2007-08 NCAA Women's Basketball Preview: Big East Conference

The 2007-08 Women's college basketball season is just several weeks away. Last year saw eight teams from the Big East Conference making it into the NCAA tournmanent, with Connecticut, Notre Dame, DePaul, Rutgers, Marquette, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Lousiville earning bids. UCONN and Rutgers enjoyed a good bit of success, with Rutgers making it to the final game of the NCAA tournament, but coming up short of a title. This season will most likely see the Big East enjoying success again with Connecticut and Rutgers looking to build upon last year's tournament runs and several other teams looking to contend as well.

Here's a preview of the Women's Big East Basketball Conference for 2007-08.

Last year the University of Connecticut Huskies had a 16-0 Conference record and were 32-4 overall, simply dominating their competition. They were fifth in the nation in overall scoring with 78 points per game and fourth in field-goal percentage at 49.2 percent. However, a tough LSU team romped them in Great Eight of the NCAA tournament 73-50, ending their title chase. In 2007-08, UCONN will be returning all 5 of their starters from last season, making it a dangerous team to face, coached by Geno Auriemma. Renee Montgomery, Tina Charles, Charde Houston, Kalana Greene and Mel Thomas are all double digit scorers, allowing this team to run up the score quickly. Lorin Dixon and Maya Moore are the only new freshmen additions to the team. This team should be hungry and geared up for a run deep into the 2008 NCAA tournament. They are early favorites of analysts at ESPN to make the Final 4 in 2008. Key games will feature the Huskies battling out of conference powerhouse teams like Stanford (November 22), Purdue (January 6) and North Carolina (January 21).

The Rutgers Scarlett Knights perhaps enjoyed the most success of all Big East squads last season, making it all the way to the final game of the NCAA tournament. However, Rutgers was defeated 59-46 in the game by Tennesee which captured its 7th national title. This season Rutgers will continue to try to dethrone the top team in the division, the Connecticut Huskies, and will also battle tough out of conference opponents such as Duke and Maryland from the ACC. Junior center Kia Vaughn will look to lead this team again as she averaged close to double digits in points (12.3) and rebounds last season (9.3). Returning players Essence Carson, Epiphany Prince and Matee Ajavon also averaged double digits in points last year, making it a very well balanced team and a tough one to compete against. Just one freshman player will enter the mix, Khadijah Rushdan. The team should be poised to once again be a top 25
team throughout the season and compete strongly in the NCAA tournament, possibly going for the NCAA title again.

The Marquette Golden Eagles were another of the Big East Women's top teams in 2006-07. This season's Golden Eagles will feature just one senior, Svetlana Kovalenko, and several freshmen players. The young team will look to build upon last season's sucess as they continue to mature. Last year, guard Krystal Ellis lead the way with nearly 20 points a game, and only one other player, Christina Quaye averaged double digits. Ellis will return again this season as Quaye has departed, so they will need a secondary scorer to step up. They will look for the continued improvement of their young players as they battle top tier teams in their division such as UCONN and Rutgers. Marquette does not have any tough out of conference games on their schedule at this point, but may as the season unfolds.

The Louisville Cardinals were the final top 25 team of the Big East Conference. They made it to just the second round of the 2007 NCAA Women's tournament, as they were defeated by Arizona State. Their key games this season will be played against out of conference Middle Tennessee State as well as in conference matchups against Connecticut and Rutgers. Last year's phenomenal scorer, forward Angel McCoughtry looks to return and continue to average her 21.5 points per game or more, carrying the team. Four freshmen will also join the roster looking to aid in Louisville's quest for contention.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish also made the 2007 NCAA tournament but was promptly bounced by a tough North Carolina team in the second round. Guards Charel Allen and Ashley Barlow will return in 2007-08 to try to continue their scoring prowess and lead the Fighting Irish. In addition to tough battles with Big East opponents, they have several tough non-conference games scheduled against the likes of Tennessee, Purdue and Bowling Green, all top 25 teams.

DePaul was also eliminated early from the NCAA tournament first round last season but will look to compete once again this year. They will face tough games with two of the top teams in all of Women's college basketball this season, Connecticut and Tennessee. They will also battle the likes of Marquette and Louisville, two other contending teams in the conference. Their key players returning are guard Allie Quigley and forward Caprice Smith who each will look to carry the scoring load after the departure of their third helper, Jenna Rubino. Another player such as Missy Mitidiero will look to increase her scoring output and aid the team.

