COACH: Jolette Law, first season at Illinois and overall.
LAST SEASON: 19-12 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten (T-4th).
KEY LOSSES: 6-2 Erin Wigley (6.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg); 6-0 Danielle Gratton (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
KEY RETURNEES: 5-11 Jr. Lori Bjork (14.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg); 6-3 So. Jenna Smith (11.1 ppg, 7.87 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Danyel Crutcher (8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg); 6-0 Jr. Chelsea Gordon (7.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg); 6-0 So. Lacey Simpson (7.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Rebecca Harris (6.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Audrey Tabon (medical redshirt last season).
KEY ADDITIONS: 5-11 Fr. Chelsea Buher; 5-9 Fr. Lydia McCully.
CRITICS SAY: Law is known as a talented recruiter, but she has no experience running her own program.
DIEHARDS SAY: This team needed a spark after falling into mediocrity under former coach Theresa Grentz.
WE SAY: With five starters back and a talented coaching staff, Illinois could be a sleeping giant in the Big Ten. Law has talent and experience, and she's already getting her foot in the door as the lead Illini recruiter.
DID YOU KNOW? During Law's time at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights played in the Final Four twice and the Elite Eight three times. Rutgers finished as NCAA runner-up last spring.
ONE-LINER: "I told them I wouldn't put them through anything I haven't done. Hard work never killed anybody.'' -- coach Jolette Law.
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COACH: Jolette Law, first season at Illinois and overall.
LAST SEASON: 19-12 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten (T-4th).
KEY LOSSES: 6-2 Erin Wigley (6.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg); 6-0 Danielle Gratton (3.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg)
KEY RETURNEES: 5-11 Jr. Lori Bjork (14.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg); 6-3 So. Jenna Smith (11.1 ppg, 7.87 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Danyel Crutcher (8.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg); 6-0 Jr. Chelsea Gordon (7.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg); 6-0 So. Lacey Simpson (7.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg); 5-8 Sr. Rebecca Harris (6.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg); 6-2 Sr. Audrey Tabon (medical redshirt last season).
KEY ADDITIONS: 5-11 Fr. Chelsea Buher; 5-9 Fr. Lydia McCully.
CRITICS SAY: Law is known as a talented recruiter, but she has no experience running her own program.
DIEHARDS SAY: This team needed a spark after falling into mediocrity under former coach Theresa Grentz.
WE SAY: With five starters back and a talented coaching staff, Illinois could be a sleeping giant in the Big Ten. Law has talent and experience, and she's already getting her foot in the door as the lead Illini recruiter.
DID YOU KNOW? During Law's time at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights played in the Final Four twice and the Elite Eight three times. Rutgers finished as NCAA runner-up last spring.
ONE-LINER: "I told them I wouldn't put them through anything I haven't done. Hard work never killed anybody.'' -- coach Jolette Law.
