Charlie Creme's Way Too Early "Pre-preseason" Top 25?

[CocoHusky]

My guess is he is waiting for Ionescu decision. That decision will affect the rankings quite a bit.

I don't see Sabrina's decision making a difference in the top 20 '16-'17 rankings given the schools she is considering. Oregon & Cal both finished outside of top 25. Oregon State loses too much in Hamblin & Weise to remain a top 10 team.

 

[Nuyoika]

I don't see Sabrina's decision making a difference in the top 20 '16-'17 rankings given the schools she is considering. Oregon & Cal both finished outside of top 25. Oregon State loses too much in Hamblin & Weise to remain a top 10 team.

Yeah, I'm not sure if what she does matters all that much either. I think they lose Hunter as well right? She was starter I think.

 

[Orangutan]

Here it is: Irish on top of way-too-early preseason top 25

 

[Wbbfan1]

Agree with the Irish as #1 Ranked team entering the season. Not sure about Brianna Turner as Best Player. A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell and others may lay claim next year.

 

[Huskie78]

Agree with the Irish as #1 Ranked team entering the season. Not sure about Brianna Turner as Best Player. A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell and others may lay claim next year.

And I hear someone named Katie Lou Samuelson is pretty good.

 

[Charliebball]

Here it is: Irish on top of way-too-early preseason top 25

Seems to be about right.................ND deserves the number spot at least to start....................if they get some outside shooting, I think both Baylor and South Carolina will be very tough to beat but as a group the first eight teams are all very talented......................

 

[Charliebball]

And I hear someone named Katie Lou Samuelson is pretty good.

Let's hope that she enjoys a full recovery from her foot injury.............she is going to see plenty of defenses thrown at her which may limit her scoring average a bit.................my choice for POY candidate is Kia Nurse, don't be surprised if she takes over as the dominant scorer on the team................

 

[nd2tty]

Surprised Louisville and South Carolina are that high: would put them more 7-10 range. Baylor higher (#2-3). Otherwise, pretty fair.

 

[jcoton56]

Not much love for the rest of the final four. Typical in the box thinking

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Seems reasonable, except for the blinders for Tennessee. #11? I don't think so.

The top dozen teams seem poised to be amazing! Could be one of the most competitive WCBB seasons ever. But let's be honest: Connecticut doesn't seem to deserve a #4 pre-season ranking. Seventh? That would be more honest. If Coach Geno can work his magic on this group, and get them to the final four, then wonderful. But if they do get that far- or further- then it will all be due to the coaching wonders of Coach A!

 

[Fairfield Fan]

And I hear someone named Katie Lou Samuelson is pretty good.

KLS will have to prove herself. And without the other three potent weapons, the other teams will definitely be keying on her much, much more than this past season. Could be very tough for her.

 

[Vowelguy]

Not much love for the rest of the final four. Typical in the box thinking

Not much love? All are ranked in his top 25 even with key players graduating.

 

[Kaizen]

Based on NCAA women tournament performances, I am not convinced that ND is #1.
I think it is wide opened now. ND, Maryland, Baylor, Texas, UConn and S Carolina all could be #1

I am also not convinced that Marina Mabrey and Arike Ogunbowale are the country's two best players at those positions.

 

[HardHatGuy#2]

I think that Baylor should be higher. USC at #3 is too high for me; they will depend a LOT on a guard whose middle name for her career thus far has been "inconsistente" (but she has LOT of potential) and a couple of transfers. They could be #1, could be #10. ND is also a stretch; they flamed out early in the tournament, and Turner just had surgery.

My Top 10:

1. Baylor - they have the most knowns returning, and a very good coach.
2. Lousiville - second most knowns returning, and a better coach. Maybe if he got a gold lamé jacket...
3. UConn - they'll be walking around in Mommy's shoes to start the season, but I expect them to fit nicely come March.
4. Notre Dame - I can't get the taste of their core's performance in this year's tournament out of my mouth.
5. South Carolina - too many wild cards. If Cuevas learns to slow down (like Moriah learned her freshman year), they could be REAL trouble.
6. Ohio State - I see 5-6 regular season losses, and a trip to the Great Eight at a minimum.
7. Texas - strong inside and outside.
8. Stanford - Coach VanDerveer is having an epiphany, learning how to coach a different style of play. They have a lot of talent coming in to back up a good starting 5.
9. Oklahoma - (Experienced backcourt + size in the middle) * great coach = TROUBLE.
10. Maryland - Too much talent not to be in the Top 10, too much change to put them any higher.

