Berger and Holmes Named Preseason All-Big Ten; Hoosiers Picked to Finish SecondĀ
ROSEMONT, Ill. ā Senior guard Grace Berger and junior forward Mackenzie Holmes were named 2022-23 preseason All-Big Ten selections for the second-consecutive season and the Indiana Hoosiers were picked to finish second amongst the leagueās media and third by the coaches, announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Berger was a unanimous preseason All-Big Ten selection as she enters her fifth season with the Hoosiers. She earned a trio of All-American honorable mention accolades last season as she was a first team All-Big Ten honoree as well. The Louisville, Ky. native led Indiana in scoring with 16.2 points and 4.7 assists per game last season. She additionally added 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game where she scored in double figures 30 times and had three double-doubles. Berger was also a Top 10 watchlist candidate for the Cheryl Miller Award, which honors the nationās top small forward with other nods on the Wooden Award and Wade Trophy watchlist for national player of the year. She will enter the 2022-23 season ranked 13th on the all-time scoring list at IU with 1,531 career points.
Holmes averaged 15.2 points and a 60 percent clip from the floor in an injury shortened campaign as a junior. Despite only seeing action in 25 games, Holmes still earned WBCA All-American honorable mention and a place on the All-Big Ten second team. She led the program with 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and shot 80.8 percent from the free throw line last season and tied Berger with a team-high three double-doubles. The Gorham, Maine native was a Top 10 watch list candidate for the Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the nationās top center with appearances on the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award and Wade Trophy watch lists as well. Holmes also joined the 1,000-point club last season.
Indiana is led by ninth year head coach Teri Moren, who has taken the program to back-to-back NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances and seven consecutive 20-win seasons. Her Hoosiers finished 24-9 last season, advancing to the Big Ten Tournament championship game for the first time in 20 years and the NCAA Regional Semifinal. IU returns starters in Berger and Holmes along with veterans junior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil, junior forward Kiandra Brown and seven new faces including three transfers including 2021-22 All-Big Ten first team honoree Sara Scalia and Indiana native and 2020 Ms. Basketball Sydney Parrish.