College basketball seasons now involve conference games in early December. This was generally not the case 20 years ago, when conferences were smaller. USC women’s basketball defeated Oregon in conference play early December. Every Big Ten women’s basketball team has played in a conference game. Technically, conference season has already started. Essentially, though, the fun begins this next weekend, with Big Ten teams beginning the two-month series of conference games that continues through March. As we look at the Big Ten women’s basketball landscape heading into conference play, here are a few things you need to know, including where different teams fall into a projected NCAA tournament bracket:
USC and UCLA are both projected as No. 1 seeds. We mention this not to say that we should expect both teams to become No. 1 seeds, but to emphasize that the Trojan horses and the Bruins are very much in the hunt for a top seed. Likely NCAA Tournament seed USC will be one of the top two seeds. The Trojans would really have to stumble to not make the top two.
Other Big Ten women’s basketball teams vying for the No. 1 seed are Maryland (currently projected at No. 2) and Ohio State (No. 3). The Terps and Buckeyes are undefeated. They are the leading contenders for Los Angeles schools in the Big Ten. Maryland, OSU and UCLA are the three undefeated teams in the Big Ten.
Two teams we haven’t mentioned yet are Minnesota and Michigan State. They both have just one loss, joining 11-1 USC as one-loss teams in the conference.
Six Big Ten teams have no more than one loss deep into the conference season. In total, 11 teams have no more than two defeats. One of those 11 teams is 10-2 Michigan, which visits USC next Sunday night at the Galen Center. Another is 10-2 Nebraska, which visits USC on New Year’s Day at noon in Galen.
Of the 18 teams in the Big Ten, none are .500 or worse. All 18 teams have winning records. Of these 18 teams, 16 have no more than four defeats, 14 have no more than three.
This Big Ten basketball season is going to be very compelling. Take note.
This article was originally published on Trojans Wire: USC and Big Ten women’s basketball notebook enters conference
