The way things have gone this year in Big Ten women's basketball, you can expect the unexpected.
As the 2002 Big Ten Tournament gets underway today at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, several teams hope to be crowned this year's champion. While No. 1 seed Purdue and No. 4 seed Iowa, last year's tournament champions, are considered to be the favorites this year, several other teams feel they have a legitimate shot at going all the way.
The following is a preview of the squads competing in the second half of the tournament bracket.
No. 11 Northwestern
The Wildcats languished at the bottom of the standings all season, crawling to just a 4-23 record overall and finishing winless in the conference. Still, head coach June Olkowski thinks her team has a fighting chance in its first-round matchup against Wisconsin tonight at 8. The Wildcats lost by only five points to the Badgers in their first regular season matchup, but were blown out 80-47 in the rematch.
"We played them well here at our place and did not respond on the road with our young team," Olkowski said. "We're not going to be an easy team to play, and I think Wisconsin realizes that."
No. 10 Michigan State
The Spartans enter the tournament with a 16-11 overall mark but a less-than-stellar 6-10 record in the Big Ten. Spartans head coach Joanne P. McCallie said she believes her squad has a shot at an NCAA Tournament berth due to its strong non-conference record, but knows the Spartans will need to have a strong showing this weekend.
"I just think we're kind of an enigma in a lot of ways," McCallie said. "Who knows where we'll go from here."
The Spartans' tournament play begins tonight at 5:30 with their game against Ohio State.
No. 7 Ohio State
The Buckeyes have won their last two games, but they have earned just four victories over their last 11. Head coach Beth Burns knows that getting past the Spartans' tough defense will be no small task.
"You know its going to be extremely physical and you know you're going to have to make big shots to beat them," Burns said.
No. 6 Wisconsin
Earlier in the year, the Badgers figured to be receiving a first-round bye in the tournament thanks to their outstanding start.
Then came their second half skid.
The Badgers limp into the postseason having lost nine of their last 10, including a 82-55 drubbing at the hands of Ohio State to close out the season. However, Badgers' head coach Jane Albright thinks things might soon turn around.
"We're going to spend the next couple of days trying to remember some of the things we were doing not so long ago that got us to a pretty successful season," Albright said.
No. 3 Minnesota
The Golden Gophers have been the story of the year in the Big Ten, thanks to their turnaround from 1-15 in the conference last season to an 11-5 mark this year. Their efforts have been rewarded by a handful of postseason accolades, including Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for Brenda Oldfield and the conference's Player of the Year Award for sophomore Lindsay Whalen.
"We really feel these things happened because of what this team has been able to accomplish this year," Oldfield said.
The Gophers received a first-round bye and will face the winner of the Wisconsin/Northwestern game tomorrow at 8:30 p.m.
No. 2 Penn State
The Lady Lions earned a first-round bye in the tournament thanks to a season-ending win over Michigan, combined with Minnesota's upset loss to Michigan State. Led by Naismith Player of the Year candidate Kelly Mazzante, the Lions are looking to make some waves in this year's tournament after a shaky season start.
"Things worked out for us at the end, our kids worked real hard," Lions head coach Rene Portland said. 'We won eight of our last 10, so that was real positive."
The Lions plays the winner of the Ohio State/Michigan State game tomorrow at 6 p.m.
