JumpOffPlus.com Conference Previews
The Big Ten
By: Keil Moore
November 5, 2009
JumpOffPlus.com National Evaluator
RecruitingThe 2009 class was very Big Ten friendly with some of the nation's best freshman picking Big Ten schools as homes the conference will undoubtedly be stronger from the inflict of talent that is coming in this year. Of course the major recruiting pick up in the conference was the spring signing of All American guard Taylor Hill who should fit in great in a back court alongside last season's freshman of the year Sammy Prahalis. Ohio State head coach Jim Foster has to be very happy to add a player like Hill to an Ohio State team that should be able to compete amongst the nation's finest. Hill joins a list of players who have decided to play their college basketball outside of their home state of Minnesota instead of following the path of a Lindsay Whalen staying home and lifting the instate program to national prominence.
Both Purdue and Northwestern have secured important additions to their rosters for the next couple of years to come in the addition of incoming freshman and transfers. Purdue was able to land two transfers while in a position roster wise to forgo signing a 2009 grad. Drey Mingo a Forward from Maryland by way of Atlanta, Georgia as well as guard Antionette Howard who is coming from Florida State. Both players will have to sit out the upcoming season, but have 2 years of eligibility starting in the 2010-2011 season. Northwestern picked up a key piece with Ohio's Miss Basketball Kendall Hackney. Hackney, who originally verballed to Southern Cal before the coaching change should add depth to the Northwestern front line. Northwestern coach Joe McKeown didn't stop with Hackney, he was also able to add a transfer of his own in Tailor Jones from the University of Florida. Jones who will have three years of eligibility after sitting out the upcoming season. Jones should fit in great at Northwestern with their style of play really suiting her strengths as a player who can do a bit of everything from the small forward position.
Its hard to talk about the Big Ten without mentioning the two schools who should be emerging as major players in the years to come, Penn State and Illinois both bring in very solid recruiting classes that the programs will hope to build on for the future. Penn State was able to score big on the recruiting trail with the pick ups of post Nikki Green and guard Gizelle Studevent. Reed adds real size to the Penn State front court and should be a solid addition on the boards right away. Studevent is an excellent shooter who can also do a bit off the dribble, as she begins to get stronger Studevent will be an effective scoring option for the Nittany Lions. Illinois added much needed depth in their six player class head lined by Destiny Williams and Karisma Penn. Look for Williams and Penn to contribute heavily immediately while their classmates are forced to adjust quickly and contribute to what will be a young but talented Illinois roster.
Conference OutlookThis year's version of the Big Ten will be spearheaded by Ohio State who should be able to pull out a high seed in the NCAA Tournament thanks in large part to the likes of Jantel Lavendar and Sammy Prahalis. While OSU is probably the conference favorite, there are a number of teams who should challenge for the top spot. You cannot count out Michigan State's head coach Suzy Merchant and her 6-foot-9 inside presence in Allyssa Dehaan. With Michigan State and Ohio State clear favorites to fight for the first and second spots in the conference, the major race will be for spots three through six in the final conference standings. Purdue would have to be a favorite to finish in the top third of the league as they finished second last season and should make a push for that spot again this season. If sophomore guard Brittany Rayburn comes out the way she finished last year, anything is possible.
Minnesota is a talented team that should finish at the top of the league this year as they see some of the previous seasons youth turn into experience led by senior post Ashley Ellis-Milan. Look Iowa, Illinois and Penn State to make their impact in the conference as well. Iowa looks to get it done with a very young roster with only three upperclass players (one senior, two juniors) on the 2009-10 roster. Illinois will feature senior post Jenna Smith while Penn State will look to senior forward Tyra Grant to find a way to score points for Coquese Washington's team. Both players are preseason All Big-Ten selections.
Northwestern will use 6-foot-5 junior post player Amy Jaeschke to continue working their way up the conference standings ladder. Indiana will go into conference play with senior guard Jamie Braun and junior Jori Davis. Wisconsin will be looking for their key returner Tara Steinbauer to anchor them from the painted area as she moves into the starting line up full time. Michigan, like Iowa, has a roster loaded with young players. Only four of the Wolverines thirteen players on the roster are juniors or seniors.
Brandon Clay is the publisher of the JumpOffPlus.com and the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001 as an evaluator, event operator and trainer. You can reach him at
bclay@peachstatehoops.comKeil Moore is a national evaluator for the JumpOffPlus.com. Moore has been involved in the community since 2007 as a talent evaluator and a trainer. You can reach him at
kmoore@peachstatehoops.com
