The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
great things. I am excited for my third year. The team is great. We have a bunch of wonderful young women who are doing a tremendous job on and off the basketball court. "It makes coming to work every day super fun. Things have been go- ing really well thus far and we are preparing to compete in the Big Ten, which I feel like is becoming the best women's basketball conference in the country." ❏ Sizing Up The Big Ten PREDICTED BIG TEN TOP FIVE 1. Maryland 2013-14: 28-7 overall, 12-4 ACC Head Coach: Brenda Freese Top Player: Sophomore guard Lexie Brown Top Incoming Freshman: Guard Kiara Leslie Summary: Freese in is her 13th year as the Terrapins' head coach and she's fresh off a Final Four appearance. Maryland will have to replace superstar Alyssa Thomas, but Brown should be poised to do so. She averaged 10.1 points per game last year and made the All-ACC Freshman Team. Maryland has won at least 20 games in 10 straight seasons under Freese. 2. Michigan State 2013-14: 23-10 overall, 13-3 Big Ten Head Coach: Suzy Merchant Top Player: Redshirt sophomore guard Aerial Powers Top Incoming Freshman: Guard/forward Jasmine Lumpkin Summary: The top freshman duo of Powers and Tori Jankoska is back this year and will be one of the best backcourts in the Big Ten. The Spartans have won 20 games in 11 straight seasons and are the reigning Big Ten champions. They will challenge Maryland for the top spot in the conference. 3. Nebraska 2013-14: 26-7, 12-4 Head Coach: Connie Yori Top Player: Senior forward Emily Cady Top Incoming Freshman: Forward Kaylee Page Summary: Yori adds the No. 9-ranked recruiting class to a solid group of seniors to make up a tough Cornhuskers team. Four of five starters return this year, including three-time All-Big Ten performer Cady. Big Ten Player of the Year Jordan Hooper has moved on to the WNBA, but the returning players are poised to fill the void. The Huskers will be defending a Big Ten Tournament title this season, looking to build on last year's late-season run.