Ignatius L Hoops
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http://www.espn.com/womens-college-...o-1-espnw-preseason-women-basketball-rankings
ESPN preseason rankings include three B1G teams: #6 Ohio State, #7 Maryland and #23 Indiana.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
2015-16 record: 26-8; lost in Sweet 16
Points: 79 (3/8)
Notable returners: Kelsey Mitchell (26.1 PPG, 3.4 APG); Shayla Cooper (13.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG); Alexa Hart (10.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG)
No player in the country can single-handedly take over a game with the offensive relentlessness of Mitchell. But with the collection of talent coach Kevin McGuff has now assembled around her, Mitchell might not have to do that as much this season. Former high school All-Americans and ACC transfers Stephanie Mavunga (a 6-3 forward from North Carolina) and Sierra Calhoun (a 6-foot guard from Duke) join a Buckeyes rotation that already includes All-Big Ten second-teamers Cooper and Hart. Kentucky transfer Linnae Harper becomes eligible in January and will have to find minutes in the backcourt with Mitchell, Calhoun, junior Asia Doss (7.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG) and possibly Kianna Holland, another former high school All-American who is trying to battle back from two lost seasons due to knee injuries.
7. Maryland Terrapins
2015-16 record: 31-4; lost in NCAA tournament second round
Points: 75 (7/8)
Notable returners: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (19.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG); Brionna Jones (15.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG); Kristen Confroy (8.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG)
With seven new players, Maryland is a program in transition. With two All-American caliber seniors, the Terps are also expecting to win big in 2016-17. Six of those new faces make up the top-rated recruiting class in the country (Baylor transfer Ieshia Small is the other newcomer), but the talented and efficient duo of Walker-Kimbrough and Jones remain the foundation in College Park. Walker-Kimbrough led the country in 3-point field goal percentage (54.5) and is equally dangerous in transition. Jones was the nation's most accurate shooter overall last season (66.5 percent) and is an impossible matchup in the low post. Jones will get her help in the frontcourt from 6-2 Kiah Gillespie (5.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG), 6-3 Brianna Fraser (4.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and 6-6 freshman Jenna Staiti. Confroy, who made 40.8 percent of her 3-point attempts, is Walker-Kimbrough's partner on the wing. What's lacking is a proven point guard. Can top recruit Destiny Slocum step in to fill the void?
23. Indiana Hoosiers
2015-16 record: 21-12; lost in NCAA tournament second round
Points: 12 (20/NR)
Notable returners: Tyra Buss (18.8 PPG, 4.4 APG); Amanda Cahill (14.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG); Alexis Gassion (11.3 PPG, 3.3 APG)
The Hoosiers have made huge strides in only two seasons under coach Teri Moren, winning their first NCAA tournament game and equaling a school record with 21 wins. Now even more is expected. Much of the recent success can be attributed to the play of Buss. The 5-8 junior attacks the basket with confidence that spills over to the rest of the team. Only Washington's Kelsey Plum attempted more free throws than Buss in 2015-16. All five starters are back for the Hoosiers, including the 6-2 Cahill, the Big Ten's fourth-leading returning rebounder and Indiana's most accurate 3-point shooter (41 percent). Moren also welcomes Dayton graduate transfer Amber Deane, who is coming off an injury that shortened her season a year ago; she averaged double-figure scoring in her final three seasons.
ESPN preseason rankings include three B1G teams: #6 Ohio State, #7 Maryland and #23 Indiana.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
2015-16 record: 26-8; lost in Sweet 16
Points: 79 (3/8)
Notable returners: Kelsey Mitchell (26.1 PPG, 3.4 APG); Shayla Cooper (13.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG); Alexa Hart (10.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG)
No player in the country can single-handedly take over a game with the offensive relentlessness of Mitchell. But with the collection of talent coach Kevin McGuff has now assembled around her, Mitchell might not have to do that as much this season. Former high school All-Americans and ACC transfers Stephanie Mavunga (a 6-3 forward from North Carolina) and Sierra Calhoun (a 6-foot guard from Duke) join a Buckeyes rotation that already includes All-Big Ten second-teamers Cooper and Hart. Kentucky transfer Linnae Harper becomes eligible in January and will have to find minutes in the backcourt with Mitchell, Calhoun, junior Asia Doss (7.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG) and possibly Kianna Holland, another former high school All-American who is trying to battle back from two lost seasons due to knee injuries.
7. Maryland Terrapins
2015-16 record: 31-4; lost in NCAA tournament second round
Points: 75 (7/8)
Notable returners: Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (19.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG); Brionna Jones (15.2 PPG, 9.8 RPG); Kristen Confroy (8.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG)
With seven new players, Maryland is a program in transition. With two All-American caliber seniors, the Terps are also expecting to win big in 2016-17. Six of those new faces make up the top-rated recruiting class in the country (Baylor transfer Ieshia Small is the other newcomer), but the talented and efficient duo of Walker-Kimbrough and Jones remain the foundation in College Park. Walker-Kimbrough led the country in 3-point field goal percentage (54.5) and is equally dangerous in transition. Jones was the nation's most accurate shooter overall last season (66.5 percent) and is an impossible matchup in the low post. Jones will get her help in the frontcourt from 6-2 Kiah Gillespie (5.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG), 6-3 Brianna Fraser (4.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and 6-6 freshman Jenna Staiti. Confroy, who made 40.8 percent of her 3-point attempts, is Walker-Kimbrough's partner on the wing. What's lacking is a proven point guard. Can top recruit Destiny Slocum step in to fill the void?
23. Indiana Hoosiers
2015-16 record: 21-12; lost in NCAA tournament second round
Points: 12 (20/NR)
Notable returners: Tyra Buss (18.8 PPG, 4.4 APG); Amanda Cahill (14.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG); Alexis Gassion (11.3 PPG, 3.3 APG)
The Hoosiers have made huge strides in only two seasons under coach Teri Moren, winning their first NCAA tournament game and equaling a school record with 21 wins. Now even more is expected. Much of the recent success can be attributed to the play of Buss. The 5-8 junior attacks the basket with confidence that spills over to the rest of the team. Only Washington's Kelsey Plum attempted more free throws than Buss in 2015-16. All five starters are back for the Hoosiers, including the 6-2 Cahill, the Big Ten's fourth-leading returning rebounder and Indiana's most accurate 3-point shooter (41 percent). Moren also welcomes Dayton graduate transfer Amber Deane, who is coming off an injury that shortened her season a year ago; she averaged double-figure scoring in her final three seasons.