ROSEMONT, Ill. – Maryland was selected as the preseason conference favorite heading into the Big Ten women’s basketball season by the coaches and media, the conference office announced on Wednesday. Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell garnered Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year accolades.
Maryland’s Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Michigan State’s Aerial Powers, Minnesota’s Rachel Banham, Nebraska’s Rachel Theriot, Northwestern’s Nia Coffey, Ohio State’sAmeryst Alston and Mitchell, and Rutgers’ Kahleah Copper earned nods as Preseason All-Big Ten honorees from both the coaches and the media. Iowa’s Ally Disterhoft was voted to the coaches’ preseason squad, while Michigan State’s Tori Jankoska was voted to the media’s list.
During the 2014-15 campaign, Mitchell became the first freshman to ever lead the nation in scoring, and was the only player in the country to score 800 points. She was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Year, and was the unanimous selection as Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She claimed first-team All-Big Ten honors, United States Basketball Writers Association and ESPNW National Freshman of the Year plaudits and was named a first-team All-American by the USBWA.
Maryland enters the season returning four of five starters from last year’s squad that had a 34-3 overall record, went undefeated in conference play and advanced to its second-consecutive Final Four. Academic All-Big Ten honoree Jones claimed first-team All-Big Ten plaudits from the coaches and second-team accolades from the media, while teammate Walker-Kimbrough earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media.
Ohio State was picked to finish second by both the coaches and media this season. The Buckeyes finished the 2014-15 campaign with 24 wins and advanced to their first NCAA Tournament since 2012. Ohio State returns all five starters from last season, including four players scoring in double figures.
Michigan State was picked to finish third this season by the coaches’ panel. The Spartans return their top two scorers in All-Big Ten honorees Jankoska and Powers from a team that recorded 16 wins last season.
Northwestern was chosen third by the media voting panel. The Wildcats return five seniors and their top five scoring contributors from last year’s team, which earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and preseason polls can be found below.
2015-16 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and Preseason Polls
2015-16 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
Ally Disterhoft, Jr., G, IOWA
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, MD
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, MD
AERIAL POWERS, Jr., F, MSU
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, NEB
NIA COFFEY, Jr., F, NU
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, OSU
KELSEY MITCHELL, So., G, OSU
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, RU
2015-16 COACHES PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, OSU
2015-16 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, MD
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, MD
Tori Jankoska, Jr., G, MSU
AERIAL POWERS, Jr., F, MSU
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, NEB
Nia Coffey, Jr., F, NU
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, OSU
KELSEY MITCHELL, So., G, OSU
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, RU
2015-16 MEDIA PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, OSU
Maryland’s Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Michigan State’s Aerial Powers, Minnesota’s Rachel Banham, Nebraska’s Rachel Theriot, Northwestern’s Nia Coffey, Ohio State’sAmeryst Alston and Mitchell, and Rutgers’ Kahleah Copper earned nods as Preseason All-Big Ten honorees from both the coaches and the media. Iowa’s Ally Disterhoft was voted to the coaches’ preseason squad, while Michigan State’s Tori Jankoska was voted to the media’s list.
During the 2014-15 campaign, Mitchell became the first freshman to ever lead the nation in scoring, and was the only player in the country to score 800 points. She was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Year, and was the unanimous selection as Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She claimed first-team All-Big Ten honors, United States Basketball Writers Association and ESPNW National Freshman of the Year plaudits and was named a first-team All-American by the USBWA.
Maryland enters the season returning four of five starters from last year’s squad that had a 34-3 overall record, went undefeated in conference play and advanced to its second-consecutive Final Four. Academic All-Big Ten honoree Jones claimed first-team All-Big Ten plaudits from the coaches and second-team accolades from the media, while teammate Walker-Kimbrough earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media.
Ohio State was picked to finish second by both the coaches and media this season. The Buckeyes finished the 2014-15 campaign with 24 wins and advanced to their first NCAA Tournament since 2012. Ohio State returns all five starters from last season, including four players scoring in double figures.
Michigan State was picked to finish third this season by the coaches’ panel. The Spartans return their top two scorers in All-Big Ten honorees Jankoska and Powers from a team that recorded 16 wins last season.
Northwestern was chosen third by the media voting panel. The Wildcats return five seniors and their top five scoring contributors from last year’s team, which earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The 2015 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and preseason polls can be found below.
2015-16 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams and Preseason Polls
2015-16 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
- Maryland
- Ohio State
- Michigan State
Ally Disterhoft, Jr., G, IOWA
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, MD
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, MD
AERIAL POWERS, Jr., F, MSU
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, NEB
NIA COFFEY, Jr., F, NU
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, OSU
KELSEY MITCHELL, So., G, OSU
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, RU
2015-16 COACHES PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, OSU
2015-16 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS
- Maryland
- Ohio State
- Northwestern
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, MD
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, MD
Tori Jankoska, Jr., G, MSU
AERIAL POWERS, Jr., F, MSU
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, MINN
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, NEB
Nia Coffey, Jr., F, NU
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, OSU
KELSEY MITCHELL, So., G, OSU
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, RU
2015-16 MEDIA PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, OSU
