The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
4. Iowa 2013-14: 27-9 overall, 11-5 Big Ten Head Coach: Lisa Bluder Top Player: Senior guard Samantha Logic Top Incoming Freshman: Guard Whitney Jennings Summary: Bluder is the all-time winningest coach in program history and has put the Hawkeyes in the postseason in 13 of 14 years, with 11 of them being bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes return four starters from a year ago that all averaged more than 13 points per game. Add Jennings, who aver- aged 32.0 points per game as a prep senior last year, to the mix and scoring points will be the forte of the Hawkeyes. 5. Rutgers 2013-14: 28-9 overall, 12-6 American Athletic Head Coach: C. Vivian Stringer Top Player: Sophomore guard Tyler Scaife Top Incoming Freshman: Guard Shrita Parker Summary: Stringer is the second winningest active head coach with 929 career victories. She brings experience and a winning mentality to the Big Ten. Rutgers won the WNIT last season and returns all five starters and its top six scorers. The team is made up of 10 seniors and juniors with valuable experience for the inaugural Big Ten season. Scaife, the 2013-14 AAC Freshman of the Year, and WNIT MVP Kahleah Copper will lead the Scarlet Knights. BIG TEN TEAM ON THE RISE: MICHIGAN Kim Barnes Arico is building something in Ann Arbor, winning 20 games in each of her first two seasons, making her the first coach in program history to do so. The Wolverines return four of five starters and landed the highest-ranked recruiting class (No. 23) in program history. Look for the Wolverines to make the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years behind strong senior leadership from two-time captain and senior guard Nicole Elmblad and All-Big Ten second-teamer senior forward Cyesha Goree. BIG TEN TEAM ON THE DECLINE: ILLINOIS Matt Bolant was hired by Illinois as the head women's basketball coach in 2012, and won 19 games and led the Illini into the WNIT quarterfinals in his first season. Last year, he slipped all the way to a 9-21 record after losing the last 11 games of the season. For the second straight year, he will have to replace his best player and while he brings in a solid recruiting class, his team isn't ready to compete with the conference's best. — Brandon Brown