AP Poll - Nov 25 (no panic zone)

[The deacon]

I just checked out the Massey Ratings, and for a second I thought they had posted last year's rankings by mistake: this morning South Carolina is still #1 at 5-1, and 6-0 Iowa (despite no ranked wins) jumped to #2, with Connecticut sliding to #3 and UCLA jumping up to #4. Indiana (which must be the most unpredictable team in D1) jumped 33 spots to #17.

Seems they got it right with SC and Iowa at 1-2, right? I'd call that excellent foresight by the voters.

If Massey's form follows, UConn will be playing UCLA in the NCAA title game this season. Sounds good to me.

 

[HopJim]

The road win at #16 North Carolina didn't impress you, huh?

Not compared to beating SC-past National Championships, winning streak, etc.

 

[Bigboote]

Indiana has wins over Stanford and Baylor but also lost to Butler and Harvard. The jury is still out on what their true level is.

Sydney Parrish left the Baylor game with an apparent knee injury and it didn't look particularly good.

I’d forgotten that Parrish was injured. That explains a lot about today’s result. Sydney is one of those blue-collar players who on any day might score 25 or pull down 10-12 rebounds, but a lot of what she does doesn’t show up in the box score.

 

[WLT1717]

Barring a late game collapse, UNC is a little over a quarter away from winning Battle 4 Atlantis and have played lights out defense in the tournament. I was a little disappointed that UConn let them back in the game after being up 22 but that was a good team that UConn beat in their own state.
No issue with UCLA being #1 and would have also been OK with ND being #2 after the impressive wins both had over the weekend. But it seems the win over UNC is being underrated by some.

When UNC beats a quality opponent I will take them seriously.

 

[WLT1717]

I find it interesting that the nobody UNC team that UConn played just beat Indiana by 30 69-39. Maybe they are a bit tougher team than some seem to think.

Indiana playing without a scoring starter and still trying to figure out how to play without Mac.

 

[Blueballer]

When UNC beats a quality opponent I will take them seriously.

Indiana just recently beat Stanford #24 and Baylor #18. Indiana can't be too bad.

 

[Dugway]

I think it fair to say that UConn has not yet played a really good team. Those games are coming. I believe the Huskies are up for the challenge!

I think it also fair to say that UConn has not played a full 40-minutes themselves, at a really high level of play. They have certainly played really good first halves, or in 6 to 7 minute stretches where they looked like they were the greatest thing since ice cream. Like they were completely unbeatable!

Also true that, against these lesser teams, they have not been tested at all. As such they have not had to play a full 40-minutes of top level ball. I think it fair to say that after having built a 30 point lead or something like that, that they have had let downs and gone through stretches where they didn’t played fantastic. But, again, they have not had to!

So, we end up with a 19 point margin of victory, when the reality is that the game was not that close. Does that mean that we don’t deserve to be #1? Maybe! Does that mean that we should expect a loss against a #20 ranked team? I would certainly not wager money that way!

 

[FormerCTrez]

Congrats to UCLA‘s being ranked #1 in WCBB!!

This position was earned because they did in fact, soundly beat the Gamecocks, who were on a 43 game win streak, and are the defending National Champs. Personally, I am okay with UConn remaining at #2, because it helps reduce the focal pressure. And I’m sure while the Gamecocks are saddened about the loss, they’re probably a bit relieved that the bullseye is off them, even temporarily.

Now we have a new #1, and it’s a brand new position for them. Let’s see how their coach, Cori Close and her staff, navigate the UCLA Bruins to the finish line. History has shown us how Geno and Dawn have taken their early ranked #1 squads to several Final Fours, and championship games. Can Cori do the same?

In any event, congratulations to UCLA on their top ranking. They’ve earned it!!

 

[Phil]

Does anyone have the AP Poll for Monday April 7, 2025? That is the one I want to see.

I get your point, but the AP doesn't do a poll after the NC game

 

[Phil]

Let me see if I understand this - On one hand, it's early and UConn will continue to get better, yet on the other hand UCLA will get worse?

You've got it.