Minnesota women’s basketball center Janel McCarville was named the Big Ten preseason player of the year by both the coaches and media Wednesday.

An All-American in 2003-04, McCarville averaged 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. She upped those totals to 19.4 points and 15 rebounds in Minnesota’s run to the Final Four and set a NCAA Tournament record with 75 rebounds.

“We expect big things from her this season, and we hope at season’s end she has earned the Big Ten player of the year award,” coach Pam Borton said.

McCarville was joined on the coaches’ preseason All-Big Ten team by Michigan State’s Lindsay Bowen, Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport, Purdue’s Katie Gearlds and Penn State’s Tanisha Wright. Indiana’s Jenny DeMuth replaced Bowen on the media’s all-conference team.

As a team, Minnesota was selected to finish third by the coaches and fourth by the media.

Swimming intrasquad

Minnesota’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will kick off their seasons Saturday at the Aquatic Center.

Each will be splitting up its squad and holding an intrasquad race. Both coaches said the races will help them to establish their traveling squads for upcoming meets.