Ally Disterhoft selected to preseason All-Big Ten teams
IOWA CITY, Ia. — Senior Iowa guard Ally Disterhoft was selected to both the media and coaches preseason All-Big Ten teams, which were released Monday afternoon.
Disterhoft scored in double figures every game last year. She averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists and made the All-Big Ten second team. She earned preseason conference team honors from the coaches last season.
Conference coaches and media members also vote for the top three teams each preseason. Iowa didn't make the top three in either of those rankings, which were also released Monday afternoon. The Hawkeyes last cracked the preseason top three in the 2014 coaches poll. That season, they finished second, at 26-8 overall and 14-4 in conference play.
Maryland and Ohio State got pegged at first and second in both of this year's rankings. Media members picked Indiana to finish third, while the Hoosiers tied with Michigan State for third in the coaches poll.
Jarrod Uthoff, Ally Disterhoft earn nation's top academic honors
Ohio State guard Kelsey Mitchell was named preseason player of the year by coaches and the media.
Last season, Iowa missed the NCAA Tournament after making eight straight after finishing 19-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten, good for a ninth place finish. The end result was the program's worst mark since the 2006-07 season — the last time it didn't make the Big Dance.
The Hawkeyes return nine players from last year's team, including its top three scorers: Disterhoft, Chase Coley (who averaged 11.1 points per game) and forward Megan Gustafson (who averaged 10.7), who, along with guard Tania Davis, made the 2015-16 All-Big Ten freshman team.
Head coach Lisa Bluder also hauled in her most talented recruiting class, headlined by 2016 Miss Iowa Basketball Makenzie Meyer and ESPN top 100 recruit Kathleen Doyle.
Iowa will host an exhibition Nov. 6 against Lewis University and open its regular season Nov. 11 against Oral Roberts at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
1. Maryland
2. Ohio State
3. (tie) Indiana and Michigan State
2016-17 coaches preseason All-Big Ten team
TYRA BUSS, Jr., G, Indiana
Ally Disterhoft, Sr., G, Iowa
BRIONNA JONES, Sr., C, Maryland
SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, Sr., G, Maryland
KATELYNN FLAHERTY, Jr., G, Michigan
Tori Jankoska, Sr., G, Michigan State
Jessica Shepard, So., F, Nebraska
Nia Coffey, Sr., F, Northwestern
KELSEY MITCHELL, Jr., G, Ohio State
Teniya Page, So., G, Penn State
2016-17 coaches preseason player of the year
Kelsey Mitchell, Jr., G, Ohio State
2016-17 media Big Ten preseason rankings
1. Maryland
2. Ohio State
3. Indiana
2016-17 media preseason All-Big Ten team
Tyra Buss, Jr., G, Indiana
Ally Disterhoft, Sr., G, Iowa
Brionna Jones, Sr., C, Maryland
SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, Sr., G, Maryland
Katelynn Flaherty, Jr., G, Michigan
Tori Jankoska, Sr., G, Michigan State
Carlie Wagner, Jr., G, Minnesota
Jessica Shepard, So., F, Nebraska
Nia Coffey, Sr., F, Northwestern
KELSEY MITCHELL, Jr., G, Ohio State
2016-17 media preseason player of the year
Kelsey Mitchell, Jr., G, Ohio State
*Unanimous selections in all caps.
Bain covers Iowa women's basketball for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, Des Moines Register and HawkCentral. Contact him at mbain@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.