I really wanted to put DePaul at 10, but that would be too much of a stretch.

 

[Nuyoika]

Louisville seems too high. I think ND should win at least one of the next two Natty's so that is right on point. Everything after 15 is pretty much irrelevant. I am surprised UConn is so high. I would love to see Texas beat Baylor next year. Also, there is so much unrest in the PAC 12... my goodness can it be November already?

 

[BoomBoom]

I am also not convinced that Marina Mabrey and Arike Ogunbowale are the country's two best players at those positions.

Creme's reference to "arguably the country's two best players at those positions" applied to Turner and Allen. His quote: "In forward Brianna Turner and point guard Lindsay Allen, the Irish have arguably the country's two best players at those positions."

Many would say they are still not convinced that Turner and Allen are the country's two best players at those positions, but Creme only says they are arguably so. And certainly Turner and Allen will be (deservedly) in any "best of" argument for their respective positions.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Surprised Louisville and South Carolina are that high: would put them more 7-10 range. Baylor higher (#2-3). Otherwise, pretty fair.

I agree about Louisville and SC being too high. I'd move them down and Baylor, Texas, Maryland, and Ohio State up.

 

[Nuyoika]

If Ohio State learns to play defense... they will be very good.

 

[Kaizen]

Creme's reference to "arguably the country's two best players at those positions" applied to Turner and Allen. His quote: "In forward Brianna Turner and point guard Lindsay Allen, the Irish have arguably the country's two best players at those positions."

Many would say they are still not convinced that Turner and Allen are the country's two best players at those positions, but Creme only says they are arguably so. And certainly Turner and Allen will be (deservedly) in any "best of" argument for their respective positions.

My mistake, I copied and pasted the wrong two persons. Thanks.

 

[bags27]

I like where we're sitting here: respect, but a bit of a come down: will give our "guys" (as Geno calls them) some edge.

 

[nd2tty]

I like where we're sitting here: respect, but a bit of a come down: will give our "guys" (as Geno calls them) some edge.

Agreed. And I'm not referring to the whole "UConn dominance bad for the game" thing, but next season will be fun just because things will happen that won't necessarily be expected (not that the last season wasn't incredibly hard (to make look easy-ish), which it was). But UConn - coaches, players, fans - should be excited for next season. Excited to see what we are made of (with a load of quality players, even quasi-stars, if not a Stewart/Jefferson/Tuck). Excited to enjoy the ride.

 

[Fightin Choke]

I think that Baylor should be higher. USC at #3 is too high for me; they will depend a LOT on a guard whose middle name for her career thus far has been "inconsistente" (but she has LOT of potential) and a couple of transfers. They could be #1, could be #10. ND is also a stretch; they flamed out early in the tournament, and Turner just had surgery.

My Top 10:

1. Baylor - they have the most knowns returning, and a very good coach.
2. Lousiville - second most knowns returning, and a better coach. Maybe if he got a gold lamé jacket...
3. UConn - they'll be walking around in Mommy's shoes to start the season, but I expect them to fit nicely come March.
4. Notre Dame - I can't get the taste of their core's performance in this year's tournament out of my mouth.
5. South Carolina - too many wild cards. If Cuevas learns to slow down (like Moriah learned her freshman year), they could be REAL trouble.
6. Ohio State - I see 5-6 regular season losses, and a trip to the Great Eight at a minimum.
7. Texas - strong inside and outside.
8. Stanford - Coach VanDerveer is having an epiphany, learning how to coach a different style of play. They have a lot of talent coming in to back up a good starting 5.
9. Oklahoma - (Experienced backcourt + size in the middle) * great coach = TROUBLE.
10. Maryland - Too much talent not to be in the Top 10, too much change to put them any higher.

I really wanted to put DePaul at 10, but that would be too much of a stretch.

I do not think that putting DePaul at the 10th spot is any more of a stretch than putting Louisville in the 2nd spot.

