Building The Best 2021-22 Big Ten Roster
Giving Veronica Burton and Naz Hillmon shooters sounds fun
Before I begin, my friend and former co-worker Patrick Mayhorn is starting a website called The Aggship that will cover Utah State football and both its men’s and women’s basketball teams. You should follow the site on Twitter and subscribe to it when it releases next month, it’s going to be incredible.
Patrick and I had discussed earlier in the year what an all-star Big Ten lineup would look like, and that is now the premise of this here post.
I am going to do this two ways: one with my favorite 14-player lineup and no restrictions, the other with a one-player max per team. The thing to keep in mind with both of these is that this is not necessarily what I think the best 14 players in the Big Ten are. This is what I consider the best roster from the 2021-22 player pool, so fit does indeed matter.
Also, I’m emphasizing the best 2021-22 roster because this takes into account players that left via WNBA Draft, graduation, transfer portal or otherwise.
Let’s get to it.
My 14-Player Big Ten Roster
Starters
The backcourt duo of Veronica Burton and Caitlin Clark is a no-brainer. While it may make the most vocal of Clark haters seethe to see it, Burton’s defensive prowess and excellent playmaking abilities pairs far too well with Clark’s shotmaking and all-around offensive output to have anything else here.
Taylor Mikesell is the perfect fit to compliment this elite backcourt. She was the best sharpshooter in the conference and now will get significantly more space because of the gravity from the players elsewhere. Speaking of gravity, Naz Hillmon was almost always double covered at Michigan. Now, she likely can’t be, and that should make her a menace inside.
The four spot was the most difficult for me everywhere, as the Big Ten has a very specific type of dominant center that is hard to compliment. Therefore, we are going four guards and giving Grace Berger, who is excellent inside the arc, more space to do what she does best.
Bench Unit 1
Nia Clouden is another ball-dominant guard that should thrive with more talent around her. Pairing her with Jacy Sheldon, a well-rounded star for Ohio State, would make for even more fireworks.
Leigha Brown is not the deep threat that Mikesell is, but Clouden and Sheldon bring enough shooting of their own to make up for it. Brown does give you versatility, more size and lethal mid-range shotmaking that would play a huge factor.
Angel Reese is an interior force that could compete with Hillmon for the starting job, and she should pair well with another great player inside like Mackenzie Holmes. I would be hoping for Holmes to use some more of that three ability she has teased in the past (shot 6 of 15 from deep in 2021-22), though.
Bench Reserves
There’s no doubt about it, Monika Czinano is better than the 11th-best player in the Big Ten. My problem is with fit, as she’s not quite the rebounder or defender of some of the interior players ahead of her. Still, she might be the best offensively and would absolutely find time in the rotation for that.
Jaz Shelley was quietly great everywhere for Nebraska last season, specifically as a tremendous rebounder and defender. She’s an easy pick to come in and replace Burton if needed.
Makenna Marisa is the do-it-all guard for Penn State, and her shot-making could be utilized on any team no matter the situation.
Finally, we have Ali Patberg. Why? Because I always want Ali Patberg on my team if I have the chance. She brings energy that is hard to measure, and also happens to be a very talented basketball player. At the least, she is the perfect leader for this group so ridiculously full of talent, but she most certainly could get minutes with her strong all-around game.
My One-Per-Team Big Ten Roster
After some serious debate, I kept the starting five the same. Four out of five were clear, but choosing between Berger and Holmes was incredibly difficult. I ultimately chose Berger because of how much I think she would thrive next to so many deep threats and playmakers, while Holmes’ fit next to Hillmon or Reese isn’t quite ideal.
Marisa joins Clouden in the reserve backcourt, which would be an interesting combo for two players who existed as the clear stars on their respective teams last season. Sara Scalia also enters the fray as another volume three-point shooter with impressive efficiency.
Reese stays as (formerly) Maryland’s best player, but I swapped Shelley out for Alexis Markowski due to the absence of Holmes. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year was great on the boards and hit half (!) of her 42 three attempts which would pair well with Reese.
The reserves come from the Big Ten’s less successful teams, but each bring something useful to the table. Osh Brown is an exceptional rebounder and Aaliyah Nye created shots with solid efficiency on Illinois, a team where efficiency is built to die.
Katie Nelson brings valuable leadership and could find her three-point shot return to old form next to all this talent. I also have Purdue’s Madison Layden here because she can bring a lot to the court past her scoring, and I also think she could be ready for a breakout season come next year.
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