Unlike recent years, the Wisconsin women's basketball team is entering a season with something hanging over them—expectations. Returning all five starters in 2009, the team emerged from virtually nowhere to put together a 21-11 season, a third place conference finish while earning a seventh seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Now, with three of the team's starting five returning and promising newcomers bringing fresh talent to the court, the Badgers will certainly aim to out-pace even last season.
""The kids are really motivated by the end of last year's season,"" said reigning Big Ten coach of the year Lisa Stone. ""Certainly inspired by being in the tournament, but want more. Our team wants to win a Big Ten Championship and they want to get to the Sweet 16.""
Senior Alyssa Karel, who averaged 14.3 points per game last season to lead the team, was a member of the second team All-Big Ten in 2009-'10. She is a preseason all-conference pick and is certain to carry the load for this year's squad.
Also returning for the Badgers this season is senior forward Tara Steinbauer who averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in 2009-'10.
Highlighting the class of newcomers to the court for the Badgers this year is redshirt sophomore transfer Tiera Stephen, who practiced with the team all last season but was not able to compete due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules.
At Louisville as a freshman, Stephan played in 37 games and started the final ten. Her Cardinal team advanced to the National Championship game that season, eventually ending the season as the runners-up. Her experience at those high levels of competition will definitely be an advantage to the squad this year.
Wisconsin also introduces three incoming freshman this season, including 2010 Minnesota Gatorade State Player of the Year Cassie Rochel.
""The team chemistry is at an all-time high, so we're excited about it,"" Steinbauer said.
The Badgers begin the season having received eight votes in the Associated Press pre-season poll, good for 37th in the nation. Previously, Wisconsin had not received votes to begin a season since the team opened up the 2000-'01 campaign ranked No. 18.
The favorite to claim the Big Ten crown this season will once again be the Ohio State Buckeyes, who begin the year ranked seventh in the nation. Behind the Buckeyes, though, every spot will be up for grabs in the conference. The only other teams ranked in the preseason polls are the No. 22 Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 25 Michigan State Spartans.
Wisconsin was the only other team in the conference besides Penn State to pick up preseason votes. The Nittany Lions received just one.
The Badgers will face tough competition early on, traveling to face in-state rival UW-Green Bay in later this month before returning home to face Kansas three days later in the Big Ten- Big 12 Challenge Nov. 21.
The team will face its first big challenge of the year when they welcome No. 6 Duke to the Kohl center Dec. 2.
The Badgers, for better or for worse, play to an interesting conference schedule this season. The team will see the Buckeyes just once, with that game coming as the regular season finale, in Columbus Feb. 27.
""It's really exciting,"" Steinbauer said. ""We match up really well against Ohio State, so it's exciting to have them as our last game. Every Big Ten game we have, we prepare for and it leads up to that grand finale.""
Long before the Badgers can worry about rankings, conference titles or NCAA Tournament hopes, however, the team looks to its opening exhibition match of the season tonight against Winona State at 7 p.m.
