Shimmy Gray-Miller is having the time of her life in her first season as a retired college coach.
Now in her first year as a Big Ten Network (BTN) analyst, Gray-Miller, with over 25 years of head and assistant coaching experience, including the last two seasons at Minnesota, noted, ” I really don’t miss coaching.”
The 2024 Big Ten Women’s Tournament tips off on Wednesday. Gray-Miller will be in town as part of the BTN on-court broadcasting team and she took time from her preparations to speak to the MSR about the five-day event. “It’s really wide open,” Gray-Miller remarked.
Wednesday’s doubleheader features two games in which the opponents only faced each other once during the regular season: No. 12 Purdue (12-17) faces No. 13 Northwestern (9-20) to open the tournament—Purdue won the previous meeting 74-48 on Feb. 14.
The nightcap features No. 11 Minnesota (15-14) and No. 14 Rutgers (8-23)—the Scarlet Knights defeated the host Gophers 81-73 on Feb. 13.
Both teams’ respective seasons will end in tournament play unless they win the title on Sunday and both desperately want to build some momentum going into next season: Rutgers has struggled most of the season due to youth and inexperience.
“They didn’t have a whole lot to begin with,” Gray-Miller observed regarding Rutgers’ youth and inexperience. “I really like [leading scorer] Destiny Adams. I think that better days ahead in Piscataway.”
Minnesota has lost four games in a row, 10 losses in 11 games, and has dealt with injuries to key players.
Thursday will feature a four-game set. The winner of the Rutgers-Minnesota match will play No. 3 Michigan (18-12); No. 5 Nebraska (19-10) will face the Purdue-Northwestern winner; No. 9 Illinois (14-14) vs. No. 8 Maryland (17-12) and No. 7 Penn State (18-11) vs. No. 10 Wisconsin (13-15).
Friday features the four teams that have double byes.
Regarding No. 1 Ohio State vs. Maryland-Illinois winner, Gray-Miller said: “I actually think that they’re better this year than they were last year,” noted Gray-Miller on the Buckeyes (25-2). “The key to Ohio State has got to be [soph forward] Cotie McMahon. I know [graduate] Jacy Sheldon overall is their best all-around player but McMahon is the X Factor. She’s got to play well and stay out of foul trouble for Ohio State to have a chance at anything. They’re better defensively this year than they were last year.”
No. 2 Iowa (26-4) plays the Penn State-Wisconsin winner—Gray-Miller expressed concern about the Hawkeyes’ depth after guard Molly Davis hurt her knee on Sunday and is sidelined for this week’s tournament.
Same for No. 3 Indiana (24-4), who plays the Michigan/MN-Rutgers winner: Hoosiers Mackenzie Holmes and Lilly Meister both suffered injuries in the second half of Sunday’s game and it is unclear if they will be able to play this week.
Gray-Miller said she likes No. 4 Michigan State, who will play Nebraska/Purdue-NW winner. “They got that coveted ‘golden ticket’ with that double bye,” she stressed of the Spartans (22-7). “They played Ohio State as well as anybody. I’m gonna have to go with Michigan State just because of the way that they can score and the way that they can defend, and that kind of slipped underneath the radar.”
This year’s tournament will be an exciting one, predicted Gray-Miller. “I think the Big Ten coaches are as good from top to bottom as any coaches of any conference in the country,” she surmised.
Finally, the retired coach is growing more comfortable in understanding her present role. “We work for the network, which means we work with schools,” Gray-Miller said on working at BTN. “They don’t like criticism; they only want to hear all the positives and the good stuff.
“I’m trying to find that balance,” she concluded. “But I do enjoy it. I really enjoy it and I really don’t miss coaching. I go home and sleep well at night no matter who wins or loses.”
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