How the Big Ten’s powerhouse transformation in women’s basketball is shaping up

Indianapolis – This was the new Big Ten Supersized: Fifteen Teams, 13 states and three time zones represented. Old faces from the Midwest, new faces from the west. 13 out of the 43 best teams in the latest ranking of net rankings. When it was time to decide on championship Sunday, two programs met 14 miles apart in the 2,000 miles arena from the campus.

This league has the production of a monster conference in women’s basketball. According to many projections, 13 out of the 15 teams played here are aimed at the NCAA tournament. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said Big’s depth impressed it quickly. “The fact that we have teams that are here 10, 11, 12 seeds that could be a better seed in the national tournament is wild, is it?” She said.

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So what happened when this family that was made for TV finally joined? Here are several of the five days in Indians.

The way to the top in the Big Ten Basketball is currently the Santa Monica motorway in Los Angeles.

The league excels in depth, but Alpha teams seem clear enough – new neighbors from the west coast. When No. 2 USC and No. 4 UCLA entered the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the blue carpet with their bands playing from the club level, the teams owned a combined record 57-4. The USC won the title Season League, UCLA finished second and everyone else was at least three games in Zakala. UCLA was 29-0 against each team in the world that was not named USC, but Bruins were 0-2 against the Trojan horse.

He was on Sunday on Sunday and gathered from 13 points in the third quarter to score 72-67 around the USC, because it seemed that the Trojan horses had lost a little pop. In the second half they missed 28 out of 36 shots, of which 15 in a row. Bruins was not held back, even with 24 turns of UCLA. The MVP Tournament Lauren Betts, in the middle, had only three goals in the second half only three less goals than the entire USC team. Likewise, for Bruin’s state of mind that goes to the NCAA tournament. They could be included in the 4th place in the country, but a record 0-3 against their cousins ​​in Crosstown would be worrying.

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“I think it’s interesting, as good as we were, we’re not as confident as you would think,” said coach Cori Close. “I think you want your team hungry and nervous to go to the NCAA tournament, but also really confident.” I think our team gained some confidence tonight, and I think it will be a long way. ”

Gottlieb talked before their first meeting, mentioning that it would be great if they could meet four times. Three down, one to go. Because both of them may be seeds No. 1, the last would probably come in the final four. They seem to be able to get there.

“I think it is still improving us and that (Sunday second) half of the basketball will be from us,” Gottlieb said about the loss. “We won’t finish.”

One special thing about Sunday’s game. Trojan horses did not receive the title of the PAC-12 season in 31 years, Bruins not for 25.

But now it’s in a different league and it didn’t take long to make the impression.

Juju watkins is really good.

Watkins USC went for 31, 20 and 29 points in three tournament games with lots of rebounds, assistance and defensive games. Bets increase and the chances of becoming a player of the year are shortening. She became one of the main faces Sport Post Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

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Gottlieb had one shining message after another on her Sophomore star.

“Think about what he can do at the offensive end.” We get the ball as much as possible. There are more bodies on it. He takes a lot of contact. He’s a physical player. Then we say: Oh, by the way, will also affect the game defensively. He doesn’t stop any breaks. He doesn’t stop any breaks. I never take any of this for granted. ”

A.. .

“It is obvious that its perfection is exposed and has its fingerprints over everything we have done and will continue to do.”

A.. .

“I think he is the player of the year at national level for many different reasons.”

That has always been a good conference. Come on Sunday, the holder will scream, it’s even better.

Thirteen teams? This would mean almost one of every five participants at the NCAA tournament, which bears the Big Tena label. Some of this comes to mathematics. “We have added four NCAA tournament teams, which is quite a big add -on, the two top five teams, apparently actually raised the league level,” said Michigan State coach Robyn Fralick. “We went from a really good league to an absolutely incredible league.”

Ditto, said coach Michigan Kim Barnes Arrico. “I know all the time with the media, we hear about SEC and ACC and bliss, blah, blah, blah, blah.” But we have several incredible, incredible teams and incredible players in our league and incredible coaches. ”

“The center of our package this season was crazy.”

Big was great for newcomers, except for cases where this is not the case.

