AP Top 25

[SimpleDawg]

Miss State is a great team but probably too high should stay around 9-10 right now. If they would have pulled off the SC upset, definitely would have them up there though.

Let’s be real. Only reason A&M is still in the top 25 was because of what carter did leading up to her injury. The current squad without her isn’t that great. Kentucky is solid but they are grossly over rated. I guess the voters are blown away by that Tennessee win

I'm not blown away by the Tennessee win, and I don't think the voters are either. I just think Vic evaded severe upset alert and that must have elevated him above the expectations of some voters who was thinking he would drop one to A&M or Tennessee. We have a young inconsistent team that gave Auburn easy baskets and got matched by Georgia and had to go zone in the 4th just to finally overwhelm Vanderbilt, so I'm sure lots of people was thinking "MSU could be easily upset," then changed tunes with the "Vic has his brand new team above expectations" and threw him that bone. And I guess the voters who saw the A&M game really liked the comeback, even though you can argue that's subjectivity. That's my take on it anyways agree with it or not.

Personally, I think Stanford and UCLA should be higher with former having the big win over Mississippi State, and the latter having the big win over Stanford. I put UConn, Louisville, and MSU as #7, 8, and 9 in that bracket though not necessarily in that order. We'll see after the SC game.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Miss State is a great team but probably too high should stay around 9-10 right now. If they would have pulled off the SC upset, definitely would have them up there though.

Let’s be real. Only reason A&M is still in the top 25 was because of what carter did leading up to her injury. The current squad without her isn’t that great. Kentucky is solid but they are grossly over rated. I guess the voters are blown away by that Tennessee win

I keep saying this and I've actually illustrated it, but there aren't any great resumes lurking 20-35.

That's why these teams keep getting rated where they are.

I rated three mid majors 20-25, but their resumes aren't actually good and they probably don't pass the eye test.

Their "big" wins are the types of games high major teams would be criticized for if they allowed to be close.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

No biggie, but does this actually make any sense?

depends on your philosophy.

Is the ranking resume based and does it reflect trends, or is it just who do you think is best.

I don't spend ten hours on it, but I lean more to resume and recency.

 

[militarydog]

I'm not blown away by the Tennessee win, and I don't think the voters are either. I just think Vic evaded severe upset alert and that must have elevated him above the expectations of some voters who was thinking he would drop one to A&M or Tennessee. We have a young inconsistent team that gave Auburn easy baskets and got matched by Georgia and had to go zone in the 4th just to finally overwhelm Vanderbilt, so I'm sure lots of people was thinking "MSU could be easily upset," then changed tunes with the "Vic has his brand new team above expectations" and threw him that bone. And I guess the voters who saw the A&M game really liked the comeback, even though you can argue that's subjectivity. That's my take on it anyways agree with it or not.

Personally, I think Stanford and UCLA should be higher with former having the big win over Mississippi State, and the latter having the big win over Stanford. I put UConn, Louisville, and MSU as #7, 8, and 9 in that bracket though not necessarily in that order. We'll see after the SC game.

I’ve been surprised by how well South Carolina has played. You have a consistent top three of them, Baylor, and Oregon. However I don’t think any of the three is a clear favorite to win the title. After that solid arguments can be made for and against for about ten teams that would make up the remainder of the top ten.

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'll just throw this in here so I don't clutter up the post game thread. I haven't watched South Carolina much. I know their fans are very high on Ty Harris. She was fantastic tonight. Got buckets when they needed them, a bunch of assists, just had her hand all over this game and kept the Gamecocks in control most of the way.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

I'll just throw this in here so I don't clutter up the post game thread. I haven't watched South Carolina much. I know their fans are very high on Ty Harris. She was fantastic tonight. Got buckets when they needed them, a bunch of assists, just had her hand all over this game and kept the Gamecocks in control most of the way.

To me, Harris would be a reasonable choice for SEC Player of the year.

She's had a great senior year that I'm guessing has changed some opinions about her.

dawn just put this game on her back. I'm not sure I agree with how conservative that game plan was, but Harris delivered.

 

[militarydog]

To me, Harris would be a reasonable choice for SEC Player of the year.

She's had a great senior year that I'm guessing has changed some opinions about her.

dawn just put this game on her back. I'm not sure I agree with how conservative that game plan was, but Harris delivered.

If you ever have a half hour or more to kill ask Coach Schaefer from Mississippi State about Ty Harris. He loves her.

 

[ReadR00ster]

To me, Harris would be a reasonable choice for SEC Player of the year.

She's had a great senior year that I'm guessing has changed some opinions about her.

dawn just put this game on her back. I'm not sure I agree with how conservative that game plan was, but Harris delivered.

We'll see. Carter being hurt for so long definitely opens the door. But Howard might be tough to beat out now that she is back. Davis and Tolefree are good candidates as well. I think its a Harris vs Howard battle now.

 

[DefenseBB]

To me, Harris would be a reasonable choice for SEC Player of the year.

She's had a great senior year that I'm guessing has changed some opinions about her.

dawn just put this game on her back. I'm not sure I agree with how conservative that game plan was, but Harris delivered.

Yes, and if anyone tries to mention Rhyne Howard, No, just No! She’s fine with the exception her team is average even with her. There are really only limited options of Davis, Howard and an injured Carter and given how well Ty has merged in 3 freshman to go with her Senior compatriot I am now a true believer! Ty has earned this!

 

[Gamecockfan77]

We'll see. Carter being hurt for so long definitely opens the door. But Howard might be tough to beat out now that she is back. Davis and Tolefree are good candidates as well. I think its a Harris vs Howard battle now.

I don't see any way Carter could win it at this point after missing so many games.

