The Michigan women's basketball schedule is out for 2005-06, so I thought I'd take an early look at it and see what might happen.

Michigan had a very difficult (and that's being kind) season in 2004-05, winning only five overall games and only one in Big Ten play. So it can't get much worse, the question is how much better is it likely to get? The rest of the Big Ten will be tough as it usually is, with Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue and Minnesota the likely top four. Iowa is knocking on the door of this group, may finish higher than fifth, and will probably not end up much lower. Michigan will probably be fighting it out with Wisconsin and Illinois for the sixth through eighth spots. Penn State is going to take a big fall and I for one am overjoyed about it. PSU, Indiana, and Northwestern will bring up the rear of the conference in one order or another.

OK, so what about the Michigan schedule? Coach Burnett's crew travel out west to start the season in a tournament at the U of Oregon. They play Temple in the first game, then either the host school or St. Francis of Pennsylvania. All three of these teams are 20-plus game winners last season so Michigan will do well to get one win and one loss here. Two wins are possible, but not as likely.

Next up is a trip to South Bend to face the perennially good Notre Dame team. The Irish were 27-6 last season so this will be a very tough test for Michigan. Maybe they can pull off the upset and avenge the recent Michigan football loss to ND, but it will take a very well played game.

I think Michigan will get one win out of these first three and be 1-2 going into the home opener.

The last ten days of November 2005 find Michigan at home to play three average to less than average MAC teams...Miami of Ohio, Toledo, and Central Michigan. These are all winnable games that Michigan must win, so I will pick them to take all three and go to 4-2.

A rematch with Maine is next, and while Maine is a good team I think Michigan will get the win. They should not have much problem with Maryland-Eastern Shore.

At Washington could be a bit more tough, and I am afraid this might be a loss for the Wolverines...leaving them with 6 wins and 3 losses.

Their remaining three nonconference games all look winnable, at home against Fordham and Nebraska and on the road against St. Bonaventure. So, the Wolverines would then be 9-3 going into the Big Ten slate.

Michigan opens conference play at Illinois. The Illini have beaten Michigan more often than not lately but they are not a consistent team and Michigan needs to get the win here. The Wolverines will not be so lucky in East Lansing. Although I would be overjoyed to see them go to Ms. Sparty's House and get a win, I realize it is not likely this season. So Michigan goes to 1-1 in the league and 10-4 overall. Incidentally that would be as many Big Ten wins as they had last year and twice the overall wins with half of the regular season to go.

Iowa and Purdue at home...Michigan nearly beat Iowa at Crisler Arena last year and will get it done this year. Purdue will be much tougher to beat but Michigan needs to defend their home court and pull off at least some upsets of the better teams...so I think they will take this one as well to go to 3-1 Big Ten and 12-4 overall.

Ohio State on the road...again I'd love to see a Michigan win but it is not likely this time around. Minnesota at home will also be tough, and the Wolverines will fall to 3-3 Big Ten and 12-6 overall.

Next up is a run of four absolute must-win games for Michigan, against teams that are likely to be in the middle or bottom of the conference. First up is Indiana, the only Big Ten team Michigan beat last year. Northwestern is a team Michigan should have beat last year, and will this year. Ditto for Wisconsin. Which brings me to Penn State. I am way beyond frustrated with Michigan losing to this team and their whiney, nutcase, allegedly anti-gay coach Rene Portland. PSU has only nine players this year and they are not a particularly experienced group. Michigan will get their revenge, and on PSU's home court no less. These four wins will raise Michigan's record to 7-3 Big Ten and 16-6 overall.

It will get tougher the rest of the way. Minnesota on the road is a likely loss, as is Ohio State at home. Purdue and Iowa will probably get revenge on Michigan at their homes. This would drop the Wolverines to 7-7 Big Ten and 16-10 overall.

Michigan State at home...Michigan gets revenge for the earlier loss and also gets Coach Burnett her first win in the rivalry. Michigan then completes the season sweep of Illinois to take a 9-7 Big Ten and 18-10 overall mark into the postseason.

9-7 should place Michigan about sixth in the Big Ten which is where I picked them some time ago. Based on my other picks for the regular season, here's how I see the Big Ten tournament playing out:

First round: Wisconsin croaks Penn State (ha-ha, Rene!!!), Northwestern upsets Illinois, and Michigan beats Indiana.

Second round: Ohio State over Wisconsin, Purdue over Northwestern, Minnesota over Iowa, and yes, MICHIGAN OVER MICHIGAN STATE!!! Am I out of my mind with that last one? Maybe, but the future has yet to be written and I may be vindicated after all.

Semifinals: Purdue over Minnesota and Ohio State over Michigan. I can't really push my luck much more than I already have, after all.

Ohio State over Purdue for the tournament title and automatic NCAA bid. Purdue, Michigan State, Minnesota, Iowa, and Michigan (at 20 wins and 11 losses) will also make the Big Dance. Illinois and Wisconsin (if they end up .500 or better overall) will make the NIT.

I see Michigan winning in the first round of the NCAA before bowing out. And I could be totally out of my cotton pickin' Maize and Blue mind to think that a team could go from five to 21 wins in one season. Perhaps 16 or 17 is a more reasonable guesstimate. But we will see what we will see, now won't we???

GO BLUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL!!!