Huge geography has created the need to adapt. USC and Oregon played their first games here at 9 am, Trojan horses and ducks. “People in Eugene drank coffee this morning when we diverted it,” said coach Oregon Kelly Graves. “That’s not the reason we lost the game; Indiana beat us, but that’s hard.”

Traveling is perennial, the weather cold slap in the face. Literally.

Gottlieb introduced all the things that the first season taught her about Big Ten. Rich talent, great crowds. “The love of female basketball was very prevailing for us,” she said.

Yeah, but. . .

“I would say that our players have definitely learned that it is cold and is here on the Midwest.” Every time we stepped out of the plane, it hits them differently. We had some real deep freezing that came out here, and I think it does it, that it appreciates life in LA just a little more. ”

Graves saw a lot in almost three decades as a head coach at three schools and tried to put this first trek in a perspective.

“Positive first: As a coach who has been in the game for a long time, I actually enjoyed going to some places I’ve never been before.” Not everyone in the PAC-12 is drawn like a big ten, so being on the road and playing in front of many people is truly exciting and fun. ”

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Yeah, but. . .

“Traveling is real.” We’ve never done a problem. We traveled more than anyone. Four trips across the country are real and get to you. And with the temperatures we see, like we played in Minneapolis and Lincoln, I don’t think it was above zero. It’s not like you could go out and do anything. You just live in a hotel. I think it wears you. Now I can say it, because the season is a big ten part of the season, but it was really good than bad. ”

Iowa still plays basketball without anyone wearing No. 22.

It was during Hawkeyes’ victory over the Michigan state: one viewer in the seats of the courts was on her legs, the arm spread and begged with the officials as they walked past.

Wait a moment. Wasn’t it Caitlin Clark?

Yes. She was in the house and rooted her alma mater. When she saw her sitting in civilian clothes through the court of Iowa, she was a living reminder of the strict challenge and uncertain landscapes facing the Hawkey.

“When everyone started, they were big shoes.” Their shadows were approaching, ”said coach Jan Jensen. Many things were new in AC 1 AC (after caitlin), including a coach. Hawkeyes started well, but then hit a big pothole and lost five big ten games in a row.

“I remember looking at their eyes, we were at the University of Seattle.” We just lost one point in Oregon, ”Jensen said. “Boys, it was a hard sledding so everyone got up and enter the plane and fly to Washington.” But we had a really good meeting and I just said: Hey, we’re closer than we’re next. ”

Iowa sometimes could use Clark’s late game magic. The last five losses included two overtime and three in the regulation of one, one and two points. But here are the Hawkey’s 22-10, after mixing the Big Tour one who defeated Wisconsin to 31. He disrupted the Michigan state and almost did the same for Ohio State before he lost 60-59.

“At the beginning of the season we tried to find out our identity and had a lot of moving pieces,” said Lucy Olsen, who moved from Villan to become a leading shooter of Iowy. “But now we found it.” It only took time. ”

Olsen did not build a notes in decision -making to come to Iowa to help the program to move from SuperStar.

“You can’t make it too much.” I just tried to figure out what I could do best to help us win, focus on the present, not so much past, ”she said. “It wasn’t like a shadow or a negative thing, but it’s more, it’s really great; I have to enter this position and try to do something and keep this link running.”

One thing has not changed in Iowa. The place is always full, Clark or no Clark. Continuous sales of this known number 14 998, from the opening against North Iowa to the elderly with Wisconsin. The average participation was only for South Carolina in women’s basketball, higher than all than 12 male programs and almost 6,000 more than Iowa men.

“I don’t think any of us really expected it,” Olsen said. “We were hoping everyone stayed for this team.”

Great depth, great participation, great stars, two great teams above. But there is still one question, is it?

The Big Té contains gender equality in March frustration. Men in 25 years did not create a national champion, and women did not do it at 26. As strong as this league claims to be – and is – a trophy would be a strong argument – probably necessary.

“If we want to be a league concerning the elite and championship and set the standard of excellence, it will be a growing tide that raises all ships, right?” Close said. “One of the things I am really proud of being part of this league is that we get up with each other.” We make each other better. ”

“We want to do something special as a conference and I think that if it happens _- I don’t think it’s about if it’s about when it happens- I think there will be a team celebration because we want to stick to the championship standards.”

In a few weeks, there could be 13 chances with it.