Big Ten title on deck for Berggren, Illini?

Illinois women's basketball coach Theresa Grentz is a lucky woman.

Had guard Ashley Berggren listened to what her advisors told her to do after high school, Grentz would probably not be coaching the No. 13 team in the nation.

After earning All-America softball honors during her senior year, Berggren was advised to forget about basketball and concentrate on softball in college. It seemed like a logical decision after she hit .433 and belted 22 home runs. And after all, she was not even being heavily recruited by many Div. I basketball programs.

"I wasn't highly recruited for basketball and most people thought I should play softball," Berggren said. "But I didn't have the same desire to play softball that I did for basketball."

That desire has helped Berggren become one of the nation's best players and Illinois become one of its best teams. Largely because of Berggren, the Illini will head into this weekend's Big Ten Tournament as one of the favorites to win the crown.

Before Berggren's arrival in 1994, the Illini were a laughingstock. They had not won more than 12 games in a season for seven years. But Berggren made her presence felt immediately and helped push Illinois from the bottom of the Big Ten into the national spotlight.

"You talk about starting a team and building around someone," Grentz said. "That's exactly what we did with Ashley. We would not be where we are without her."

By Berggren's sophomore year, the woman nobody had wanted was the talk of the Big Ten. The second-year guard put together one of the most dominating years in Big Ten history, not only leading the conference in scoring with an average of 24.6 points per game, but also finishing second in rebounding. Berggren's monster effort helped her become the first Illini player to win All-Big Ten honors in four years.

- Illinois guard Ashley Berggren

Last year Berggren led Illinois to its first-ever conference title and became the first player in Illini history to receive Big Ten Player of the Year honors. Her value to the team was never more apparent than midway through the season when guards Melissa Parker and Krista Reinking went down with injuries and she had to play point guard. Rather than back down from the challenge, Berggren excelled in her new role and held Illinois together until the other guards returned.

"It's wonderful to look back and say you were part of building a winning tradition," Berggren said. "To know you're a vital part of that is a special feeling."

After last year's breakthrough season the Illini were labeled a preseason national title contender. Although this was a first for Illinois, Berggren again showed her ability to adjust and get the job done. She is pacing the Illini in scoring with 18 points a game and has been especially tough down the stretch, making Illinois a dangerous team come NCAA Tournament time.

"What we have accomplished at Illinois is a great credit to Ashley," Grentz said. "There have been some great players at Illinois, but Ashley Berggren is one of the best."

Maybe Berggren made the right decision after all.