3 story lines
1) Familiar faces win new places
The Big Ten became considerably stronger with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers. Their coaches (Brenda Frese of Maryland and C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers) will find the surroundings very familiar in the 14-team league. Frese guided the Gophers in 2001-02, while Stringer spent 12 seasons at the helm of Iowa from 1983-95. Stringer still ranks second in all-time Big Ten victories with 169.
2) Big Ten ranks No. 1 in RPI
It might come as a surprise to some, but the Big Ten is the nation's top-ranked conference, slightly ahead of the ACC and Pac-12, in the Collegiate Basketball News RPI ratings. There are eight teams ranked in the top 50: Nebraska (No. 9), Iowa (No. 11), Michigan (No. 21), Minnesota (No. 38), Maryland (No. 41), Northwestern (No. 43), Illinois (No. 47) and Ohio State (No. 50).
3) Minnesotans making an impact as starters
Outside the Gophers roster, six other players from Minnesota have started at least one nonconference game at another Big Ten school. They are: Iowa 6-4 senior center Bethany Doolittle (Hill-Murray) and 6-1 junior forward Kali Peschel (Sauk Centre); Northwestern 6-1 sophomore forward Nia Coffey (Hopkins), and Wisconsin 6-4 senior center Cassie Rochel (Lakeville North), 6-0 junior guard Tessa Cichy (Hill-Murray) and 6-0 freshman guard Cayla McMorris (Park Center). Coffey has made the biggest impact, averaging 16.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game for the 10-1 Wildcats.
power rankings
Ron Haggstrom's predicted order of finish:
1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Nebraska
