Elite 8 and Final 4 Early Predictions

[Baller29]

Who are your 8 teams you predict to make it to the elite 8/final 4 this coming season?

Elite 8:
-UCONN
-SC
-UCLA
-Texas
-Duke
-TN
-OU
-UNC

(dark horses Ole Miss and Michigan)


Final Four:
-UCONN
-SC
-UCLA
-Duke (if Lawson can teach her teams how to shoot) if not Texas (yes they can’t shoot either)

 

[stwainfan]

E8
Texas
Uconn
South Carolina
Tennessee
NC State
Baylor
Duke
TCU
FF
Uconn
Tennessee
South Carolina
NC State

 

[visitingcock]

E8
Texas
Uconn
South Carolina
Tennessee
NC State
Baylor
Duke
TCU
FF
Uconn
Tennessee
South Carolina
NC State

Betts can carry UCLA to at least an E8. add LSU to the E8. Take out Baylor and ???

Odds are against SCar to the F4. Only one coach has taken a school to(+5) straight F4s.* Not Pat or Tara! We have talent but depth is an issue that could catch up to us.

* Note Exception: Hogg and Barmore combined to take LaTech to 6 straight F4s. Three at the end of the AIAW and the first 3 NCAAs.

 

[Alydar]

Betts can carry UCLA to at least an E8. add LSU to the E8. Take out Baylor and ???

Odds are against SCar to the F4. Only one coach has taken a school to(+5) straight F4s.* Not Pat or Tara! We have talent but depth is an issue that could catch up to us.

* Note Exception: Hogg and Barmore combined to take LaTech to 6 straight F4s. Three at the end of the AIAW and the first 3 NCAAs.

Prior to 1994 the path to the final four was shorter.

 

[stwainfan]

Betts can carry UCLA to at least an E8. add LSU to the E8. Take out Baylor and ???

Odds are against SCar to the F4. Only one coach has taken a school to(+5) straight F4s.* Not Pat or Tara! We have talent but depth is an issue that could catch up to us.

* Note Exception: Hogg and Barmore combined to take LaTech to 6 straight F4s. Three at the end of the AIAW and the first 3 NCAAs.

Baylor out UCLA in. I think that might be the only change I'd make. TCU if I had to take out any other team.

 

[visitingcock]

Prior to 1994 the path to the final four was shorter.

True, but does the round of 64 really present much more of a challenge? Some, I'll admit, but not much. Plus, the fact remains that only one school did it six straight (other than UConn). Early power U$C couldn't do it (or even get 10 straight S16s). Tennessee couldn't do it. Stanford couldn't. Heck, even Mt. Holyoak couldn't to it in the NAIA. I'm worried that SCar and Dawn can't do it because of depth issues.

 

[Alydar]

True, but does the round of 64 really present much more of a challenge? Some, I'll admit, but not much. Plus, the fact remains that only one school did it six straight (other than UConn). Early power U$C couldn't do it (or even get 10 straight S16s). Tennessee couldn't do it. Stanford couldn't. Heck, even Mt. Holyoak couldn't to it in the NAIA. I'm worried that SCar and Dawn can't do it because of depth issues.

Right. The other big differences in the past, at least in the mens tournament, was that only one team from a conference was allowed into the tournament, plus teams played in their geographical region until the FF. UCLA benefited from regionalism in that there usually weren't any other ranked teams in the west but UCLA. I'm not sure how the women handled those issues.

 

[Bone Dog]

I'm worried that SCar and Dawn can't do it because of depth issues.

I'm not worried. I mean, there are depth issues, to be sure, especially with Ashlyn sitting out the season. But Dawn is one of the all-time great motivators. She's taught her players to believe they can accomplish anything.

 

[visitingcock]

Right. The other big differences in the past, at least in the mens tournament, was that only one team from a conference was allowed into the tournament, plus teams played in their geographical region until the FF. UCLA benefited from regionalism in that there usually weren't any other ranked teams in the west but UCLA. I'm not sure how the women handled those issues.

Our last year in the ACC (71?) our men went undefeated in the regular season but lost the tournament championship game ( always in Greensboro back then) as the SEC refs bid us “farewell.” We went to the NIT instead. I think the ACC was the only conference that selected its tournament champ back then. Might have been the only conference tournament.

 

[visitingcock]

I'm not worried. I mean, there are depth issues, to be sure, especially with Ashlyn sitting out the season. But Dawn is one of the all-time great motivators. She's taught her players to believe they can accomplish anything.

True but we’ll be holding our breath every time a player slightly limps.

 

[Alydar]

Our last year in the ACC (71?) our men went undefeated in the regular season but lost the tournament championship game ( always in Greensboro back then) as the SEC refs bid us “farewell.” We went to the NIT instead. I think the ACC was the only conference that selected its tournament champ back then. Might have been the only conference tournament.

Back then the NIT was a much better tournament. It was filled with most of the top B1G, SEC & ACC teams. And the bulk of the tournament was at MSG. Like now, the NCAA pandered to the power conferences and didn't want their tournament to diminish the conferences. Not much has changed.

