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Gophers Picked Third in B1G Preseason Media Rankings
10/22/2018 12:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MINNEAPOLIS – Preseason accolades for the Minnesota women's basketball team under first-year head coach Lindsay Whalen were announced Monday as the Golden Gophers were picked third in the media's Big Ten Preseason Rankings. Individually, senior Kenisha Bell and sophomore Destiny Pitts each earned recognition.
The Golden Gophers are coming off a 24-9 season, an 11-5 record in league play that saw them tie for third and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The team returns four of its top five leading scorers, 67.3 percent of its scoring, 67.4 percent of its minutes, 68.9 percent of its rebounds, 76.4 percent of its steals and 78.1 percent of its assists.
Bell was one off 11 student-athletes to be recognized by both the media and league's coaches on their respective Preseason All-Big Ten Teams. She was a unanimous selection by the coaches and was joined by Pitts on the media's preseason team. It's the first time the Gophers have had multiple players earn preseason conference honors since the 2014-15 season when Rachel Banham and Amanda Zahui B. did it.
Last season, Bell was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press, was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors. She set single-season school records for both made free throws (187) and free throw attempts (255) during the year, while her assist total (223) and assist rate were both the second most in the last 37 years at Minnesota. Bell led the Gophers by averaging 20.0 points and 6.8 assists per game and also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals per contest. Nationally, she finished sixth in free throw attempts, seventh in free throws made, ninth in assists per game and 10th in total assists.
Pitts is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A native of Detroit, Mich., she led the Gophers with 7.2 rebounds per game and was fourth with 13.3 points per contest. Pitts ranked fourth in the league in 3-pointers made (90), 3-pointers made per game (2.73) and 3-pointers attempted (241), and was ninth in 3-point percentage (37.3). Her 90 made 3-pointers set a Minnesota freshman record and were the fourth highest total in program history. She also ranked fourth in Minnesota single-season history in 3-pointers attempted and eighth in defensive rebounds (190).
Pitts tied a school record by being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times last season, one of just five players in league history to reach that number, and was the USBWA National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13.
Maryland was picked as the favorite by both the league's coaches and media, while Iowa's Megan Gustafson earned Preseason Player of the Year honors from both groups.
The Golden Gophers are coming off a 24-9 season, an 11-5 record in league play that saw them tie for third and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The team returns four of its top five leading scorers, 67.3 percent of its scoring, 67.4 percent of its minutes, 68.9 percent of its rebounds, 76.4 percent of its steals and 78.1 percent of its assists.
Bell was one off 11 student-athletes to be recognized by both the media and league's coaches on their respective Preseason All-Big Ten Teams. She was a unanimous selection by the coaches and was joined by Pitts on the media's preseason team. It's the first time the Gophers have had multiple players earn preseason conference honors since the 2014-15 season when Rachel Banham and Amanda Zahui B. did it.
Last season, Bell was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press, was a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection and earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors. She set single-season school records for both made free throws (187) and free throw attempts (255) during the year, while her assist total (223) and assist rate were both the second most in the last 37 years at Minnesota. Bell led the Gophers by averaging 20.0 points and 6.8 assists per game and also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 steals per contest. Nationally, she finished sixth in free throw attempts, seventh in free throws made, ninth in assists per game and 10th in total assists.
Pitts is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A native of Detroit, Mich., she led the Gophers with 7.2 rebounds per game and was fourth with 13.3 points per contest. Pitts ranked fourth in the league in 3-pointers made (90), 3-pointers made per game (2.73) and 3-pointers attempted (241), and was ninth in 3-point percentage (37.3). Her 90 made 3-pointers set a Minnesota freshman record and were the fourth highest total in program history. She also ranked fourth in Minnesota single-season history in 3-pointers attempted and eighth in defensive rebounds (190).
Pitts tied a school record by being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week seven times last season, one of just five players in league history to reach that number, and was the USBWA National Freshman of the Week on Feb. 13.
Maryland was picked as the favorite by both the league's coaches and media, while Iowa's Megan Gustafson earned Preseason Player of the Year honors from both groups.
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