I suppose that makes Howard the favorite. The scorer usually gets the nod over the distributor.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Yes, and if anyone tries to mention Rhône Howard, No, just No! There are really only limited options of Davis, an injured Carter, and given how well Ty has merged in 3 freshman to go with her Senior compatriot I am now a true believer! Ty has earned this!

forgot about Davis.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Coaches reversed last week's vote to vault South Carolina over Baylor.

still a split ticket, but the UConn bounce lives.

 

[Plebe]

Crazy how much higher coaches are on some of the mid-majors than the AP voters are:

South Dakota: 16 vs. 21
Missouri St.: 17 vs. 24
Florida Gulf Coast: 22 vs. NR
Princeton: 25 vs. NR

Those are by far the most notable differences in the polls. Do we think this is opportunistic mid-major coaches trying to rep their own conferences, or inattentive AP voters, or some combo?

I don't think they're repping their own conferences per se. The coaches' poll uses a panel of 32 coaches, one from each D-I conference. Panel members are listed here: NCAA Women’s College Basketball Coaches Poll | USA Today Sports.

You can't get into the poll just by having a single voter vote for you. But I do think that the coaches from mid-major conferences are more aware of strong mid-major teams than the AP voters are. The AP panel is dominated by media types who tend to work heavily, if not exclusively, in the power conferences. In my experience, those who haven't watched the mid-major teams play are much less likely to vote for them.

FWIW, the Boneyard poll also gives the mid-majors more props than the AP poll:

Team	AP poll	Coaches' poll	Boneyard poll	Massey
South Dakota	21	16	16	18
Missouri State	24	17	21	21
Florida Gulf Coast	28	22	25	23
Princeton	26	25	19	12 (!!)

 

[Jmsdawg]

I don't see any way Carter could win it at this point after missing so many games.

I suppose that makes Howard the favorite. The scorer usually gets the nod over the distributor.

I realize she is a freshman but the most impressive player in the SEC is Boston! She gets my vote for SEC POY.

 

[garddog]

I realize she is a freshman but the most impressive player in the SEC is Boston! She gets my vote for SEC POY.

Ty Harris is the reason Boston is doing so well. She keeps feeding her. If Boston gets in a little better shape she may be a 3 time SEC POY, starting next year.

 

[Jmsdawg]

I have MSU #9. Below Stanford and UCLA definitely. Below NcState mostly because they have only 1 loss.

And..... if UConn loses to South Carolina I don't think there's much of a difference between their resume compared to the resumes of ANY other top 10 member. And the worst thing is they have no more opportunities to improve on that.

Not sure how good MSST really is but I do know they are a much better team than they were when they loss to Stanford. No doubt MSST is starting to play like Vic wants them to play, young, talented, and developing team chemistry. wish Vic could settle on a starting five, we really are like a box of chocolates you never know what you get but lately it has been oh so sweet!

 

[WestCoast]

If you ever have a half hour or more to kill ask Coach Schaefer from Mississippi State about Ty Harris. He loves her.

He coached her on the 2019 US Pan Am Games team that won the silver medal in Peru. Harris competes and has a number of Staley's characteristics in her game. She is playing the best I have seen her play of late.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

He coached her on the 2019 US Pan Am Games team that won the silver medal in Peru. Harris competes and has a number of Staley's characteristics in her game. She is playing the best I have seen her play of late.

I can remember Dawn missing on so many top rated players and thinking if she could just land Harris that it might be the missing piece.

The last part of her game to come was looking for her own shot and making jumpers and she's got that going now.

I saw Vic's comments on Harris before and after the game and appreciated them. I like Schaefer. He definitely has confidence in himself and his team, as he should, but he gives credit when it is due and I'm not sure it is ever done grudgingly.

 

[militarydog]

I can remember Dawn missing on so many top rated players and thinking if she could just land Harris that it might be the missing piece.

The last part of her game to come was looking for her own shot and making jumpers and she's got that going now.

I saw Vic's comments on Harris before and after the game and appreciated them. I like Schaefer. He definitely has confidence in himself and his team, as he should, but he gives credit when it is due and I'm not sure it is ever done grudgingly.

Coach Schaefer praised S Cunningham from Missouri. I think he appreciates players that he perceives as “all in”.

 

[Shades]

2024-25 Women's College Basketball Rankings - ESPN

Find the 2024-25 NCAAW rankings on ESPN, including the Coaches and AP poll for the top 25 NCAAW teams.

www.espn.com

STAN +4 to #4
LOU +4 to #5
MD +3 to #7
MSST -3 to #9
NCSU -6 to #10
KEN +4 to #14
ORST -4 to #15
FSU -3 to #17
IND -4 to #24
PRIN back on at #25

TEN drops off Top 25

Duke didn’t get any points, so I guess I was way off on that.

 

[Centerstream]

And Oregon received 1 First Place vote this week.

 

[LETTERL]

It took 9 long weeks for NC State to move from 9 to 4...and only one week to fall all the way to 10th. Such is life.

 

[bballnut90]

Hmm, surprised Stanford rose so much. Guess your punishment theory didn't stick. Also, how did Louisville suddenly bounce back into the top 5 a week after two bad losses? Is everybody else even worse?

Huge win at NC State and it looks like those 2 losses likely were a product of Balogun being out as much as anything else.

 

[bballnut90]

It took 9 long weeks for NC State to move from 9 to 4...and only one week to fall all the way to 10th. Such is life.

How it goes when you drop back to back games at home, including 1 vs. an unranked foe. Doesn't help either that the ACC is quite weak this year so NC State has fewer opportunities to play good opponents and win quality games.

 

[LETTERL]

How it goes when you drop back to back games at home, including 1 vs. an unranked foe. Doesn't help either that the ACC is quite weak this year so NC State has fewer opportunities to play good opponents and win quality games.

It also doesn't help that our point guard is injured.