College Sports Madness Women's Basketball Top 44 Preview

[UConnCat]

In at #5: Stanford Cardinal.

Sports Madness projects a starting lineup of: Chiney (So), Nneka (Sr), LaRoque (Sr), Greenfield (Fr) and Orange (Fr). This was the starting lineup in Stanford's 2nd exhibition game.

In Stanford's 1st exhibition game, the starting lineup was Chiney, Nneka, Kokenis, LaRoque and James.

Maybe one of the Stanford fans can stop by and tell us what the starting lineup might look like on Friday night when Stanford opens up against Texas. With so much young talent on Stanford's roster this might be one of those seasons in which the starting lineup changes later in the season.

 

[MilfordHusky]

In at #5: Stanford Cardinal.

Sports Madness projects a starting lineup of: Chiney (So), Nneka (Sr), LaRoque (Sr), Greenfield (Fr) and Orange (Fr). This was the starting lineup in Stanford's 2nd exhibition game.

In Stanford's 1st exhibition game, the starting lineup was Chiney, Nneka, Kokenis, LaRoque and James.

Maybe one of the Stanford fans can stop by and tell us what the starting lineup might look like on Friday night when Stanford opens up against Texas. With so much young talent on Stanford's roster this might be one of those seasons in which the starting lineup changes later in the season.

I'm surprised at the number of freshman. I would have expected Kokenis and James. Orange sounds like a player, though.

This is an interesting and smaller lineup, especially for the 1st game. No Tinkle or Booth for either.

 

[CompSci87]

In at #5: Stanford Cardinal.

Sports Madness projects a starting lineup of: Chiney (So), Nneka (Sr), LaRoque (Sr), Greenfield (Fr) and Orange (Fr). This was the starting lineup in Stanford's 2nd exhibition game.

In Stanford's 1st exhibition game, the starting lineup was Chiney, Nneka, Kokenis, LaRoque and James.

Maybe one of the Stanford fans can stop by and tell us what the starting lineup might look like on Friday night when Stanford opens up against Texas. With so much young talent on Stanford's roster this might be one of those seasons in which the starting lineup changes later in the season.

We all find it hard to guess who will start beyond the O sisters. Tara said in her Dishin' and Swishin' interview that the starting lineup could include as many as two freshmen. Even if that doesn't happen in the first game, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a freshman or two starting later in the season.

As you noted, Sports Madness took the 2nd exhibition game's starting lineup as the projected starters for the season. However, Ruef was injured for both exhibitions (recovering from plantar fasciitis) and Kokenis started the first one but was injured for the second (minor wrist and ankle injuries, could have played). Either or both might start Friday IMO.

Boothe is backing up Nneka at the 5. She looks improved this year after getting her shoulder fixed, and gives us a different look at 6'5", but is unlikely to win a starting spot.

Tinkle has moved to the 4 where she looks at home and is playing well, so we won't see her start at the 3, but she'll get a lot of time off the bench.

That leaves Ruef or Greenfield the best candidates to start at the 3, unless Tara goes with 3 guards as in exhibition game #1.

The guard spots are pretty much up for grabs. Most of the guards other than James can play either the 1 or 2, so it's hard to narrow down that way. Orrange or Kokenis are the most likely to start at the 1. LaRocque may be the most likely 2, but Kokenis and Orrange could start together, or James could start at the 2.

 

[UConnCat]

We all find it hard to guess who will start beyond the O sisters. Tara said in her Dishin' and Swishin' interview that the starting lineup could include as many as two freshmen. Even if that doesn't happen in the first game, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a freshman or two starting later in the season.

As you noted, Sports Madness took the 2nd exhibition game's starting lineup as the projected starters for the season. However, Ruef was injured for both exhibitions (recovering from plantar fasciitis) and Kokenis started the first one but was injured for the second (minor wrist and ankle injuries, could have played). Either or both might start Friday IMO.

Boothe is backing up Nneka at the 5. She looks improved this year after getting her shoulder fixed, and gives us a different look at 6'5", but is unlikely to win a starting spot.

Tinkle has moved to the 4 where she looks at home and is playing well, so we won't see her start at the 3, but she'll get a lot of time off the bench.

That leaves Ruef or Greenfield the best candidates to start at the 3, unless Tara goes with 3 guards as in exhibition game #1.

The guard spots are pretty much up for grabs. Most of the guards other than James can play either the 1 or 2, so it's hard to narrow down that way. Orrange or Kokenis are the most likely to start at the 1. LaRocque may be the most likely 2, but Kokenis and Orrange could start together, or James could start at the 2.

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. What we do know is that Tara will have a lot of lineup options this year.

 

[UConnCat]

In at #4: our own UConn Huskies

Sports Madness projects a starting lineup that includes the usual suspects (Dolson, Hartley, Faris, Hayes) and KML instead of Doty. The analysis concludes with this: "Look for the Huskies to grind their way to another 30 plus win season and be peaking come tourney time. If you are going to pin a loss on Connecticut you better get them early in the season."

 

[MilfordHusky]

In at #4: our own UConn Huskies

Sports Madness projects a starting lineup that includes the usual suspects (Dolson, Hartley, Faris, Hayes) and KML instead of Doty. The analysis concludes with this: "Look for the Huskies to grind their way to another 30 plus win season and be peaking come tourney time. If you are going to pin a loss on Connecticut you better get them early in the season."

Yeah. They are looking to extend their record (shared with LSU) for consecutive Final Fours to 9. But they need to get to 5 first. Stanford could get to 5 this year as well.

 

[UConnCat]

In at #3: Tennessee

Massengale is not in Sports Madness' starting lineup but I expect she'll be in Summitt's for the first game.

Baylor and ND remain and will likely be #1 and #2, respectively.

 

[MilfordHusky]

In at #3: Tennessee

Massengale is not in Sports Madness' starting lineup but I expect she'll be in Summitt's for the first game.

Baylor and ND remain and will likely be #1 and #2, respectively.

I think they should keep Ariel on the bench so she can observe and learn.

She could be their best player soon.

 

[UConnCat]

Just to wrap this up -- Notre Dame comes in at #2 and Baylor at #1.

Now let the games begin...