Women's hoops battle for Big Ten

Let the jockeying begin.

With just two weekends left to play in the Big Ten season - each team has three or four games left - women's basketball teams across the conference are jockeying for position for the conference tournament. And Michigan is no different.

The tournament setup is relatively simple. The top five teams in the conference standings get first-round byes while the bottom six play each other, leaving eight teams for the second round.

So with the Wolverines in a three-way tie for fourth place with Purdue and Penn State, here's the question facing Michigan coach Sue Guevara: Are they better off finishing in the top five, getting a first-round bye but guaranteeing a tough game in the second round? Or would it be better finishing sixth or seventh in the conference, having to play in the first round but getting a relatively easy game against a conference cellar-dweller like Minnesota or Northwestern?

The bye would leave the Wolverines well-rested for what would likely be a four-versus-five seed matchup in the second round. But the first-round game could give them the victory that would make the difference between qualifying for the NCAA tournament or going home after the Big Ten tournament. When it comes to getting an NCAA berth - something Michigan has never done - the formula is simple: the more victories, the better.

While insisting that the Wolverines want to get a first-round bye, Guevara has admitted that they might be better off without it. With just four games left before the tournament, Michigan needs at least three victories to be considered for the Big Dance. If the Wolverines don't get those three victories during the regular season, that first-round game could be a blessing in disguise.

Some teams don't have to worry about the dilemma facing Guevara. Illinois and Iowa, preseason picks by the media to finish one-two in the conference, haven't disappointed. Both will get first-round byes, and have all but locked up NCAA tournament berths.

But many more teams do share Guevara's quandary. After Iowa, there's a five-team logjam. Indiana, with an 8-5 conference record, is a half-game ahead of Michigan, Purdue and Penn State, which are all one game above Wisconsin.

Indiana has been the surprise of the conference. Picked to finish as low as ninth by the media coming into the season, the Hoosiers have relied on strong play from center Quacy Barnes and guards Kameelah Morgan and Kristi Green, producing a fierce inside-outside attack that's tough to defend.

But even Indiana could use more victories to help impress the NCAA selection committee, and a first-round game would likely provide that. Only Wisconsin has already met the magic number of 18 victories for NCAA consideration.

Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota bring up the bottom of the standings and will likely play first-round games in the Big Ten tournament. Ohio State, with a 6-7 record, has an outside shot at finishing in the top five.

Wisconsin has been the most disappointing Big Ten team. After putting together a 12-1 non-conference record early in the season - including victories over several ranked teams - the Badgers have gone just 6-6 in Big Ten play. They managed to stay in the top 25 despite their struggles, but sit in seventh place in the conference.

Indiana coach Jim Izard said seven Big Ten teams deserve NCAA bids, but that probably won't happen. So in the meantime, let the jockeying begin.

02-10-98