Big and strong is now passé; coaches want players to run and run

Much to the chagrin of Ohio State coach Jim Foster and the Gophers' Pam Borton, last spring's NCAA women's basketball tournament highlighted the difference between the Big Ten and leagues such as the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Gophers, who finished third in the Big Ten, could not keep up with Texas' superb athletes and lost in the first round. Ditto for league champ Ohio State, a No. 6 seed that was run out of the tournament by Florida State's fast, nimble players.

Only Purdue advanced to the second round, where the Boilermakers were crushed by Tennessee. Those performances added to the perception that the Big Ten's traditional style -- a slow-paced game dependent on big inside players -- needed to evolve to keep pace with a changing game. That wasn't news to Foster, Borton and other league coaches who already had begun remaking their rosters, in the hopes of restoring some luster to the Big Ten.

The Gophers will begin the conference season tonight at Wisconsin with more skilled, quick and versatile players. Foster has added dynamic point guard Samantha Prahalis to a lineup that includes 2007-08 Big Ten co-player of the year Jantel Lavender, a 6-4 center who can run and score from inside or outside. While the league's transformation will take time, both coaches hope to see dividends paid this season.

"I definitely think [the style is changing], because that's the way people are recruiting now,'' said Borton, whose Gophers will play their Big Ten home opener Thursday against Penn State. "When you look at some of the young players in our league and the styles people are recruiting, we are definitely becoming more uptempo and more athletic.''

The game is evolving

Foster, in his 31st year as a head coach, echoed her sentiments. He said after the NCAA tournament that the Big Ten had not kept pace with the game's evolution and that it was necessary for the league to ratchet up its tempo and athletic skill. Like Borton, he already had begun seeking a different type of player.

The multitalented Lavender provided his cornerstone. An honorable-mention All-America last year, she led the Big Ten in rebounding and was the first freshman named the league's player of the year. With her on board, Foster has been able to attract more top-flight players, and the smart, swift Prahalis should move the Buckeyes one step closer to his ideal.

"Women's basketball has become more athletic, and this conference has lagged behind that trend,'' Foster said. "Now, we're playing catch-up. A lot of these other conferences, they are just very athletic and play multiple defenses and get out on the open floor and go.

"There is not a big kid in the country who can run like Lavender. She's got great hands, and she can really shoot the three. I like the changes we've made. Every kid in [the Buckeyes' freshman and sophomore classes] can run, really run.''

The league is rebuilding

Borton expects the league to be highly competitive from top to bottom this season. She pointed out that Wisconsin, picked to finish 10th in the Big Ten, started its season 10-1.

Michigan, predicted to finish in the middle of the standings, has beaten two ranked teams in Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

The Gophers ended their nonconference schedule with two subpar performances in losses to Iowa State and South Dakota State, but they had won eight in a row before those defeats. Borton has upgraded her roster with the addition of versatile freshman forward Jackie Voigt, who has started all 11 games, and fellow rookies Kiara Buford and Brianna Mastey, who have improved the team's speed and offensive ability. Borton's players say they anticipate the conference will continue to evolve -- and the ability to keep pace will be crucial.

"The Big Ten used to be a powerhouse,'' Gophers guard Emily Fox said. "It goes through cycles, and I feel like it's coming back. We're seeing a lot of talented young players and some new coaches who are rebuilding the league. We're expecting a tough season, a tough conference, but I think we're ready."