Women's basketball news: 2017-2018 B1G Preview: Ohio State, Maryland will duel to the end

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) /

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February 05 2016: Michigan State coach Suzy Merchant during a Big 10 women’s basketball match at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. Maryland defeated Michigan State 85-76. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Last year’s record: 21-12, 9-7 B1G

Biggest Losses:

Tori Jankoska: 16.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.7 APG, First team All-Big Team, Alderton Female Co-Athlete of the Year

Key Non-conference games:

Uconn: 11/25

Miami: 11/30

Notre Dame: 12/06

Following a health scare from head coach Suzy Merchant, Michigan State played their way to a second consecutive NCAA appearance. It’s going to be tough without their star player in Tori Jankoska, a do-everything guard, but this year’s Spartans will rise on the strength of its frontcourt. Brainndais Agee averaged 10 PPG and 6.6 RPG while Taya Reimer averaged 9.5 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Victoria Gaines averaged 5.3 PPG. Agee, Gaines, and Reimer are first, second, and third in blocks at Michigan State, so this will help them in the absence of star player Tori Jankoska. Expect Michigan State to finish with a higher seed in this year’s NCAA tournament. Merchant and company are definitely headed in the right direction.

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