Stacked with talent, this year's Big Ten conference could send up to six women's basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Penn State (24-8) nabbed the regular-season conference championship - which all but guarantees them a tournament bid - while Purdue (26-5) earned its bid by taking the Big Ten tournament title. Analysts at womenscollegehoops.com predicted both Minnesota and Ohio State to receive an at-large bid, while MSU (17-11) sits on the bubble with a 60 percent probability.
Even Illinois (17-11) has been given a shot at the NCAA tourney. The Fighting Illini finished sixth in the conference and were blasted in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament 83-59 by No. 11 seed Michigan (13-16).
"And if you look at the teams, three of the six are ranked," Spartan head coach Joanne P. McCallie said. "Our conference is a great conference, a very strong one that's loaded with talent, and we're very proud to be a part of it."
If six teams head to the NCAA Tournament, this will mark the second straight year that has happened.
Don't give up
Earlier in the week the Spartans gathered around the video screen for inspiration. Featured in the clip was the late Jim Valvano, the men's head basketball coach who led North Carolina State to a National Championship in 1983.
MSU junior forward Julie Pagel said what hit her the most was the line Valvano spoke while cutting down the nets after the Wolfpack's stunning 54-52 upset of Houston.
"He said 'to get where you've never been, you have to do what you've never done,' and I think that's perfect for us," Pagel said.
It's possible MSU found more than one inspiration from the video - NC State finished fourth in the ACC Conference before making its dramatic run to take the title. The Spartans were tied for fourth in the Big Ten's final regular-season standings.
Déjà vu?
For the third time in three years, MSU was ousted from the Big Ten tourney by Ohio State in the first game, falling 71-55 to the Buckeyes on Friday. While many teams might find this a discouraging trend, it seems to have the opposite effect on the Spartans.
Last year's 89-82 double-overtime tournament loss to Ohio State acted as a catalyst that propelled MSU to the Final Four of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Spartans downed DePaul, Illinois and Alabama before falling to eventual champion Oregon, 65-54.
"I will say (Ohio State) was definitely the worst game we've played but we're fighters," Pagel said of Friday's performance. "What we hope for now is a second chance, and we'll make the most out of that."
Crossing over
The MSU field hockey team practiced outside in the snow Wednesday, something that brought a smile to junior guard Theresa Pusateri's face.
Pusateri, also a midfielder/forward on the field hockey squad, joined the basketball team as a reserve in November - which saves her from practicing outside until the hoops season is finished.
"I think it's a good jump start for next year, and it's good for them to be outside, that's where we play," Pusateri said. "But man, I feel bad for them."
