Creme's Preseason Top 25 2013-2014

[Phil]

We might not have dominated Stanford like we have Duke but I'd say beating beating them by 30+ on their home court would indicate having their number considering the current personnel on both teams.

I know that was quite a result, but sometimes things cascade. We've had other closer games and losses to the Cardinal more recently, so I see that result as an anomaly. I don't think we've lost to Duke since 2006, and that is ancient history, no players in common, not even the coach.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Tara is working on a game plan for Stewie right now. But we have Stef, Bria, Kaleena, Morgan, Moriah, et al., as well.

 

[chrissaran]

If Maryland is healthy, they should be ranked second. Alyssa Thomas is a better player than anyone on either Duke or Tennessee. With the returning players, including those from injury, Maryland will be tough. Notre Dame is not falling to ten. Notre Dame will be five. Sylvia Hatchell hasn't proven lately that she can improve her players; otherwise, they'd be in the Final Four. Can't say I agree with the top ten. For the Stanford fan who wants to play Stanford and show us how good your team is, you're at our place next year. With Stef, Bria, KML, Bre and MoJeff, with Morgan, Brianna, Kiah and Saniya good luck with that.

 

[Vowelguy]

How funny, I was just reading this, and couldn't believe it hadn't been posted, was just about to but you beat me to it.

First thoughts.

UNC will be there or higher a year later, but I wonder if the frosh will be that much of an imapct this fast.

Is KY that good without A'dia?

I think Dayton might be a few places higher

NE top ten? Let's see, but that sounds a stretch.

I'd put Louisville a little higher. Reid is a loss, but they get a lot back.

NE returns everyone except one, most notably Hooper from a sweet 16 team. Who in Big10 will be better?

 

[triaddukefan]

If Maryland is healthy, they should be ranked second. Alyssa Thomas is a better player than anyone on either Duke or Tennessee. With the returning players, including those from injury, Maryland will be tough. Notre Dame is not falling to ten. Notre Dame will be five. Sylvia Hatchell hasn't proven lately that she can improve her players; otherwise, they'd be in the Final Four. Can't say I agree with the top ten. For the Stanford fan who wants to play Stanford and show us how good your team is, you're at our place next year. With Stef, Bria, KML, Bre and MoJeff, with Morgan, Brianna, Kiah and Saniya good luck with that.

No way should Maryland be ahead of Duke.. none. They are gonna rely on a starting backcourt that are both coming off of ACLs ?? Plus the PG Mosely... isnt all that experienced anyway. I'll take Gray and Jones over any guards that Maryland will throw out. Thomas is a good player.... but Gray pretty much handled her on defense in the matchup in Durham. Thomas really didnt do much in the rematch in College Park. Maryland wont beat Duke this next year. Ok.. even if you have Thomas as better than any player for Duke.... Gray, Jones, Peters, EW, and Liston are all better than the next best MD player.

Whew.. got me all riled up... lemme go eat some chicken wings and bruschetta and calm down a bit

 

[cardfan]

Is Kokenis back? Don't recall if her health spelled the end of her career. Stanford is solid and brings in a better class than UCONN. But Stewie showed in the NCAA's that she's practically from another planet when it comes to hoops. I'd seriously not be surprised to see her average 22+ PPG and win NPOY over Sims, Ogwumike, and Thomas. But UCONN effectively adds Chong and Banks coming back from an injury. I think this Stanford team is just a bad matchup vs. UCONN. If Stef can limit Chiney in the game, I'm betting UCONN pretty much shuts everyone else down and wins something like 74-48. Obviously way early to make predictions, but I think next year's Duke team gives UCONN a much closer game...

Potentially.

If a soph wins the award over Chiney, a Sr. .... You do know that Chiney averages 22 ppg and will obliterate the P12 rebounding record? Steph will not limit Chiney again, even though Chiney had 18pts.

 

[cardfan]

If Maryland is healthy, they should be ranked second. Alyssa Thomas is a better player than anyone on either Duke or Tennessee. With the returning players, including those from injury, Maryland will be tough. Notre Dame is not falling to ten. Notre Dame will be five. Sylvia Hatchell hasn't proven lately that she can improve her players; otherwise, they'd be in the Final Four. Can't say I agree with the top ten. For the Stanford fan who wants to play Stanford and show us how good your team is, you're at our place next year. With Stef, Bria, KML, Bre and MoJeff, with Morgan, Brianna, Kiah and Saniya good luck with that.

that's why we play the game.

