Dana Hunsinger Benbow

dana.benbow@indystar.com

Her name had been floating about, swirling in women's college basketball circles. But then as her team clinched the No. 4 seed over the weekend for the Big Ten tournament, the noise got louder.

It hit a crescendo Monday night. Indiana University's coach Teri Moren — in just her second season with the Hoosiers — was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.

In what turned out to be a bit awkward moment, Purdue coach Sharon Versyp was asked Monday morning to talk about the possibility of Moren earning the honor later that day. Big Ten coaches took part in a teleconference in advance of the tourney, which tips off Wednesday in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Don't talk about your No. 6-seeded team, Versyp. Talk about Moren and her accomplishments please. Versyp was gracious.

"Teri is a great coach. She's really been able to put her stamp on that program in a very short time and those kids believe in what she's selling," Versyp said. "She is the one who's turned (the program around) and should be deserving of being Coach of the Year."

Moren came to IU from Indiana State for the 2014-15 season after her predecessor Curt Miller abruptly left late in the summer of 2014. She was forced to develop a team that hadn't committed to her and play a roster she had nothing to do with recruiting. The team finished Moren's first season with a .500 record.

This season, however, the real turnaround emerged with the Hoosiers winning over ranked teams and securing an undefeated home record. The Hoosiers finished 12-6 in the Big Ten and 20-10 overall. The team's 20 wins set a regular-season school record, and IU is on the radar for an NCAA tournament bid.

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"She's done a phenomenal job," Versyp said. "When you see the growth of what she has done with her players, the development, the cohesiveness? They are playing some of their best basketball."

Moren didn't want to elaborate on talk of a possible Coach of the Year honor.

"That is the least of what I worry about because it's more about this basketball team," she said. "It's always come back to the people that you surround yourself with and the good energy you surround yourself with. We've just kind of put our heads down and gone about our work and kind of allowed what we've been able to accomplish be our voice. It's not about individual awards."

IU

With a No. 4 seed, the Hoosiers get a double-bye in the tournament and play their first game at 2:30 p.m. Friday. They will take on the winner of the Thursday game between 5th-seeded Minnesota and the winner of Wednesday's matchup between No. 12 Northwestern and No. 13 Wisconsin.

The double bye is especially crucial for IU due to "our lack of depth," Moren said. "The extra rest is so meaningful for us."

On her team's remarkable turnaround, Moren credits the players.

"We have incredible kids in our program. They were all superstars in their own respect (in high school)," Moren said. "They all have competed their entire lives and have all won."

She pointed to sophomore Tyra Buss, who was named a first-team all-league pick Monday night after averaging 19 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while also leading IU in assists and steals. She was Illinois Ms. Basketball two years ago after compiling a state record by scoring more than 4,700 points.

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"They've been around winning traditions and know what that looks like," Moren said.

Purdue

Purdue enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed after finishing 10-8 in the conference and 19-10 overall. The Boilermakers will play at 9 p.m. Thursday, taking on the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 11 Penn State and No. 14 Illinois.

Versyp was clear where the leadership and guidance for her team is coming on the court — and it's coming from a sophomore guard.

"Andreona Keys is our glue to our team. She's day in and day out our most consistent player, just with the mentality, the focus, rebounding, playing defense," said Versyp. "She will do anything for her team. She has stepped up."

While Keys is important to the team, Versyp wants her senior leaders such as April Wilson to set the tone for the Big Ten tournament. It's a tourney that can be intimidating the first time, with the one loss and you're out format.

"It's exceptionally important (we sit down and talk) what's the Big Ten tournament about, what's the history and the tradition?" Versyp said. "You can send the message. You can't be so afraid (because it's) one and done. You can't have that approach in your mindset. Kids are afraid to lose. Our seniors need to come out and make sure they make the footprint, make some plays early (and be) able to calm everybody else down."

Tickets

Big Ten women’s basketball tournament tickets can be purchased at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse box office, Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. For more information, go to www.bigten.org.

Follow IndyStar reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow



Big Ten women’s basketball awards

Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS

• As selected by Big Ten coaches

Player of the Year: Rachel Branham, Minnesota.

Defensive Player of the Year: Ashley Deary, Northwestern.

Freshman of the Year: Jessica Shepard, Nebraska.

Sixth Player of the Year: Brene Moseley, Maryland.

Coach of the Year: Teri Moren, Indiana.

