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B1G Preview: Maryland, and Michigan, and Minnesota…..oh my!

By Jasmine Brown

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 04: Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach Kenin McGuff holds up the Big Ten Championship trophy after defeating the Maryland Terrapins during the Big Ten Women's Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Maryland Terrapins on March 4, 2018, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Maryland Terrapins 79-69. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 04: Ohio State Buckeyes Head Coach Kenin McGuff holds up the Big Ten Championship trophy after defeating the Maryland Terrapins during the Big Ten Women's Championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Maryland Terrapins on March 4, 2018, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Maryland Terrapins 79-69. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, IL – FEBRUARY 19: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Brandi Beasley (1) controls the ball in the first half during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on February 19, 2017, at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL – FEBRUARY 19: Illinois Fighting Illini guard Brandi Beasley (1) controls the ball in the first half during a game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats on February 19, 2017, at the Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Projected finish: 13th

Key returners:

G- Brandi Beasley: 5’6, JR 13.0 PPG, 37% FG, 7 blocks, 32.5 MPG

F- Alex Wittinger, 6’1 SR 15.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG

Newcomers: 

F- McKenzie Blazek 6’3 (Franklin, Indiana)  (no. 81 on ESPN’s HoopGurlz)

G- J-Naya Ephraim 5’9 (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands), Fr

G- Arieal Scott, 5’9 (Urbana, Illinois), Fr

G – Carolyn Waleski 5’10, (Frankfort, Illinois), Fr

Key non-conference games: 

11/14: Valparaiso

11/28: @ Clemson

12/21: Missouri

Head Coach: Nancy Fahey- 2nd season

Nancy Fahey coached for 31 years at Washington University in St. Louis, where she guided the Bears to an NCAA record five Division III National Championships. In her first season at Illinois, Fahey coached the Orange and Blue to a 9-5 non-conference record, which marked the best start to the season since Illinois also earned nine non-conference victories in the 2014-15 campaign (9-3).

Outlook:

Illinois is probably the team some are keeping an eye on just on the presence of Fahey alone. When you have a legend of the D-III head to D-I, people are interested and intrigued in how she will do in the B1G. Throwing last year away, Illinois can make some noise this year and it is on the shoulders of Brandi Beasley. Beasley averages 13.0 PPG and has been the face of Illinois basketball since her freshman year.

Beasley will have some help from Mckenzie Blazek. The 6’3 forward ranked on the ESPN Hoopgurlz list can create some offense that might have the team run offense through her. She is a bully in the paint and that is something that is needed for this team.

Best case scenario: Brandi Beasley and McKenzie Blazek brings new energy energy to the team and the players can rally around them.

Worst case scenario: The youth of the team will prove to be too much, take a lot out of Brandi and the team will be in the same place as last year.

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