In a conference filled with underclassman stars, Wisconsin stands atop the Big Ten women's basketball standings by doing it the old fashioned way: senior leadership.
The Badgers are led by a trifecta of seniors -- guards Tamara Moore, Kyle Black and forward Jessie Stomski.
Moore and Stomski are each averaging over 17 points per game, a large reason why Wisconsin (13-1, 4-0 Big Ten) is ranked ninth in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and currently sits second in the RPI power rankings.
"I think when we first came in as freshmen you could see the three of us were going to emerge as leaders," Black said. "I think this year finally having it be our senior year, we're taking a different aspect of the game. We're trying not to be just leaders, we're trying as much to be teachers."
While the Badgers might be playing some of their best basketball in school history, the team is trying to avoid getting ahead of itself.
"We have not been there and done that as far as high rankings, so we'll try to enjoy it for a brief time," Wisconsin coach Jane Albright said in a teleconference yesterday.
Aside from the production of Stomski and Moore, who was named this week's Big Ten player of the week, Albright credits the Badgers avoiding the injuries as a big part of the teams' success.
"We're still relatively healthy and that was the big key," Albright said. "If we could stay healthy I felt we could cause some damage to some teams."
If the Badgers can stay out of the infirmary, the rest of the conference may be in store for some punishment.
Wide-Open Race
While Wisconsin may be hitting on all cylinders, no team has proved to be truly dominant in a season where parity has become the buzzword on all the coaches' lips.
After only a week and a half of conference play, the mighty have already fallen with preseason favorite and last season's NCAA runner-up Purdue sitting 2-2 in the conference following a loss to Iowa this weekend.
Even Michigan State, which is winless in the conference, has been playing well with a 10-4 overall record. The Spartans turned in an especially strong performance Saturday, defeating previously unbeaten Georgia.
"There's more parity this year then there's ever been," Purdue coach Kristy Curry said. "What excites me is how well (the Big Ten has) done in our non-conference schedule, we've gotten big wins against every conference."
Trouble in Ann Arbor
Michigan, which was chosen to place first in the Big Ten preseason coaches poll, is among the teams having a tough time. Despite possessing an 11-4 record and a No. 20 ranking, the Wolverines are only 1-3 in the conference.
An important factor in Michigan's troubles is the loss of forward Raina Goodlow to a staph infection in her hip.
"We're looking to get back on track," Michigan coach Sue Guevara said. "We've played two tough, tough road games against Purdue and Wisconsin and lost a heartbreaker at home to Illinois."
