Takeaways from Illinois’ Appearance at 2023 Big Ten WBB Media Day

Head coach Shauna Green made her second appearance at Big Ten Basketball Media Days since taking over at the helm of the Fighting Illini women’s basketball program in March 2022. One year after describing a vision for an Illinois team that had won just seven games the season prior to her arrival, Green has a full year under her belt. And what a year it was.

The Orange and Blue finished the 2022-23 campaign with a 22-10 record, their most wins in over two decades, and they ultimately earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. Illinois earned a spot in the Associated Press top-25 poll, snapping a 23-year absence, while Makira Cook put together one of the best seasons in program history in her first season in Champaign. Cook became the first Illini player since 2010 to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors by both conference coaches and media, and she was one of four players to earn all-conference status.

Cook was one of three Illinois student-athletes –…