Every time a Poll gets printed, let's assume the qualifier that "IT MEANS NOTHING" and then enjoy the dialogue on everyone's perspective of it. Can we agree so we don't have to have someone come onto thread and say "it means nothing" which is ironic as it must mean something if they clicked into the thread to only type something so obvious.
That said, let me have some "useless dialogue" on my perspective of what I saw and what I think:
Baylor/Oregon or Oregon/Baylor, no quibble.
Stanford as #3? NO WAY. If UConn is #5 with higher rated prospects and more success with their coaches, how is Stanford who lost their top player (and Sniezak) who averaged 8.6 rebounds (#2 was 5'11" Carrington) ahead of them? What they have is depth but no surefire established scorers. Tara has been challenged at times with teams to have high scoring offense and with such a young team, that has to be a concern. Dodson needs to step up big time. I am swapping them and UConn. Stanford to #5.
#4 Maryland-I bought the 5 Pack so I will be seeing them a few times this year. Again, the issue isn't talent, or winning during the regular season, it's can this team improve through out the year and play big against really good teams so come NCAAT the team is ready as clearly the last views years they weren't. This year she has SC, Clemson (underrated) and NC State (also underrated) as good OOC teams, though she needs to have a few more given the weakness of the Big10. I won't quibble with MD at #4
UConn at #5, move them up to #3. Nuf ced.
#6 Texas A&M is a bit aggressive even by my standards for this team. I like them to win the SEC but #6? Not so much. Feels more like #11 until Carter proves she can make her teammates better.
#7 Oregon State, which because it's Scott, I am ok with but they need to prove this lofty rank as their OOC is terrible. If they DON'T win the preseason NIT, they should be dropped to 20. They only have Miami as a quality OOC. The Pac12 is going to be brutal with Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, ASU as bonafide teams so this team will be tested come NCAAT.
#8 South Carolina as I am about to irritate so many of our fine Gamecock friends who I truly enjoy, I need to see how this team meshes with so many young players, MHH who wanted out but now wants in and how Harris can step up her scoring. I think they are #2 in the SEC and more like #12 than 8.
#9 Louisville lost a lot but as our Cardinal faithful have noted, gained a couple of good players from GaTech so maybe they are reloading. Plus I like Jeff so #9 is fine by me. They are #2 in the ACC for me.
#10 Miss State again, we have a strong presence of Bulldog fans here who want to be heard all the time, on everything so let me give them some bones to chew on and yap about (see what I did there?). Does Vic realize it's basketball so only 5 can play, not a soccer team that fields 11 at one time? IS AEH a star or a sidekick? Is Bibby healthy and able to become a star? Now that Big T is gone, can he find the next project and get her to blossom? I think they are #3 in the SEC so if SC is #11, MSU has to be #12.
I have three slots open in the top 10 at #6, #8 and #10 so let me fill those now:
#14 NC State moves to #6-Yes, that's right, I am going with the Wolfpack! All the injuries last year gave this team resilience and built depth. Cunane is a bona fide Star and my pick for ACC POY. Wes can coach and it's a nice story.
#11 UCLA moves to #8- but gosh, it pains me to type that. Onyenwere is also a bona fide star and with Dean back at point plus an eligible Natalie Chou, they can offset some of Cori's coaching gaffs. The conference play with either boost their confidence or battle test them for the 1st 3 rounds of the NCAAT.
#12 Florida State moves up to #10. They has a good coach, the whole team back that went 24-9 so they have depth and a weak ND this year so why not?
#13 Kentucky-so this other MM has redeemed his reputation and has Rhyne Howard in a weak SEC? They can get bumped to #14 as SC at 12 and MSU at 13 are better.
#15 Texas-I want to bet the farm on this team finishing closer to 25 or even out of the top 25 than at 15. Move them to #20 for the moment (and I think I am being kind). Karen keeps regressing every year. I just don't see any discipline or offensive scheme despite the athletes. Tell me again why Charlie Collier went here?
#16 Notre Dame-man, am I happy to see that loathsome duo of MM/AO leave and see MM have to rebuild. That said, 16 is probably right as she gets more out of less than most especially when people count her out. But man, would I love to see them fail...sorry
@Dillon77 and
@Orangutan as two of my favorites on here, I do respect you though
#17 Michigan State-I am not against this but I see a few teams I like better. I want to make a slight move down here to #19. Suzy seems nice enough and the Big10 is deep with the solid 19-30 ranked teams and MSU is probably #3 in this league.
#18 Miami-has Beatrice and an improving roster so I like them to be top 4 in the ACC, #15 seems logical
#18 DePaul-I know he's a friend of Geno's and therefore a friend of most BYers but someone please tell me when he beat a top 20 team? It doesn't happen and if it does, not that often to be considered a top 20 team yourself. He moves to #22.
#20 Arizona State I will move up to #18, which with what I am about to write won't seem so nice to Charlie Turner Thorne.
Let me insert Arizona to #17 as I am a McDonald believer. They won the WNIT, have all top 6 scorers returning with some good freshman. Go Cats!
#21 Syracuse-Losing Mangakahia is sad news-I wish her the best and love her SU Roster hoop picture she has! How can you not root for her and her team? Oh yeah, their Coach, Quentin is why. Despite losing Tiana this team is talented but bump them to #23.
#22 Arkansas-despite Mike Neighbors leaving the cupboard so bare at UW that even the mice starved, his Razorbacks game on strong last year and I am a believer. Move them up a spot #21.
#23 Minnesota-Let me be direct-NO WAY. She was over-ranked last year with cupcake OOC and the team faltered to pathetic Big10 finish. I seen more of the same this year. Yes, Lindsay was tough as nails as a player but she is still new to coaching so despite adding ASU and ND to the OOC, the rest is pathetic. Drop them out of the top 25...
#24 Indiana-I like this team and the progression this coach has done with WNIT two years ago, 2nd round of NCAA last year (Beat Texas at Texas!), some talent and a basketball crazy state who needs a winner! Move them to#18
#25 Michigan-In my review of the Big10, seeing Michigan ranked is SO HUGE as they had been an abject failure at this sport before Kim Barnes Arico arrived. This ranking is still a tad aggressive at #25 so I have to drop them out of the top 25.
This leads me to add two teams
#24 South Dakota Coyotes-Undervalued every year it seams. Give me them over the usual 4th-6th place teams of any P5 (except PAC12).
#25 is tough as I like WV, ISU, Rice, Drake and even Tennessee but give me the MIGHTY ZAGS-Gonzaga!
1. Oregon 2. Baylor 3. UConn 4. MD 5. Stanford
6. NC State 7. Oregon State 8. UCLA 9. Louisville 10. Florida State
11. Texas A&M 12. SC 13. Miss St 14. Kentucky 15. Miami
16. ND 17. Arizona 18. Indiana 19. Mich State 20. Texas
21. Arkansas 22. DePaul 23. Syracuse 24. South Dakota 25. Gonzaga.
Even I am not so happy including so many SEC and Big10 teams on this list but for now, it's what I think.
Let me know the error of my ways.
