Uphill battle for 'M' in the Big Ten

By Benjamin Singer

Daily Sports Writer

When the season began, the Big Ten looked as though it could soon become one of the nation's elite conferences for women's basketball.

As long as teams like Penn State and Purdue continue their traditions of excellence, the Big Ten never needs to fear a lack of respect. But, recently, other teams have emerged as threats on the scene.

For example, Illinois received a preseason top 25 ranking, as did Wisconsin after winning last year's WNIT. Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana have all received votes for the AP Poll during this season.

After a second-place finish in the Big Ten last year, Michigan thought it could lead such second-tier teams in the conference's growth toward national recognition. When the Wolverines were televised nationally Dec. 30 on CBS against then-No. 8 Purdue, commentator Gus Johnson spoke highly of the direction Michigan has taken under coach Sue Guevara's tenure. Johnson warned women's hoops fans that her team was on the rise.

But the current state of the Wolverines' union is no longer so positive. Guevara insists, nevertheless, they are still in contention.

"You look at the rest of the conference, and I certainly don't put us out of it with four losses," she said. "It's pretty wide open. It's obvious, on any given night, who knows who is going to win?"

Michigan is not the only team underachieving as the middle of the Big Ten standings become more jumbled.

Both Illinois and Wisconsin lost their rankings after mediocre records in non-conference play, but the Fighting Illini are reproving themselves with a 4-1 Big Ten showing. Ohio State is sitting near the bottom, but it remains undefeated in non-conference games with three conference losses by three or fewer points. Penn State, which was supposed to prove Purdue's only challenge, dropped two in a row to Illinois and Michigan.

Though Guevara said her four losses don't bury her team for good, much of the remaining schedule will be an uphill climb with six road games, including those at No. 6 Purdue and No. 16 Penn State. But playing scared is no way to make a comeback.

"I don't think we fear anybody," Guevara said. "I think for us, if somebody has a ranking ahead of their name, it's a lot better for us than somebody who doesn't."