On Women's Basketball

Tauja Catchings joins Big Ten Network

Posted by: Tony Bleill

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 8:25 PM

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Notes as we careen headlong into a new women's hoops season, now just a few hours away ....

--Former Illini Tauja Catchings will do some work for the Big Ten Network this season. Catchings, who graduated in 2000, is expected to work as a game analyst or studio analyst along with Stephanie White, Mary Murphy and Vera Jones. Catchings has experience as an analyst, serving as the Chicago Sky's color analyst.

Catchings, 10th on the UI's career scoring list, has been busy since leaving the UI. She is raising a 4-year-old son, Kanon. She manages all of her sister Tamika's off-court affairs. And she is a licensed real estate agent with her own company.

Catchings adds to the UI flavor at the BTN. Former coach Theresa Grentz will again work a few games as an analyst.

--Jolette Law is scheduled to discuss the UI's newest recruits, Centrese McGee and Alexis Burke, at 2 p.m. Thursday. We'll have a report here. Blue Star Basketball ranks Illinois' class 36th nationally. That's fourth among Big Ten teams, trailing Penn State (No. 18), Ohio State (29) and Michigan State (35).

--A few interesting pairings in the new Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge. It'll be neat to see the Illini take on their former assistant coach, Colorado's Kathy McConnell-Miller. McConnell-Miller has had her hands full trying to resuscitate the Buffaloes, a second-tier team in the Big 12. McConnell-Miller's team will visit the Assembly Hall in 2011.

Minnesota apparently drew the short straw. The Gophers get to deal with Baylor's dunking/shot blocking sensation, Brittany Griner, the next two years. Good luck with that.

Missouri and Northwestern will battle to determine the best journalism school. Would have preferred to see Purdue take on Texas Tech, which is coached by former Boilermaker boss Kristy Curry. Instead, we'll have to settle for Purdue-Texas A&M.

--Media blackout for UI-Temple on Friday. No TV, of course. No radio -- WDWS is committed to other sports. No tape delay. The only option is buying a pass and listening on the UI Web site.

 

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