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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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PISCATAWAY, NJ – JANUARY 06: Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach C. Vivian Stringer prior to the Womens College Basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Penn State Lady Lions on January 6, 2019 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – JANUARY 06: Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach C. Vivian Stringer prior to the Womens College Basketball game between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Penn State Lady Lions on January 6, 2019 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 22-10 (13-5 B1G, 3rd in standings)
  • Lost to Iowa in semifinals of Big Ten Tournament
  • Lost to Buffalo in first round of NCAA Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Stasha Carey (12.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) – Was a Redshirt Senior, graduated
  • Arella Guirantes (12.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) – Returns as a Redshirt Junior

Key Additions:

  • #14 overall prospect, 5-star forward Maori Davenport from Alabama.
  • #28 guard prospect, 3-star guard Joiya Maddox from Alabama.

Perhaps the most significant headline of the upcoming season in Piscataway, besides the addition of Davenport, is the health of head coach C. Vivian Stringer as she begins her 25th season leading the Scarlet Knights. Stringer took a medical leave of absence beginning in late February that lasted throughout the remainder of the 2018-19 season, including Rutgers’ brief stint in the NCAA Tournament. Fortunately for the program, Stringer is due to return to the sidelines for the upcoming year.

Rutgers’ strong suit is undoubtedly their defense. Although they ranked second to last in the Big Ten last year in points scored per game at 64.1, solely above Ohio State, they ranked first in points allowed at 58.2. Though they lose last year’s leading scorer in Stasha Carey to graduation, the Knights welcome Maori Davenport, Alexis Morris and Joiya Maddox to this year’s roster. Davenport underwent a battle with the Alabama High School Athletic Association after the AHSAA ruled the senior ineligible for the season. The decision followed an error by USA Basketball, compensating Davenport and jeopardizing her “amateur” status. Morris, meanwhile, arrives after transferring from Baylor. The Bears dismissed Morris last September for violating undisclosed team rules. Maddox joins the team as a freshman, also from Alabama.

Expect Rutgers to start strong, and perhaps even carry an undefeated record into Big Ten play. The Knights don’t face any particularly daunting opponents during the non-conference portion of the season — none finished in the top 50 of last year’s RPI. Their toughest test of the campaign likely falls on February 9, 2020 — a road contest against Maryland. This will be an elite battle between two Big Ten favorites this season.

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