I agree that Notre Dame's exit from this year's tournament was very disappointing, but you are not penalizing Louisville, who didn't even reach the Sweet 16. What made you think that they deserve a higher ranking than Notre Dame? The Irish defeated them in the Yum center last year. The Cardinal later lost to Syracuse in the ACC tournament, and subsequently the Orange lost to Notre Dame in an ACC final. Louisville lost to a 6-seed in the second round of the NCAA's while Notre Dame lost to a 4-seed in the 3rd round. Notre Dame lost 2 games last season while Louisville lost 7. Notre Dame's recent NCAA tournament history is far superior, making the FF in 5 out of the last 6 years while Louisville has made it once in that time. Both teams are young and should improve simply because they are getting more experienced, but Muffet has a better track record. Michaela Mabrey started, but didn't play starter's minutes. Cable is the only really good player who graduated, and she was considered a borderline starter before the season began (this was her first season as a starter).

I don't feel that ranking Notre Dame 4th is necessarily a bad ranking, but it's your reasoning that is troubling me. If you are ranking the Irish low because they laid an egg in the tournament, then it seems you need to be consistent and rank Louisville lower still.

I can't see Oklahoma as top 10, and certainly not above Maryland. Maryland's best players return.

And no love for UCLA? They are young and rising.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Notre Dame should be preseason #1. Great talent. Great coach. You really can't penalize them for losing in the Elite 8. I think Louisville is a little high but they did have a great end to their season and Asia Durr could be really special this season. South Carolina will be an interesting team. I think Aja Wilson wins the POY for WCBB in 2017. If they get good play from Gray and Davis they'll be tough to beat. Of course Cuecas is the major key for them but not as much since they got Harris. As far as my Maryland Terrapins, I would put them over Texas (what have they done to this point. OSU should be ahead of them as well) but #6 should be about right for them. Just like South Carolina, PG play will be important with them since they are loaded everywhere else.

 

[jennyo70]

I agree, i think we are too high. We do have all our pieces coming back (less Taja Cole who came off the bench), and we have a big talented freshman class coming in. It will take time for those freshman to integrate. The good thing being they are not needed to integrate as quickly this year, as we needed them this past season. Asia Durr was not completely healthy all of this past season. I am hopeful and expect her to have the kind of season next year that Hines-Allen had her sophomore campaign. That being said, I would put us just outside the T5.

I like ND at 1. I think Uconn has to stay within the T5. SC, Ohio St both add important transfers that can really impact their teams. Though I am in agreement with those that question SC due to the PG situation in Cuevas. Not a big fan of her game. I also like Texas in the T 5. The next 5, in no particular order I would put Louisville, UCLA, Maryland, Baylor and TN.

 

[Jim R]

Notre Dame should be preseason #1. Great talent. Great coach. You really can't penalize them for losing in the Elite 8. I think Louisville is a little high but they did have a great end to their season and Asia Durr could be really special this season. South Carolina will be an interesting team. I think Aja Wilson wins the POY for WCBB in 2017. If they get good play from Gray and Davis they'll be tough to beat. Of course Cuecas is the major key for them but not as much since they got Harris. As far as my Maryland Terrapins, I would put them over Texas (what have they done to this point. OSU should be ahead of them as well) but #6 should be about right for them. Just like South Carolina, PG play will be important with them since they are loaded everywhere else.

Unlike many others here, I've seen little proof of Wilson's top shelf play. Yes, she is 6'5", and does get rebounds & blocks some shots. But, player of the year? It sounds like the same hype the ESPN experts have been giving her since she walked onto the court at USC. I'd like to see more than overpowering smaller players. She fits in nicely to Dawn's elementary offensive game plan of dumping the ball into the bigs. But, let's see more than drive to the right or left for a layup, and sometimes making a 12 ft jumper. While her "athleticism", is a contrast to many other bigs, I can think of half a dozen others who may be more deserving (including Turner, if she's healthy), come the end of next year. Notre Dame #1? Don't think so. While Muffett does a great job, and Turner is a game changer, against talented & bigger teams, they'll find the going tough. Are they Top 5? Yes.
Both the Terps and the Cardinals are getting the talent they need to take the next step. We'll see what impact their freshman make. I'll take Baylor or Louisville instead of ND or USC for my top two, to begin the season. Geno & crew have the season to get the new line-up fine tuned for March. To win it all, I'll take UCONN.