All conference

First Team

Tyra Buss, Indiana; Brionna Jones, Maryland; SHATORI WALKER-KIMBROUGH, Maryland; Katelynn Flaherty, Michigan; AERIAL POWERS, Michigan State; RACHEL BANHAM, Minnesota; Jessica Shepard, Nebraska; Nia Coffey, Northwestern; Ameryst Alston, Ohio State; KELSEY MITCHELL, Ohio State.

Second Team

Chatrice White, Illinois; Ally Disterhoft, Iowa; Brene Moseley, Maryland; Tori Jankoska, Michigan State; Carlie Wagner, Minnesota; Natalie Romeo, Nebraska; Teniya Page, Penn State; April Watson, Purdue; Kahleah Copper, Rutgers; Tyler Scaife, Rutgers.

Honorable Mention: Amanda Cahill, Indiana; Hallie Thome, Michigan; Maggie Lyon, Northwestern; Shalya Cooper, Ohio State; Alexa Hart, Ohio State; Brianna Banks, Penn State; Lindsey Spann, Penn State; Ashley Morrissette, Purdue; Rachel Hollivay, Rutgers, Nicole Bauman, Wisconsin.

All-Defensive Team

Shatori Walker Kimbrough, Maryland; Ashley Deary, Northwestern; Alexa Hart, Ohio State; April Wilson, Purdue; Rachel Hollivay, Rutgers.

All-Freshman Team

Alex Wittinger, Illinois; Tania Davis, Iowa; Hallie Thome, Michigan; JESSICA SHEPARD, Nebraska; TENIYA PAGE, Penn State.

2015-16 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honorees: Kyley Simmons, Illinois; Lyndsay Leikem, Indiana; Ally Disterhoft, Iowa; Malina Howard, Maryland; Madison Ristovksi, Michigan; Cara Miller, Michigan State; Shayne Mullaney, Minnesota; Natalie Romeo, Nebraska; Cait Craft, Ohio State; Sarah McMurtry, Penn State; Bridget Perry, Purdue; Shrita Parker, Rutgers; Nicole Bauman, Wisconsin.

• As selected by Big Ten media

Player of the Year: Rachel Banham, Minnesota.

Freshman of the Year: Jessica Shepard, Nebraska.

Coach of the Year: Teri Moren, Indiana.

All conference

First Team

Tyra Buss, Indiana; Brionna Jones, Maryland; Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Maryland; Katelynn Flaherty, Michigan; AERIAL POWERS, Michigan State; RACHEL BANHAM, Minnesota; Jessica Shepard, Nebraska; Nia Coffey, Northwestern; Ameryst Alston, Ohio State; KELSEY MITCHELL, Ohio State.

Second Team

Chatrice White, Illinois; Amanda Cahill, Indiana; Ally Disterhoft, Iowa; Tori Jankoska, Michigan State; Carlie Wagner, Minnesota; Shayla Cooper, Ohio State; Alexa Hart, Ohio State; April Wilson, Purdue; Kahleah Copper, Rutgers; Tyler Scaife, Rutgers.

Honorable Mention: Brene Moseley, Maryland; Hallie Thome, Michigan; Branndais Agee, Michigan State; Jasmine Hines, Michigan State; Natalie Romeo, Nebraska; Rachel Theriot, Nebraska; Ashley Deary, Northwestern; Maggie Lyon, Northwestern; Brianna Banks, Penn State; Teniya Page, Penn State; Rachel Hollivay, Rutgers; Nicole Bauman, Wisconsin.

Tournament schedule

At Bankers Life Fieldhouse

All games on Big Ten Network except championship game, which airs on ESPN.

Wednesday

Game 1: No. 13 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 Northwestern, 1:30 p.m.

Game 2: No. 14 Illinois vs. No. 11 Penn State, 25 min. after Game 1.

Thursday

Game 3: No. 9 Iowa vs. No. 8 Michigan, noon.

Game 4: No. 5 Minnesota vs. Game 1 winner, 25 min. after Game 3.

Game 5: No. 10 Rutgers vs. No. 7 Nebraska, 6:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 6 Purdue vs. Game 2 winner, 25 min. after Game 5.

Friday

Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. No. 1 Maryland, noon.

Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 4 Indiana, 25 min after Game 7.

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 6:30 p.m.

Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 3 Michigan State, 25 min after Game 9.

Saturday | Semifinals

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 3 p.m.

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 25 min. after Game 11.

Sunday | Championship

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 7 p.m.