The 2017-2018 B1G Preseason Rankings are announced
It has been a perfect battle between the Maryland and Ohio State basketball programs over the last three years in the Big Ten. Ohio State, however has been named the Preseason Big Ten women’s basketball favorite by the coaches Monday afternoon. Also, in a unanimous decision, Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell has earned the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
The rankings for the 2017-2018 Preseason Teams are as follows:
2017-2018 Coaches B1G Preseason Rankings
- Ohio State
- Maryland
- Michigan
2017-2018 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
TYRA BUSS, Sr., G, Indiana
Amanda Cahill, Sr., F, Indiana
Megan Gustafon, Jr., F, Iowa
Kaila Charles, So., G, Maryland
KATELYNN FLAHERTY, Sr., G, Michigan
Hallie Thome, Jr., C, Michigan
Brainndais Agee, Sr., G, Michigan State
Carlie Wagner, Sr., G, Minnesota
Stephanie Mavunga, Sr., F, Ohio State
KELSEY MITCHELL, Sr., G, Ohio State
Teniya Page, Jr., G, Penn State
2017-2018 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Kelsey Mitchell, Sr., G., Ohio State
Maryland and Michigan ties for second place in the media voting. Michigan comes fresh off of a 2017 WNIT Championship and returning their two top leading scorers in Katelynn Flaherty and Hallie Thome. Flaherty led Michigan in scoring for the second straight season (20.2 PPG) while Thome achieved the fourth highest season total in school history with 600 points. For Maryland, losing three players in unexpectedly due to transferring is not an ideal situation for head coach Brenda Frese. However, Maryland is a program built on reloading.
Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell had a remarkable season this past year and is on pace to having such a season once again. In her junior campaign, she averaged 22.6, scored 20 or more points in 25 games. In addition to that, she made 115 3-pointers, the second most in the Big Ten Scoring 2,553 career points, Mitchell is 265 points away from Jantel Lavender’s record of 2,818. Her along with Stephanie Mavunga makes the Buckeyes the team to beat this season, conference wise and national wise.
Next: South Carolina tabbed to win SEC for fifth straight season by media
This Big Ten season will probably one of the most competitive seasons from top to bottom in a while. With that being said, buckle up because this is going to be one good, but rather wild ride of a season.