrong sport)

[Row6Seat10]

Minnesota:

 

This year, Banham will be an offensive leader for the team, but the Gophers have more depth around the court, which should alleviate some of the pressure she’s felt in the past.

 

 “I think what you’re going to see is her becoming … a more efficient scorer, shooting percentages go up and not all the pressure [will] be on her every possession to score,” Stolling said. “And we’re excited about that par because I think it’s going to improve her all-around game.”

 

 

Banham works to cement legacy

[Row6Seat10]

Indiana:

 

IU redshirt junior Kaila Hulls and junior Nicole Bell have finished their playing careers due to injury.

Injuries have limited Hulls throughout her career — most notably when she twice tore the ACL in her right knee. The first tear came before her 2011-12 season at Bowling Green, followed by an additional tear last year in preseason conditioning.

 

IU coach Teri Moren said Hulls and Bell both still plan on attending practices despite their injuries.

 

 

http://www.idsnews.com/article/2014/10/pair-of-hoosiers-out-for-season-due-to-injury

[Row6Seat10]

Wisconsin:

 

Avyanna Young, a junior on the Wisconsin women's basketball team, has elected to depart from the team, head coach Bobbie Kelsey announced today.

"Avyanna has decided to leave the program for personal and family reasons," Kelsey said. "We're very sorry that it didn't work out here but we wish her the best of luck."

Young, a 6-foot-1 forward, transferred from Milwaukee after two seasons with the Panthers. Young was set to have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2014-15 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

 

 

http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/102214aaa.html

[Row6Seat10]

Michigan:

 

Though Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico won’t be starting all five freshmen like Steve Fisher did with his Fab Five in 1991, she’s hoping that all five of her first-year players — coming from a recruiting class that was ranked 22nd in the nation by All Star Girls Report — will contribute meaningful minutes this season.

 

 

Michigan's freshmen five ready for season

[Row6Seat10]

Maryland:

 

“Our game focuses primarily on running,” guard Chloe Pavlech said. “The Big Ten hasn’t experienced a transition like our transition, so I think they are really going to have to adjust to that.”

 

 

“Not only will we have to adjust to them, but they will have to adjust to us,” Walker-Kimbrough said. “I don’t think they have seen the athleticism that we’re about to bring.”

 

 

http://www.diamondbackonline.com/sports/women_basketball/article_45e0d88e-5a4b-11e4-987e-0017a43b2370.html

[Row6Seat10]

Penn State:

 

 Washington admits the Lady Lion fans will see a lot of new things this season.

 

“We’re going to be different,” said Washington, the three-time reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year. “One of the things I like about this team is there is going to be more sharing of the wealth.

 

“We’ve been a team that has had some really dynamic individual players — Alex Bentley, Nikki Greene and Maggie Lucas — who could take over the game at any time. I think this is a team that has a lot of pieces that can contribute. I think that’s going to be cool for us to coach and it will be see interesting night-in and night-out who steps up and makes impactful plays.”

 

http://www.centredaily.com/2014/10/27/4426565_penn-state-womens-basketball-new.html?sp=/99/264/&rh=1

[Row6Seat10]

High Point:

 

Who?...you say.

 

High Point. The Huskers play them on Dec. 20th in PBA. The following quote is probably the reason why.

 

The trip to Nebraska is a homecoming game for senior Stacia Robertson, who grew up in Grand Island, Neb. It will come at the end of a hectic stretch in which the Panthers play at VCU at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18 and then visit Nebraska two days later.

 

 

Also, In the article they mention the High Point men's team in which Coach Scott Cherry will now allow his players to wear a head band in games. But, there's always a catch, if a player chooses to wear one he must wear it at all practices and games. Otherwise it creates to much of a distraction. Whatever!

 

http://www.hpe.com/sports/hpu/x1726675509/HPU-enters-headband-era

[Bugeaters1]

High Point:

 

Who?...you say.

 

High Point. The Huskers play them on Dec. 20th in PBA. The following quote is probably the reason why.

 

The trip to Nebraska is a homecoming game for senior Stacia Robertson, who grew up in Grand Island, Neb. It will come at the end of a hectic stretch in which the Panthers play at VCU at 11 a.m. on Dec. 18 and then visit Nebraska two days later.

