BigTen Media Days

[TheGreatDivider101]

Although media days is not something I follow closely, I decided to watch today and boy the BigTen will be loaded this year. Two teams who have been showcased early are Michigan and Illinois and they both have Everybody back! Should be a highly competitive and entertaining. Have not heard what time Jan, Chit-Chat and Ava get their turn.

 

[Scott559]

Don’t take this as gospel but I thought I saw on a social media post 3pm.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

Don’t take this as gospel but I thought I saw on a social media post 3pm.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Wow. Nobody on the panel even mentions Iowa as a contender in the Big10. USC, Michigan as favorites, and then Ohio State, Minnesota, and Maryland as other contenders. Seems like a bit of a diss.

 

[o_AMAYS]

Wonder if there will be an official predicted top 5 by the coaches and media this year. In the past it was released along with the preseason All BIG team, but not this year.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Wow. Nobody on the panel even mentions Iowa as a contender in the Big10. USC, Michigan as favorites, and then Ohio State, Minnesota, and Maryland as other contenders. Seems like a bit of a diss.

Who of those five teams would you put under Iowa?

 

[Jonesy5960]

Who of those five teams would you put under Iowa?

All of them with the exception of USC and Michigan who I believe will be competing with Iowa for the BTT.

 

[citizenHawk1]

I feel like Carnegie's game is somehow beneath the radar of the BT media. That can all change in a hurry, but right now, heading into the season, nobody is talking about her. She's going to light it up.

 

[NORTHSTAR]

Have no idea where Iowa should be ranked but old dip sh*** is hoping they finish last.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Have no idea where Iowa should be ranked but old dip sh*** is hoping they finish last.

Nah, just two wishes for this season...
1...If Iowa makes the title game, lose by less than 51 points, and
2. Get past the Sweet 32 in the NCAA tourney.

Doable????

 

[KyleHuesmann]

Who of those five teams would you put under Iowa?

At this second, a month before the season, all of them.

 

[KyleHuesmann]

I feel like Carnegie's game is somehow beneath the radar of the BT media. That can all change in a hurry, but right now, heading into the season, nobody is talking about her. She's going to light it up.

I agree. I think she compliments Chit-Chat perfectly.

 

[HawksGoneWild1]

SIAP: The 2026-27 Preseason All-Big Ten Teams are below.

2026-27 Coaches Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
Jaloni Cambridge, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JUJU WATKINS, SR., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Sr., G, Washington

2026-27 Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC

2026-27 Media Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Berry Wallace, Jr., F, Illinois
Ava Heiden, Jr., C, Iowa
Oluchi Okananwa, Sr., G, Maryland
OLIVIA OLSON, JR., G, MICHIGAN
Syla Swords, Jr., G, Michigan
Britt Prince, Jr., G, Nebraska
JALONI CAMBRIDGE, JR., G, OHIO STATE
Jazzy Davidson, So., G, USC
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC
Sayvia Sellers, Sr., G, Washington

2026-27 Media Preseason Player of the Year
JuJu Watkins, Sr., G, USC

Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS

USC’s Watkins Named Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year

ROSEMONT, Ill. – USC senior guard JuJu Watkins was named the 2026-27 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, as chosen by the league’s 18 head coaches and a select media panel, the conference announced Thursday.

bigten.org

 

[Anon1750875978]

At this second, a month before the season, all of them.

No bias with that remark.
I understand why, tho.

Nevermind, you're referencing alphabetical order.

 

[KurtWarner]

Iowa throttled Michigan both games last year. We gained more than we lost. Iowa should contend for the title hopefully

 

[KyleHuesmann]

No bias with that remark.
I understand why, tho.

Nevermind, you're referencing alphabetical order.

You’ve done this already one time. What would bias gain me?

Jan is not the type of coach to shut someone out if they disagree.

Does OSU or Minnesota have two better players than Ava or Dani and is their third best player better than Chit-Chat?

 

[Anon1750875978]

You’ve done this already one time. What would bias gain me?

Jan is not the type of coach to shut someone out if they disagree.

Does OSU or Minnesota have two better players than Ava or Dani and is their third best player better than Chit-Chat?

Right now, all factors considered...coaching/players...yes, Minnesota is probably better.
Anything else?
BTW: Show me something you've written or reported that was critical of JJ?
TIA

 

[Matt1nb7]

Wow. Nobody on the panel even mentions Iowa as a contender in the Big10. USC, Michigan as favorites, and then Ohio State, Minnesota, and Maryland as other contenders. Seems like a bit of a diss.

Damnit Shimmy!!

 

[Hawkeye_Miguel]

Who of those five teams would you put under Iowa?

USC on paper looks like the top team, but the gap isn't as large as UCLA had over the field last year. I'm not sold on USC's coach knowing how to put that roster in a position to win it all convincingly.

The rest of those teams listed as contenders don't stand out as being superior to Iowa. Coming off a 2nd place finish last year, Iowa brought in the highest ranked transfer player in the B1G and the highest ranked freshman outside of USC.

Yes, Iowa lost a bit from last season, but the core of the team they brought back was going to be the leaders on the team this year even if nobody else entered the portal.

