Creme's preseason top 25

[Vowelguy]

UConn is back on top in Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2017-18

Looks pretty good.
Think UCLA might be too low.

 

[JoePgh]

Based on talent and experience alone, Tennessee might be near the top of the rankings. The fact that they are 8th suggests that Crème (like most of the WBB world) deeply discounts the Vol talent based on their coaching issue.

 

[CocoHusky]

What is Charlie thinking? Didn't he get the memo? Defending champions stay at #1 until they lose a game!

 

[pvdoggy]

OSU at #3 ? That's nut.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Texas and Tennessee, 4 and 8, I think not. There is only 1 of the top 10 I feel confident in: #1.

 

[BobbyJ]

OSU at #3 ? That's nut.

#3 in what? The Big 14?

 

[eebmg]

After reading the descriptions of the top tier teams, I think the Gap between UConn and the others has dramatically increased. I think OSU at three is too high and MSU at 9 is too harsh.

 

[Ctpaul0825]

17-18 could be our best team ever! I firmly believe that when Geno said "if you are going to get us you better get us this year" he was not kidding. Looking forward to some of the "prettiest basketball" ever to be played.

 

[noirwestern]

The only thing that stands out for me is that the frizzy haired #20 for USF will be back on the court against us if her feet hold out.

 

[uconnever]

I may be overlooking some players on teams, but overall Uconn should go undefeated and win it all pretty convincingly, but I honestly do think Tennessee can make the final four. Not many overly dominant teams. I think they can win the SEC for sure. When you look at the top teams, no one besides us, I think has as much talent. I also think the upper class girls may have learned from losing.....like our girls will. Mentally going over the rosters, I would not be suprised if at some point Uconn #1 And Tennessee #2 in the rankings this year. You figure at some point they turn it around. Way too many good players.

 

[stwainfan]

I think Ohio State is to high. Tennessee has a very talented team.

 

[sharris952]

I think too many people are discounting coaching and real impact players. Tennessee is a little high for me. Depth did not seem to be their issues, but it seemed to be more a lack of cohesiveness. We already see that having a glut of McDonals AA is not the key to a championship because if that were so Texas, ND and Louisville, despite injuries should have made the final four last year if not won it all. After looking at the quality or lack thereof in play at this year's McDD AA game it is apparent that few of them will not need a season of work to really impact their teams. Thus Tenn, still have issues because Westbrook seems the closest to providing them some help, but she is awfully thin and the SEC is a very defensive oriented and physical conference as Diamond has referenced her interviews. I don't see them, next year beating Miss. St. or SC because they still seemed to have no decent plan to utilize the seasoned players they have now. Maybe down the road, but not next year. Miss. St. returns 4 starters that played in the NC and SCAR returns 3 that won it all, plus add Alexis Jennings who used to start for Kentucky before transferring. They look to replace really one person and have options between players who go a lot of time in the SEC tourney and the NCAA tourney off the bench (Harrigan/Cliney) and have a couple of talented offensive freshman coming in who also could vie for the last spot. I suspect UConn, SCAR, ND and Baylor with Miss St. and Texas joining the party as real contenders. Tenn will have to show me a lot more than this class to bring them back into the discussion imo

 

[Fairfield Fan]

In Charlie Creme's world, when it comes to Tennessee, hope definitely springs eternal. So with just freshmen the difference between a double-digit losses team that crapped out in the second round of the tournament, not to mention the first round of the SEC tournament, Charlie thinks Tennessee is the seventh best team in the nation?

He is a glutton for punishment.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

While Charlie is way optimistic when it comes to Tennessee, Oregon just can't catch a break. So the team that blew threw big name teams in the tournament, and returns all of their big guns, and which is bringing in some hard-hitting foreign talent (essentially young European professionals), is still no better than 13th in the nation? Behind Louisville? And Duke? And Tennessee?

I'd be willing to bet that they record a lot of embarrassing wins, embarrassing, that is, for Charlie.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Oh, and Mississippi State, which beat UConn, and only lost to South Carolina in the tournament, is supposed to be no better than 9th? Behind Tennessee? Behind Stanford?

I think M-State is way better than that. McCowan is amazing. She'll only get better. And now Vivians is not a one-tune Annie, but has William to take the pressure off her.

I don't see Mississippi State regressing this fall. They're only going to get better.

 

[Vowelguy]

I don't see them, next year beating Miss. St. or SC because they still seemed to have no decent plan to utilize the seasoned players they have now

You do realize that TN beat both of them this past year?

 

[Vowelguy]

, Oregon just can't catch a break. So the team that blew threw big name teams in the tournament, and returns all of their big guns,

Not quite sure why Oregon should suddenly be considered world beaters after an upset over a Maryland team that may have been looking past them, and a Duke team without its point guard.

Had the Ducks lost their 1st round game to Temple (which they won by 1 pt), no one even has them in the top 20 next year.

 

[LadyVols9]

I'm not on the TN bandwagon until I see coaching improvement. Frankly, I rank us at #25 until I see something different.

 

[Vowelguy]

Oh, and Mississippi State, which beat UConn, and only lost to South Carolina in the tournament, is supposed to be no better than 9th? Behind Tennessee? Behind Stanford?

I think M-State is way better than that. McCowan is amazing. She'll only get better. And now Vivians is not a one-tune Annie, but has William to take the pressure off her.

I don't see Mississippi State regressing this fall. They're only going to get better.

Miss St is a difficult guess for next year. They were not an offensive juggernaut. They were a defensive power, and that comes from playing great team defense. They have lost 4 of their top 7, including D specialists like Dillingham. They have some questions to answer.

 

[CocoHusky]

Not quite sure why Oregon should suddenly be considered world beaters after an upset over a Maryland team that may have been looking past them, and a Duke team without its point guard.
Had the Ducks lost their 1st round game to Temple (which they won by 1 pt), no one even has them in the top 20 next year.

I'm not sure how you got world beaters out of being ranked 13th with two teams in their conference (Stanford & UCLA) ranked ahead of them.

 

[Vowelguy]

I'm not sure how you got world beaters out of being ranked 13th with two teams in their conference (Stanford & UCLA) ranked ahead of them.

I was responding to a post that alleged that at #13 the Ducks were getting shafted.

 

[easttexastrash]

I would rather see Baylor at 8 since we haven't gotten out of the E8 the past four years. Then if we reach the F4 we will have outperformed expectations.

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Not quite sure why Oregon should suddenly be considered world beaters after an upset over a Maryland team that may have been looking past them, and a Duke team without its point guard.

Had the Ducks lost their 1st round game to Temple (which they won by 1 pt), no one even has them in the top 20 next year.

They're a young team that began to come into their own during the tournament. So they beat Washington, a ranked Temple, Duke and Maryland, and they're supposed to be #13? They proved they're better than that.

And keep in mind that they're young and improving. Big strides!!

 

[Vowelguy]

They're a young team that began to come into their own during the tournament. So they beat Washington, a ranked Temple, Duke and Maryland, and they're supposed to be #13? They proved they're better than that.

And keep in mind that they're young and improving. Big strides!!

And I ask again: had they lost to Temple, would you even have them in the top 20?

 

[connboy77]

I think Ohio State is to high. Tennessee has a very talented team.

They are unproven! 25 losses in two years doesn't exactly put fear in the hearts of other teams.