The West Virgina Mountaineers were yet another Big East women's team making the NCAA tournament, yet they lost quickly in the second round to LSU. This season they will get some tough competition early with a battle against the Tenneesee Lady Vols on November 21st. They will also face tough conference opponents, UCONN and Rutgers. West Virginia finished 4th in the Big East last season and will look to improve upon that this year. The good news is their 3 leading scorers return for their senior seasons, with Olayinka Sanni, LaQuita Owens and Chakhia Cole all coming back and each offering great contributions in terms of points, rebounds and steals. Watch for West Virginia to be contending with Rutgers and Marquette to take second place behind the Huskies in the division.

The Pittsburgh Panthers will return three double digit scorers to do battle in the Big East in 2007-08. Guard Shavonte Zellous looks to lead the way again with her nearly 20 points per game, about 6 rebounds and 3 assists, making her a key to the team's success. Center Mercedes Walker looks to bring her near 16 points per game and 10 rebounds a game to the paint, also aiding this team. Finally, guard Xenia Stewart will be back again and add her double
digit scoring services as well. Pittsburgh will face some tough early season opponents out of the Big East, as they battle ACC teams Maryland on Tuesday, November 27th and Duke on Saturday, December 8th.

Seton Hall finished last season with a 19-12 overall record and 9-7 Big East record. They face a relatively easy schedule this season despite having to battle conference opponents Louisville, Marquette, Rutgers and UCONN. Guard Ela Mukosiej returns to lead the team with her double digit scoring. They will need contributions from new teammates in 2007-08, as the team has lost Monique Blake at Forward who averaged double digit points (10.9) and near double digit rebounds (8.2) last season. Returning forwards like Noteisha Womack and Letitia Curry may take over the role.

The South Florida Bulls will greatly miss the services of gorward Jessica Dickson and center Nalini Miller this season, as both contributed greatly to the scoring and rebounding of this team. The team will most likely look to guard Shantia Grace to provide scoring and she will need other teammates such as junior center, Brittany Denson to lend support. A tough early game will feature South Florida facing Duke from the ACC.

The Cincinatti Bearcats feature two returning double digit scorers in guard Shelly Bellman and forward Michelle Jones. Jones or Bellman will most likely look to lead the team again this year, as they have lost last year's third double digit scorer, Treasure Humphries. Several freshmen will also join this team which will look to improve upon last year's dismal 6-10 conference record and 15-14 overall record.

The bottom of the barrell for the Big East Conference last year included the likes of St. John's, Providence, Georgetown, Syracuse and Villanova. Each of these teams will most likely struggle again in 2007-08, but may look to break into the lower tier of Big East teams and NCAA tournament eligibility.

St. John's has early games against top 25 teams such as NC State and Baylor before they look to compete in the Big East. They return their three top scorers in guards Monique McLean and Kia Wright as well as guard/foward, Tina Sten. They will look to improve upon last years 4-12 Big East finish and 8-20 overall record.

The Providence Lady Friars face just one potentially tough out of conference team with a December 20th game against Michigan State. Beyond that, they will compete with the dangerous Connecticut, Maruqette and Rutgers teams in the Big East. Guard Chelsea Marandola will look to continue to lead the team and expect contributions from junior guard, Catherine Bove and sophomore guard, Kendria Holmes.

The Georgetown Hoyas went 3-13 for the conference and 13-16 overall in Women's basketball last season. They will most likely continue to struggle for identity this season as their main star returns, forward Kieraah Marlow. Marlow lead the Hoyas in both scoring and rebounding last season and was their only double digit scorer. The senior will look for help from many of the first and second year players on the team.

Syracuse finished just ahead of Villanova for worst record in the Big East. They will continue to look to their standout sophomore guard/forward Nicole Michael in 2007-08 as she brings her 17.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. Vaida Sipaviciute at Center will also contribute in the points and rebounds department as will returning guard/forward, Fantasia Goodwin. A tough early season game will have Syracuse facing North Carolina on November 18th.

The Villanova Wildcats finished dead last in the Big East last year with a terrible 2-14 record. They will look to escape the bottom of the division this year. Returning players who should contribute include senior forward, Stacie Witman (12.4ppg, 5.4rpg) and junior forward/center, Lisa Karcic (11.3ppg, 6.1rpg). Other players will need to step up and add much needed scoring and rebounding if the team even wants to think of competing for a NCAA tournament bid in 2008.

The Big East Conference is most likely to play out similar to how it did last year, with the UCONN Huskies dominating the conference again. Returning 5 starters will surely make Connecticut tough to compete against. However, an injury could easily set the team back. Rutgers and Marquette continue to look to challenge, and there may always be that surprise squad who sneaks into contention. Early predictions have the University of Connecticut Huskies winning the Big East division in 2007-08 and contending for the NCAA Women's championship in March-April, with Rutgers most likely competing as well.