2017-2018 B1G Preview: Ohio State, Maryland will duel to the end

HARTFORD, CT - DECEMBER 19: Ohio State's Guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) drives around UConn Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) during the second half a women's NCAA division 1 basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the UConn Huskies on December 19, 2016, at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT - DECEMBER 19: Ohio State's Guard Kelsey Mitchell (3) drives around UConn Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) during the second half a women's NCAA division 1 basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the UConn Huskies on December 19, 2016, at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 04: Purdue Boilermaker Head Coach Sharon Versyp pleads her case with the referee during the game game between the Ohio State Buckeyes vs Purdue Boilermakers on March 04, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Purdue defeated Ohio State 71-60. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 04: Purdue Boilermaker Head Coach Sharon Versyp pleads her case with the referee during the game game between the Ohio State Buckeyes vs Purdue Boilermakers on March 04, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Purdue defeated Ohio State 71-60. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Last year’s record: 23-13, 10-6 B1G

Biggest Losses:

Ashley Morissette: 19 PPG, All-Big Ten and Big Ten All Defensive team, Purdue Varsity Walk Award Winner, Boilermakers Coaches Award

Key Non-conference games: 

Georgia Tech: 11/30

Ashley Morrisette was the one of the best Big Ten players in the conference last season, including some high-scoring performances like her 31 point outburst against Pittsburgh and at Michigan State. She also finished 16th in program history with 1,416 career points, which the Boilermakers are surely going to miss this upcoming season. Purdue will have to adjust without her starpower on the floor with a young roster, but this will be a chance for senior Andreona Keys to step up as a leader. Four freshmen and six sophomore is a pretty young team, so inconsistency is a likely expectation.