Early Season observations

[DefenseBB]

Well, these first 2+ weeks have been interesting. As we await the week 3 AP poll, I have some observations:

#1. Duke was vastly overrated at #7 in the preseason poll. As NC State beat them that first week, NC State was then vastly overrated which then gave a big bump to SoCal beating them forcing another overrated bump in Week 2 for SoCal. This is the trickle effect. Honestly having watched 3 games by Duke, 2 games by NC State and 1 game by SoCal, none of these teams warrant a top 15 ranking in my view.
#2. It's tough to tell how good some teams are with their absolute dreadful early season games (ahem looking directly at you Texas, LSU and Maryland). Kudo's to UCLA and Oklahoma for their early scheduling of hard games. Some kudos need to be given to Wes Moore as well despite NC State losing 2 of them.
#3. The beat down that Michigan handed ND was interesting though not entirely unexpected by me. ND just isn't that good with all the departures and the heavy dependance on Hidalgo. My guess is 5th in the ACC behind NC State, Carolina, Duke and Louisville but let's see if Niele can coach this group up.
#4. TCU looked good but as I said beating NC State may not be as great an achievement at first glance. That said, this team does have potential for another Elite 8 run.
#5. Michigan is vastly under-rated and to me, look like the 2nd best team in the Big 10 by far.
#6. Having watched the SC matchup, I thought the "real" SC looked better than I was giving them credit for. That said, I still think they are 4th behind UConn, UCLA and Texas (Texas has UCLA on Nov 26 so we will get a good assessment) but ahead of LSU. If either AP voter keeps putting SC at #1 I will absolutely find a way to text or troll them through Social Media them. UConn is the unanimous #1 but I would understand an odd vote for UCLA.
#7. LSU plays an absolute HORRIBLE OOC schedule which only got worse with Duke losing to WVU.
#8. Has a petition started yet to get Kara Lawson removed as the Olympic Coach? I would sign it in a heart beat as her mismanagement against WVU was criminal. For those who might not have seen this debacle. Right before half, with Duke winning 23-20, Jordan Wood blocked a shot by Jordan Harrison, then taunted Harrison, who shoved Wood, Ashlon Jackson came in and shoved Harrison, further shoving ensued and then the whole WVU bench came onto the court. In the backgroung, the Duke assistants prevented any Duke bench players from coming onto the court. The result of this mess was the whole WVU bench and Jordan Harrison were ejected along with Jordan Wood of Duke. That left WVU with only 5 players for the second half including only 1 Starter. WVU had one front court player available who picked up her 4th foul with 6:14 left in the game. So the burning questions are #1. Why didn't Kara start a full court press against WVU the second half to tire them out and against substitute players? Once Riviere got her 4th foul, why didn't she isolate any plays for the player that Riviere was guarding to get the 5th foul and force WVU to play with 4 players? Duke lost by 8 points. I am still just dumbfounded by this.

I think the top 4 teams are far better then the rest-UConn, UCLA, Texas and SCar. I see a complete repeat of these final four teams in Phoenix.

 

[BruinGold]

#5. Michigan is vastly under-rated

Don't be sleeping on Michigan.

 

[DefenseBB]

Don't be sleeping on Michigan.

I agree, I was impressed with their game vs. ND and liked them even before that game. Seeing that center who transferred from Bucknell was impressive.

 

[nwhoopfan]

#1. Duke was vastly overrated at #7 in the preseason poll. As NC State beat them that first week, NC State was then vastly overrated which then gave a big bump to SoCal beating them forcing another overrated bump in Week 2 for SoCal. This is the trickle effect. Honestly having watched 3 games by Duke, 2 games by NC State and 1 game by SoCal, none of these teams warrant a top 15 ranking in my view.

Your house of cards is built on a house of cards. NC State beat Tennessee (yet another overrated team), not Duke.

 

[Bone Dog]

TCU looks pretty good, maybe 6 or 7 good, either right behind or ahead of Michigan and LSU. The core of Miles Hunter Suarez and Silva looks to be solid.

 

[joefoy67]

Long time UConn wbb fan here, seldom posted. Really like this year’s team. I live in Ann Arbor so have had three opps to see Um play, incl vs ND. Don’t sleep on them. Olsen is a young, aggressive load with a motor, scores 15-20 pg. The transfer, Sofilkanich, was a defense poyr, like Sarah, but she’s a bad ass who takes no quarter, steady, not really a big scorer, Swords is sneaky quick, really fast, good shooter, who has a nose for the ball, and often is either 1 or 2 in rebounds, so she finds her way under. Holloway gets better as the game goes on, can put up points, but her calling card is defense. She completely neutered ND’s Hidalgo one on one. I expect we’ll see her and help on AZ. They use their bench, who are long and active, kind of like ours.
This game will have many fun matchups!

 

[joefoy67]

Also JoeFoy67 here. I should add the Coach, Kim Barnes Arico (referred to here as KBA), has done a nice job recruiting talent and bringing a young team along, still holding to a style and attitude. She’s fun to watch on the sideline, active but not Kim, Depending, they may have the talents and system to give UCLA a run later in the season. She’s a pretty good coach.