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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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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 08: Northwestern Wildcats head coach Joe McKeown watches the action on the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Michigan Wolverines on February 8, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 08: Northwestern Wildcats head coach Joe McKeown watches the action on the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Michigan Wolverines on February 8, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Predicted finish: 12th

Previous record: 12-12, 4-12 B1G

Key returners:

Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah- Sr.  53% FG, 19.0 MPG , 8.3 RPG

Newcomers:

G- Sydney Wood: 5’11 (Olney, Maryland) Fr.  (No. 87 on ESPN’s HoopGurlz)

G- Jess Sancataldo 6’0 (Sydney, Australia) Fr. 

G- Veronica Burton 5’9 (Newton, Massachusetts) Fr. 

F- Courtney Shaw 6’0 (Perry Hall, Maryland) Fr. 

Head coach: Joe McKeown- 11th season

Head coach Joseph McKeown is entering his 11th season with Northwestern. He led the Wildcats to the third round of the WNIT in his second season and went to their first NCAA tournament in the 2014-2015. However, McKeown and company have missed the postseason two consecutive years. This year will be another opportunity for the Wildcats to make noise and have hopes of getting back into the postseason.

Outlook:

After the 2014-2015 season, it looked as if the Wildcats were turning the corner and looking like a threat, but losing a player like Nia Coffey provides a setback for any team doing what she had done for Northwestern.

The Wildcats had a scoring offense of 61 points per game, which is close to the bottom of the conference. Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah is a senior for the team and she can create some competition for her opponents, but it is up to the rest of the team to rally around her and make sure she gets the ball in her hands when the opportunity arises.

Best case scenario: Kunaiyi-Akpanah will set herself apart as one of the best bigs this year and Sydney Wood will lead the Wildcats to another postseason.

Worst case scenario: The Wildcats get outmatched and they won’t be able to get over the hump and stay in 12th place.

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