B1G Preview: Maryland, and Michigan, and Minnesota…..oh my!
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/ec215331ad74e4a1f1c46798c6658a7737ec74956b7a27740d5e49c9582e229f.jpg)
Predicted finish: 8th
Last year’s record: 18-13, 9-7 B1G
Key returners:
G- Dominique Oden 14.0 PPG, 44%FG, 32.4 MPG
F- Ae’Rianna Harris 11.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG
Newcomers:
G- Kayana Traylor 5’9 (Martinsville, Indiana) (No. 41 on ESPN Hoopgurlz)
G- Cassidy Hardin 5’10 (Bargersville, Indiana) Fr.
G- Ajah Stallings 5’9 (Indianapolis, Indiana) Fr.
F- Nyagoa Gony 6’2 (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Key non-conference games:
11/11: Harvard
11/22: St. John’s (Virgin Islands)
11/24: Connecticut (Virgin Islands)
11/29: Miami
Head Coach: Sharon Versyp -11th season
Head coach Sharon Versyp enters her 11th season with a 354–198 record. In her time at Purdue, Versyp has led the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight in her very first season and has led to the NCAA tournament in nine out of 12 seasons. Last season, Purdue went to the WNIT and finished in the second round.
Outlook:
Dominique Oden is the glue for this Boilermaker team and with incoming freshman Kayana Traylor, this team can have an effective two-guard system. The Boilersmakers did lose senior Ashley Morrisette to the draft, so they have some shoes to fill. But a 6’2 freshman center, Nyagoa Gony, can provide more inside game for the Boilermakers.
Best case scenario: Traylor and Oden successfully execute a two-guard system and Purdue advances to another NCAA tournament
Worst case scenario: Traylor and Oden only have each other and they cannot carry this on their own.