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2019-20 Big Ten Women’s Basketball preview and predictions

By Ben Rosof

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 10: The Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2019 Women's B1G Tournament championship game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes on March 10, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis Indiana.(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 07: Northwestern Wildcats guard Lindsey Pulliam (10) ready to shoot during a Big 10 women’s basketball game between the University of Maryland and Northwestern University, on February 7, 2019, at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – FEBRUARY 07: Northwestern Wildcats guard Lindsey Pulliam (10) ready to shoot during a Big 10 women’s basketball game between the University of Maryland and Northwestern University, on February 7, 2019, at Xfinity Center, in College Park, Maryland.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Northwestern Wildcats

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 21-15 (9-9 B1G, T-6th in standings)
  • Lost to Michigan State in second round of Big Ten Tournament
  • Lost to Arizona in WNIT Tournament championship game

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Lindsey Pulliam (16.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) – Returns as a junior
  • Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah (10.9 ppg, 11.2 rpg) –  Was a senior, graduated

Key Additions:

  • Freshman guard Kaylah Rainey from Illinois
  • Freshman guard Laya Hartman from Michigan

Northwestern rebounded from a 4-12 Big Ten season in 2017-18 with a five-win improvement a year ago, primarily due to the frequent scoring of sophomore Lindsey Pulliam and the stellar rebounding of Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah. Pulliam finished fifth in the conference at 16.5 points per game while Kunaiyi-Akpanah finished third at 11.2 rebounds per contest. They advanced to the WNIT Tournament title game only to be routed by Arizona. Although the Wildcats lose the interior presence of Kunaiyi-Akpanah to graduation, this is undoubtedly a program heading in a positive direction entering Joe McKeown’s 12th season as head coach.

Besides Pulliam, a First Team All-Big Ten honoree last year, Northwestern returns its third, fourth and fifth leading scorers from a season ago in Abi Scheid, Veronica Burton and Jordan Hamilton. They collectively accounted for 26.8 points per game last year.

Northwestern only recruited two freshmen this offseason, acquiring Laya Hartman and Kaylah Rainey. Per ESPN, The two are ranked as the 13th and 14th best guards in their class, respectively. Hartman averaged 16.8 points per game as a senior while Rainey is a three-time All-Conference honoree. While they likely won’t step into sizable roles until they’re more familiar with McKeown’s schemes, they will eventually contribute complementary scoring to this roster.

Regarding the schedule, the Wildcats will go on the road in a daunting two-game stretch in mid-November, facing Marquette and Duke. Duke welcomes the 13th-ranked recruiting class to Durham, so the Blue Devils will pose an early challenge to a team looking to establish itself as a formidable opponent in the Big Ten.

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