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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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SOUTH BEND, IN – MARCH 25: Michigan State Spartans guard Shay Colley (0) puts up a shot during the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship second round basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 25, 2019 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 91-63. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – MARCH 25: Michigan State Spartans guard Shay Colley (0) puts up a shot during the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship second round basketball game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on March 25, 2019 at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 91-63. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Michigan State Spartans

2018-19 Record / Finish:

  • 21-12 (9-9 B1G, T-6th in standings)
  • Lost to Maryland in quarterfinals of Big Ten Tournament
  • Lost to Notre Dame in second round of NCAA Tournament

2018-19 Leaders:

  • Shay Colley (14.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) – Returns as a redshirt senior
  • Jenna Allen (12.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) – Was a senior, graduated

Key Additions:

  • #56 overall prospect, 4-star guard Moira Joiner from Michigan
  • #68 overall prospect, 4-star guard Alyza Winston from Michigan

The Spartans lost Jenna Allen to graduation following the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, a player that grabbed 39 more boards than the next highest rebounder on the team. However, Michigan State retains three players that captured All-Big Ten awards last year, highlighted by redshirt senior Shay Colley. Colley, who led the team in scoring a year ago, returns to school after competing in the FIBA AmeriCup as a member of Team Canada. The other conference honorees on this year’s roster include senior Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore Nia Clouden, both of which were tied for the most total assists last season.

Michigan State welcomes an impressive freshman cohort to East Lansing this year — a class ranked seventh in the country and comprised of five players ranked in the top 100 prospects. Coach Suzy Merchant is particularly impressed by top recruit Moira Joiner, calling her “the utility kid that will do just about anything.” Merchant also touched upon the speed of freshman Alyza Winston, joking that “the ball sometimes needs to catch up to her.”

After a lackluster season devoid of an NCAA tournament appearance in 2017-18, the Spartans rebounded with a solid year in 2018-19, falling to the eventual national runners-up in Notre Dame. Ironically, the Fighting Irish are on Michigan State’s non-conference schedule this year, joining other formidable opponents in Syracuse and Florida State. A team that minimized their losses this offseason while also adding a plethora of young talent will certainly be tested before the calendar turns to 2020, but competing for a Big Ten title isn’t out of the question if the Spartans remain healthy throughout the year.

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