 

[cardfan]

I know that was quite a result, but sometimes things cascade. We've had other closer games and losses to the Cardinal more recently, so I see that result as an anomaly. I don't think we've lost to Duke since 2006, and that is ancient history, no players in common, not even the coach.

agree. Our game showed how much we missed Nneka, who SHOULD have been POY.

 

[cardfan]

Tara is working on a game plan for Stewie right now. But we have Stef, Bria, Kaleena, Morgan, Moriah, et al., as well.

well, her game plan vs. Maya, et al, worked well at Maples two years ago.

 

[CBus13]

I can't see anyone other than Chiney or Odysessy winning NPOY next year. Mainly because their team goes as far as they carry them, they are more vital to their team and have proven they can play a whole season at the highest level.

Alyssa Thomas may be a phenomenal athlete and player but she had a really difficult season even before half her team got injured. I've read hear before about Thomas' inability to actually make an huge impact in a big-time game against the UCONN's and Baylor's of seasons past.

I definitely think Breanna Stewart has the ability to be a NPOY and I think she was phenomenal in the post-season but it really seemed like Geno or someone or something had to light the fire for Breanna to play so out-worldly for those games. I feel like for Maya, losing in the Final Four her freshmen year pushed her to elevate her game even more and play like the great player she is. I feel like it may be harder for Breanna to play consistently well throughout her sophomore year because she's won it all already and Geno is going to be even tougher on her to perform consistently because of what she has proven.

I'd be very happy for Breanna to prove me wrong and have an NPOY season but as I see it now Chiney had a phenomenal season and will only get better after losing in the Sweet Sixteen this past year.

 

[EricSD]

Potentially.

If a soph wins the award over Chiney, a Sr. .... You do know that Chiney averages 22 ppg and will obliterate the P12 rebounding record? Steph will not limit Chiney again, even though Chiney had 18pts.

I don't disagree that it probably won't happen, but you never know. My point is that Stewie is just that talented. I would bet on Chiney, tho, if I were a betting man. I hope Stanford has a good year and demolishes Tennessee in the process...

 

[cardfan]

I don't disagree that it probably won't happen, but you never know. My point is that Stewie is just that talented. I would bet on Chiney, tho, if I were a betting man. I hope Stanford has a good year and demolishes Tennessee in the process...

thanks. me too

 

[jdubct]

I don't disagree that it probably won't happen, but you never know. My point is that Stewie is just that talented. I would bet on Chiney, tho, if I were a betting man. I hope Stanford has a good year and demolishes Tennessee in the process...

With two players having outstanding seasons, often the deciding factor in the player of the year is winning the national championship. In 2009. for example, Maya Moore won over Angel McCoughtry. If Louisville had won the championship, McCoughtry might have won.

 

[Icebear]

Potentially.

If a soph wins the award over Chiney, a Sr. .... You do know that Chiney averages 22 ppg and will obliterate the P12 rebounding record? Steph will not limit Chiney again, even though Chiney had 18pts.

It isn't a career award. Sophomores have won over seniors before. If Breanna plays consistently like she did throughout the tournament it will not be close. If so, Chiney like some other great players will simply have had the misfortune of playing during the careers of other greats. Chiney's best hope is that the UCONN's players split up the votes among them. I mean Breanna, KML, Stef, Bria, wow.

 

[Vowelguy]

With two players having outstanding seasons, often the deciding factor in the player of the year is winning the national championship. In 2009. for example, Maya Moore won over Angel McCoughtry. If Louisville had won the championship, McCoughtry might have won.

The vote is taken well before the title game.

 

[cardfan]

It isn't a career award. Sophomores have won over seniors before. If Breanna plays consistently like she did throughout the tournament it will not be close. If so, Chiney like some other great players will simply have had the misfortune of playing during the careers of other greats. Chiney's best hope is that the UCONN's players split up the votes among them. I mean Breanna, KML, Stef, Bria, wow.