If you think Iowa is going to be at a distinct level below those 5 teams, to what would you attribute their step back? Hannah graduating?

 

[Anon1750875978]

USC on paper looks like the top team, but the gap isn't as large as UCLA had over the field last year. I'm not sold on USC's coach knowing how to put that roster in a position to win it all convincingly.

The rest of those teams listed as contenders don't stand out as being superior to Iowa. Coming off a 2nd place finish last year, Iowa brought in the highest ranked transfer player in the B1G and the highest ranked freshman outside of USC.

Yes, Iowa lost a bit from last season, but the core of the team they brought back was going to be the leaders on the team this year even if nobody else entered the portal.

If you think Iowa is going to be at a distinct level below those 5 teams, to what would you attribute their step back? Hannah graduating?

You make good points, but you know the questions I have on the HC.

 

[Amahawk]

Wow. Nobody on the panel even mentions Iowa as a contender in the Big10. USC, Michigan as favorites, and then Ohio State, Minnesota, and Maryland as other contenders. Seems like a bit of a diss.

Win the games and do not worry about the talking heads.

 

[Anon1750875978]

USC on paper looks like the top team, but the gap isn't as large as UCLA had over the field last year. I'm not sold on USC's coach knowing how to put that roster in a position to win it all convincingly.

The rest of those teams listed as contenders don't stand out as being superior to Iowa. Coming off a 2nd place finish last year, Iowa brought in the highest ranked transfer player in the B1G and the highest ranked freshman outside of USC.

Yes, Iowa lost a bit from last season, but the core of the team they brought back was going to be the leaders on the team this year even if nobody else entered the portal.

If you think Iowa is going to be at a distinct level below those 5 teams, to what would you attribute their step back? Hannah graduating?

HS graduating creates an issue if Heiden continues to get in early foul trouble, as she had a habit of doing last season.
Can Hays improve as a reserve and give quality minutes???
She better, because there's no HS to slide to the "5" like last year. MW and Houston certainly can't.
IMO, the success this year hinges on LH making a huge stride.

 

[Hawkeye_Miguel]

HS graduating creates an issue if Heiden continues to get in early foul trouble, as she had a habit of doing last season.
Can Hays improve as a reserve and give quality minutes???
She better, because there's no HS to slide to the "5" like last year. MW and Houston certainly can't.
IMO, the success this year hinges on LH making a huge stride.

Agreed. Depth at the 5 is the biggest question mark going into the season.

How Layla plays backing up Ava will dictate the floor for this team. How good McKenna is as a freshman will dictate the ceiling. Excluding injuries, I feel like we already have a good sense of the roles for the rest of the pieces

 

[Jonesy5960]

HS graduating creates an issue if Heiden continues to get in early foul trouble, as she had a habit of doing last season.
Can Hays improve as a reserve and give quality minutes???
She better, because there's no HS to slide to the "5" like last year. MW and Houston certainly can't.
IMO, the success this year hinges on LH making a huge stride.

Hays needs to improve, but HS graduating also creates an opportunity for Ava to explode offensively with the room to roam inside that didn't exist last year. Defenders won't have the opportunity to double off the 4 whenever the ball is more than 10 feet from the basket. Journey and McKenna should be able to make them pay for that.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Hays needs to improve, but HS graduating also creates an opportunity for Ava to explode offensively with the room to roam inside that didn't exist last year. Defenders won't have the opportunity to double off the 4 whenever the ball is more than 10 feet from the basket. Journey and McKenna should be able to make them pay for that.

Maybe, but without trying to "body shame", Hays simply doesn't move well. Heavy thighs.
Extremely slow, no shot outside 3', and you can't give her the ball in a close game because she a MASSIVE liability on FTs.
Heiden has been foul prone and can't be expected to play 35+ minutes a game.
Our differences are you're strictly looking from an offensive POV and I'm looking defense.

 

[Anon1750875978]

Nm

 

[citizenHawk1]

Hannah tired opposing players on both ends. That's the issue I see. Somebody is going to have to step up and be physical. Lacking that, they better be in shape to run up and down.

The best thing Hays can do is become a workout warrior, strength train herself into an immovable player. That doesn't appear to be happening, but I'd live to be surprised.

 

[Jonesy5960]

Hannah tired opposing players on both ends. That's the issue I see. Somebody is going to have to step up and be physical. Lacking that, they better be in shape to run up and down.

The best thing Hays can do is become a workout warrior, strength train herself into an immovable player. That doesn't appear to be happening, but I'd live to be surprised.

Hays is a big strong girl, but her minutes will always be limited as long as Ava is in place. She can definitely lay a body on someone. McKenna and Journey will run for sure and their opponent will have to cover more range at the offensive end than they did with Hannah who was always anchored inside the key.

Hannah was actually more important at the defensive end. Having both Journey and McKenna available should allow both to play tough aggressive defense. Journey lacks size but is strong and tough and moves well as evidenced by her excellent rebounding rates, and McKenna, while only a freshman, is 6'2" and long.

 

[thatsmy2cents]

Nm

By far your best message ever!