Hoping to reclaim their 1993 NCAA championship title, the Buckeyes face a tough challenge this season.The season outlook for women’s basketball in the Big Ten is one of tough competition and stiff rivalries.The 11 Big Ten teams meet over the weekend to discuss strategies, players, and expectations in Chicago for the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Conference.In the 1996-97 season, the Buckeyes finished a disappointing tenth in the Big Ten.This year, under head coach Beth Burns, Ohio State plans to turn things around. The Buckeyes enter the season with six letterwinners led by top scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker Larecha Jones. “We’re in it for the long haul.” Burns said. “We’re concentrating on building from the ground up.”The 1996-97 tri-champion teams of Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue are also expecting to compete for the coveted NCAA championship title.Illinois finished the 1996-97 season with the best record in their school history (24-8) and made their first-ever NCAA regional appearance. This year, the fighting Illini will be returning strong with all five starters, led by Big Ten Player of the Year Ashley Berggen.Berggen led the team in scoring and assists and finished second in rebounding.”We are returning all of our starters and have great depth coming off the bench,” said head coach Theresa Grentz. “Clearly, this year’s team has the benefit of experience we gained from the NCAA tournament, combined with enthusiasm and energy we have to defend our Big Ten championship.”Also faced with the challenge to defend their Big Ten title is Michigan State.The Spartans, returning only two starters will be forced to lean heavily on senior guard Jaime Wesley for most of their scoring and team experience.Winning the 1996-97 Big Ten Conference Tournament Title isn’t enough for the Iowa Hawkeyes, this year they hope to take things one step further and win a national championship.The Hawkeyes are led by senior point guard Nadine Domond who led the team in assists, three pointers, and steals last year. 1997 Big Ten Tournament MVP senior guard Angela Hablin is expected to lead once again in scoring rebounds. Opening the season with the loss of seven letterwinners, the University of Michigan returns with depth and talent in All-Big Ten Second Team center Pollyanna Johns.”This team will not succumb to that (fear),” Johns said. “This year will be different. For the seniors, it’s do or die. We have no choice (but) to go all out.”Johns, who led the Wolverines in scoring and rebounding, holds the school record for field goal percentage in a single game.”This team worked hard this summer,” head coach Sue Gueveura said. “We need to be a little more mentally strong and we need to work harder defensively. I expect to be in the top half of the conference, to get to the NCAA tournament, to improve free throws and I also expect to have fun.”With three NCAA appearances under their belts, Indiana plans to improve its eighth place Big Ten finish last year. Head coach Jim Izard, in his tenth consecutive season with the Hoosiers said; “Experience is the key ‹ you can’t win in this league with freshman. We are stronger because we’re older.”Indiana has 12 letterwinners and three starters returning this season. As the only one returning senior, center Quacy Barnes hopes to lead her team to an NCAA Championship in March.First-year head coach Cheryle Little joins the Minnesota golden Gophers after a successful stint as Alabama’s assistant coach who was ranked second in the 1996 preseason polls.”Our goal is to win, it’s that simple. It is going to take a lot, but that’s the goal,” Little said.