I understand that. but the media has a lot to with it, too. Chiney deserves it, as did Nneka.

 

[Tonyc]

If Chiney is not national POY next year, I will quit watching bball.

Cardfan Breanna will change the way bigs play in WCBB. She is a phenom and Chiney is a great player. Breanna can do things that Chiney and everybody else dosnt do. We saw it coming early this past season, then she went into the thinking to much slump, then when the pressure was on in the NCAAs she almost carried UConn. Remember she is a freshman. Chiney is a great player around the basket. Breanna at 6'4 plays like a guard and can drive to the basket with either hand, either going left or right with neither being her favorite. I really don't think it will be debatable. Breanna will be the best player in WCBB for the next 3 seasons and it wont be close. I expect so long as she and UConn are healthy another multi year win streak has begun.

 

[CBus13]

I'm not sure if it's because I really believe they will be good or if I really just want Karen Aston to have success on the field but I feel that Texas will be much improved this coming year and could definitely crack the top 15 with the talent they have there.

 

[wallman]

It's interesting the talk that Chiney should have been POY when in 2 of their biggest games other than Georgia, ie Uconn and UCLA pac12 final Chiney went AWOL. In fact both games I would argue that she actually hurt her team by forcing shots and being selfish. In watching a lot of pac 12 games last year it was clear from lots of fans including some of my friends who were Stanford fans that TVD was leaving Chiney in major minutes in blow out games, padding stats. Chiney clearly has problems playing against posts like Dolson and Brewer ie legit sized posts. The problem with her game is that she has not developed counter moves. Unlike Nneka who really had little problem against those types of players.

 

[Icebear]

I understand that. but the media has a lot to with it, too. Chiney deserves it, as did Nneka.

No, she may have deserved it in the past. She will have to earn it over the other competitors just like KML and Breanna. There are no debts from the past that get you the award, just missing out because you were overlooked.

 

[wallman]

How about KML, she has just as much right to be in this conversation, her contribution has been amazing, along with her consistency.

 

[cardfan]

Cardfan Breanna will change the way bigs play in WCBB. She is a phenom and Chiney is a great player. Breanna can do things that Chiney and everybody else dosnt do. We saw it coming early this past season, then she went into the thinking to much slump, then when the pressure was on in the NCAAs she almost carried UConn. Remember she is a freshman. Chiney is a great player around the basket. Breanna at 6'4 plays like a guard and can drive to the basket with either hand, either going left or right with neither being her favorite. I really don't think it will be debatable. Breanna will be the best player in WCBB for the next 3 seasons and it wont be close. I expect so long as she and UConn are healthy another multi year win streak has begun.

it is debatable because they play different positions. Stewie can't board or leap like Chiney.

 

[cardfan]

It's interesting the talk that Chiney should have been POY when in 2 of their biggest games other than Georgia, ie Uconn and UCLA pac12 final Chiney went AWOL. In fact both games I would argue that she actually hurt her team by forcing shots and being selfish. In watching a lot of pac 12 games last year it was clear from lots of fans including some of my friends who were Stanford fans that TVD was leaving Chiney in major minutes in blow out games, padding stats. Chiney clearly has problems playing against posts like Dolson and Brewer ie legit sized posts. The problem with her game is that she has not developed counter moves. Unlike Nneka who really had little problem against those types of players.

Tara doesn't leave players in to pad stats, we needed Chiney, big time, especially to board since we were so thin at the post. And she outplayed Griner by scoring 18 and took her off the dribble and perimeter shots at the elbow - displaying many counter moves (and many more than she had her soph yr). She had 18pt vs. UConn. She had 21 pts and 19 boards at TN. She also had 26 pts in victory at Cal. Nneka was more a true center, Chiney is a true 4.

 

[Icebear]

I think you underestimate how well Stewie can jump. Most often she doesn't need to do so with her 7'1" reach. Her put back at the rim in the NC game just scratched the surface.

 

[Zorro]

Chiney will probably get a lot more minutes that Stewie, and UConn has three other solid candidates for POY to siphon off her votes. Chiney will win. But she will not get a ring. Probably if Stewie played for Stanford and Chiney for UConn, Stewie would get POY and Chiney would get a ring. Can't have everything.
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