Big Ten slate challenging

If there's one thing that sets the Big Ten conference apart from some of the other conferences, it is this - parity. Coming off of a season in which three teams split the conference title - Michigan State, Illinois and Iowa - and five teams were sent to the NCAA tournament, this year's conference looks to be wide open.

Illinois: Illinois returns this season with a share of the Big Ten title. And coming with that title is experience. All of last year's starters will be back for the Fighting Illini, including last year's Big Ten Player of the Year, Ashley Berggren. The experience is helping Illinois in practice, as far as teaching is concerned.

KEVIN KRUPITZER/Daily Ann Lemire and the rest of the Michigan women's basketball team look to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1990. The Wolverines have jumped out to a quick start, posting a 4-1 record in non-conference games.

"When we practice, the older ones are constantly helping the younger ones," Illinois coach Theresa Grentz said. "You can get well real quick if you've got players who have experience."

Indiana: The Hoosiers finished last season in an eighth-place tie with Michigan in the conference. This year, the Hoosiers have more experience, which will help them keep their focus throughout the season, something they did not necessarily do last year.

Also key for Indiana will be Barnes' play. She finished last season averaging 30 minutes and six rebounds per game, along with a .542 field-goal percentage and a .664 free-throw percentage.

"I have goals, game-by-game goals," Barnes said. "I think that will help keep me focused."

Iowa: The Hawkeyes lost five of their 12 players from last year's Big Ten title-sharing team, yet are one of the most confident teams in the conference. Why? All five starters are returning.

With three players who averaged double-digit points a year ago and three more who grabbed more than five rebounds a game, the Hawkeyes are sure to be in the conference title hunt come March. Add two solid 3-point shooters in Nadine Domond and Tiffany Gooden, and the Hawkeyes might have more than conference glory on their minds.

Michigan State: As the defending co-Big Ten Champions, Michigan State will have to defend its title with only two players from last season's team.

"We've got pretty good size, and we're a better rebounding team," Michigan State coach Karen Langeland said.

Minnesota: What optimism can there be on a team that won only a single conference game a year ago? Well, the Golden Gophers have one thing on their side - their entire team is returning.

That gives first-year coach Cheryl Littlejohn some experience to work with, even if the only experience they have is of losing.

Ohio State: First-year Buckeye coach Beth Burns has a problem with sub-par basketball teams. That's why she turns them around.

In 1989, she took over the San Diego State program and posted a .233 winning percentage in her first year. By the time she left for Ohio State a year ago, she had a 23-6 team that made four NCAA tournament appearances in her eight seasons.

But she has her work cut out for her with the Buckeyes, a team that finished 10th in the conference a year ago.

"We have to attack ourselves and improve to the point where we can be game-ready," Burns said. "The conference overall is our focal point. If you're the Big Ten champion, you can be the national champion. That's how good our conference is."

Northwestern: When you talk about Northwestern basketball, one of the first things mentioned must be Kristina Divjak. The freshman forward is the Big Ten's top returning player in four categories - scoring, 3-pointers made, 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage.

Divjak leads a team that finished fourth in the Big Ten a year ago, including its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1994. The Wildcats lost only two players from that team, but both were starters.

Northwestern is a strong perimeter team - both Divjak and Megan Chawansky shoot better than 35 percent from beyond the arc.

"I'm excited about this team," Northwestern coach Don Perrelli said. "Last year, I ran the team into the ground with the minutes that five or six players had to play. This year, we have depth, so I shouldn't have to do that."

Penn State: A year ago, Penn State learned what it's like to be mediocre. After being at least 10 games above .500 every year they've been in the Big Ten, the Lions suffered an 8-8 conference season and failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1989 and only the second time since 1983. Penn State coach Rene Portland doesn't intend to let that happen again.

"Our goals are pretty clear," Portland said. "It's to keep our eyes on the prize - the NCAA tournament."

Purdue: Not too many schools have three coaches in three years and are happy with the direction its program is heading. But Purdue's situation is a unique one.

A year ago, Nell Fortner took over the Boilermakers and led them to a share of the conference title, despite pre-season picks placing them as low as eighth. But when the USA national team called, Fortner jumped at the opportunity to represent his nation, leaving his top assistant, Carolyn Peck, in charge.

Under Fortner, Peck helped land a recruiting class that was ranked in the top-five in the nation.

"You're going to see a very similar team to what you saw last year," Peck said. "We may be more aggressive defensively, and we need some vital minutes from the freshmen."

Wisconsin: The Badgers were not happy to be left out of the NCAA tournament a year ago. After finishing tied for sixth in the conference and posting its second-ever string of three consecutive winning seasons, Wisconsin was overlooked by the selection committee for the first time in Jane Albright-Dieterle's three-year coaching tenure.

That isn't likely to happen again. The Badgers return four of their starters and 12 players from last season's team, and were predicted to finish as high as third in the conference by The Sporting News.

"Our goal is to finish in the top four of the conference and make the NCAA tournament," Albright-Dieterle said. "I'm very pleased with the team. We're pretty deep, and they're very hungry for success."

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