 

 

Also, In the article they mention the High Point men's team in which Coach Scott Cherry will now allow his players to wear a head band in games. But, there's always a catch, if a player chooses to wear one he must wear it at all practices and games. Otherwise it creates to much of a distraction. Whatever!

 

http://www.hpe.com/sports/hpu/x1726675509/HPU-enters-headband-era

Didn't Doc have the same rule when he was coach here.

[Bugeaters1]

Looks like The Ohio St is having injury issues like UCLA had last year.

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/11/01/ohio-state-womenxs-basketball.html

[Row6Seat10]

Maryland & Rutgers:

 

For Rutgers and Maryland coaches, Big Ten return is no sweat

 

"We don't intend to take time being accepted into the Big Ten. The better competitors we are within the Big Ten, the better we're going to be able to step forward on the national stage," Stringer said. "They're looking forward to it. Nobody knows how we are and they'll have to deal with us."

 

 

The Big Ten/ACC Challenge offered Frese a glimpse at the community she is about to join, and the insights she observed only strengthen her enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

 

"The fans in the Big Ten are really educated, passionate fans. When we played in the challenge at Nebraska...people came up to us and had really positive comments to say about our team. That doesn't happen everywhere," she said.

 

[Row6Seat10]

Couple of interesting exhibition games this past weekend.

 

Penn St. needs a second half rally to defeat D-II Indiana University of Pennsylvania 75-71. And BYU our second round opponent in last years NCAA tournament lost to NAIA Westminster College of Salt Lake City 59-54.

[Row6Seat10]

British Columbia University:

 

Congratulations to Harleen,  I guess.

 

Evidently Harlene is playing for British Columbia Univ. They must have a different set of rules in Canada.

 

This year’s season was opened with an overtime win over the University of Guelph by a final score of 75-69. The win included a spirited effort by Harlene Sidhu, who poured in 34 points and dished out 16 assists. The ex-University of Nebraska player led the team on and off the floor and showed great leadership in the dying moments. By her side was the senior Kris Young, who paved the way with an impressive 18 points and 7 assists.

 

The women took this success into the Ryerson Darcel Wright Memorial Classic where they introduced themselves by defeating York University 69-42. Next up was McMaster University; the afternoon game was highlighted by the Thunderbirds’ smooth 57-40 victory. The championship was between an old rival — the University of Saskatchewan — and the ‘Birds, who thrashed the Huskies by a 24-point margin for a final score of 75-51. Harlene Sidhu was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player for her ability to maintain a 16.3 points per game average by the end of the tournament, and a solid 21 points in the final.

 

 

http://ubyssey.ca/sports/ubc-wbball-preseason435/

[Row6Seat10]

Ohio State:

 

The hits keep coming for the Buckeyes. Another torn acl.

 

Redshirt freshman guard Kianna Holland, a transfer from Duke, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in practice last week and will have to undergo season-ending surgery. She joins freshmen Makayla Waterman and Chelsea Mitchell who already were lost for the season to knee injuries suffered in practice.

 

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/11/05/1104-osu-womens-bsk-injury.html

[Bugeaters1]

Ohio State:

 

The hits keep coming for the Buckeyes. Another torn acl.

 

Redshirt freshman guard Kianna Holland, a transfer from Duke, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in practice last week and will have to undergo season-ending surgery. She joins freshmen Makayla Waterman and Chelsea Mitchell who already were lost for the season to knee injuries suffered in practice.

 

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/11/05/1104-osu-womens-bsk-injury.html

Maybe they are cursed for firing Jim Foster.

[Row6Seat10]

Illinois:

 

Bollant has been recruiting White since her sophomore year at Shelby-Rising City High, and only a few weeks into practice, he has already given her rave reviews.

 

“She’s everything that we hoped she would be,” Bollant said. “She’s going to demand a lot of attention inside, and she’s a great passer as well. So getting her touches is going to be really important, because she’ll score or find open shooters when she gets touches.”

 

 

Illinois women's basketball has upgrades at every position