Theriot Lands Preseason All-Big Ten Honors

Lincoln - Nebraska's Rachel Theriot earned preseason All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year when the conference announced its preseason awards on Wednesday afternoon.

Theriot, a senior point guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, was one of nine players to earn recognition from both the coaches and media on their 10-player teams. Theriot, who was a first-team preseason All-Big Ten choice in 2014-15, averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists while starting Nebraska's first 21 games a year ago. Theriot led the Huskers to a top-15 national ranking and a 17-4 record heading into February, before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in practice on Feb. 3. She was a second-team All-Big Ten choice a year ago despite missing the second half of the conference season.

Theriot, a preseason candidate for the Wade, Naismith and Wooden national player-of-the-year awards in 2014-15, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore for the Huskers in 2013-14. She led Nebraska to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after earning Big Ten Tournament MVP honors in 2014. She averaged 18.0 points and a Big Ten-record 10.0 assists while leading the Huskers to their first-ever conference tournament title in 2014. She was also an honorable-mention Associated Press All-American after setting the Nebraska single-season record with 234 assists in 2013-14.

Theriot is expected to be a national player-of-the-year candidate again in 2015-16, while also being a candidate for CoSIDA Academic All-America and Senior CLASS Award accolades.

Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year Kelsey Mitchell from Ohio State led the voting, while her backcourt mate Ameryst Alston also earned a spot. Defending Big Ten champion and preseason favorite Maryland added a pair of honorees with Brionna Jones and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. Michigan State's Aerial Powers, Northwestern's Nia Coffey, Kahleah Copper from Rutgers and Minnesota's Rachel Banham were all chosen to both teams. Banham was the 2014-15 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, before suffering a season-ending knee injury early in her senior season with the Gophers.

Iowa's Ally Disterhoft added recognition from the conference coaches, while Tori Jankoska earned a spot on the media's preseason team.

Theriot and Coach Connie Yori will be on hand at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare Thursday morning for Big Ten Men's and Women's Basketball Media Day. Nebraska tips off exhibition play against Nebraska-Kearney at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday, Nov. 1.

2015-16 COACHES BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1.       Maryland
2.       Ohio State
3.       Michigan State

2015-16 COACHES PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Ally Disterhoft, Jr., G, Iowa
Brionna Jones, Jr., C, Maryland
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, Maryland
Aerial Powers, Jr., F, Michigan State
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, Nebraska
Nia Coffey, Jr., F, Northwestern
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, Ohio State
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, Ohio State
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, Rutgers

2015-16 COACHES PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, Ohio State

2015-16 MEDIA BIG TEN PRESEASON RANKINGS

1.       Maryland
2.       Ohio State
3.       Northwestern

2015-16 MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM

Brionna Jones, Jr., C, Maryland
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, Jr., G, Maryland
Tori Jankoska, Jr., G, Michigan State
Aerial Powers, Jr., F, Michigan State
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota
Rachel Theriot, Sr., G, Nebraska
Nia Coffey, Jr., F, Northwestern
Ameryst Alston, Sr., G, Ohio State
Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, Ohio State
Kahleah Copper, Sr., F/G, Rutgers

2015-16 MEDIA PRESEASON BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kelsey Mitchell, So., G, OSU