 

[GamecockFam]

I'm not worried. I mean, there are depth issues, to be sure, especially with Ashlyn sitting out the season. But Dawn is one of the all-time great motivators. She's taught her players to believe they can accomplish anything.

The biggest depth issue is at shooting guard. If Ta'Niya Latson goes down, its going to be a long season. Coach Staley loves her slashers and Latson is the only true slashing guard on this roster with Fulwiley gone.

While having Watkins is a plus, we still have two other forwards with All-American potential in Kitts and Edwards. Plus, if Dauda can regain her groove she'll be a defensive force and All-SEC caliber of player who can play both the 4/5. I'm the least worried about forward depth being the reason we don't make it back to the final four. The athleticism of the above players is good enough to get us far into the tournament.

 

[Bone Dog]

The biggest depth issue is at shooting guard. If Ta'Niya Latson goes down, its going to be a long season. Coach Staley loves her slashers and Latson is the only true slashing guard on this roster with Fulwiley gone.

While having Watkins is a plus, we still have two other forwards with All-American potential in Kitts and Edwards. Plus, if Dauda can regain her groove she'll be a defensive force and All-SEC caliber of player who can play both the 4/5. I'm the least worried about forward depth being the reason we don't make it back to the final four. The athleticism of the above players is good enough to get us far into the tournament.

I agree about Latson. As for the front court, I'm not so sure. Joyce is a force, to be sure, arguably one of the best forwards in D1. Chloe is a clever scorer and defender, but she is nowhere near the physical presence Ashlyn was becoming, and I think this was exposed in the finals. I'd like to think Maryam can elevate her game, since she'd be a serious physical presence. But I don't have much confidence in this prospect.

 

[Vowelguy]

. Heck, even Mt. Holyoak couldn't to it in the NAIA. I'm worried that SCar and Dawn can't do it because of depth issues.

Unless you’re referring to a Divine Tree, it’s Mt Holyoke, which is NCAA D3

Mt Holyoke’s northern neighbor Amherst did go to 5 straight F4s 2009-13.

 

[jdote33]

I like all 4 final 4 teams from this year to return. I just think UCLA and South Carolina got better this off season. I'm bias but I think Uconn is going to be really good and hungry. I think Azzi will want to prove she's one of the best players in the country. I think Sarah Strong will also want to prove she's at an all American level. So while obviously losing Paige is tough, I actually think it helps in terms of not having a championship hangover. Lastly, I think Texas gets a great Rori Harmon season. I don't love their lack of shooting and there are a lot of good teams that can be in that final slot but Texas definitely has the team to return to the last weekend.

In the elite 8, I hate to be pretty boring but I see a lot of the same teams. LSU really should make it. I think Fulwiley is super talented. I think getting Koval was big. I just like there roster. I think TCU will make it again as well. TCU is probably one of my favorite teams from a roster construction standpoint. I like a lot of their players, I think they compliment each other well. Suarez and Silva seem like they will be fun together. I like Hunter alongside Miles. A really good defender that won't mind if Miles controls the ball a lot. And then we haven't seen her in a bit but Maddie Scherr is a dawg. I just worry a bit about perimeter shooting though I know they got some bigs that can shoot. Rounding out the final 2, I will choose Duke and Ole Miss. I just think Duke is going to be the best team in the ACC so by virtue should have a high seed in the tournament. I've talked about how I liked their roster a lot. But point blank I haven't just put it like, what if Toby Fournier is the second best player in the ACC this season. Like what if she makes a jump. She barely started, she had a couple of injuries last season. She was dominant in spurts last season, but what if she just dominates from the jump next season. I don't think Kara has really had that type of player since she's been the coach. In terms of Ole Miss, i just think they are ready to make that type of jump. And for some reason I think there's been a bit of dirt on Cotie M's name. I saw her knock out my Huskies as a freshman to get to the elite 8, she definitely will embrace the idea of taking Ole Miss to new heights. I like Oklahoma a lot as well especially with Verhulst and Beers being in there final year. But I just trust ole miss to be better on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[GamecockFam]

I like all 4 final 4 teams from this year to return. I just think UCLA and South Carolina got better this off season. I'm bias but I think Uconn is going to be really good and hungry. I think Azzi will want to prove she's one of the best players in the country. I think Sarah Strong will also want to prove she's at an all American level. So while obviously losing Paige is tough, I actually think it helps in terms of not having a championship hangover. Lastly, I think Texas gets a great Rori Harmon season. I don't love their lack of shooting and there are a lot of good teams that can be in that final slot but Texas definitely has the team to return to the last weekend.

In the elite 8, I hate to be pretty boring but I see a lot of the same teams. LSU really should make it. I think Fulwiley is super talented. I think getting Koval was big. I just like there roster. I think TCU will make it again as well. TCU is probably one of my favorite teams from a roster construction standpoint. I like a lot of their players, I think they compliment each other well. Suarez and Silva seem like they will be fun together. I like Hunter alongside Miles. A really good defender that won't mind if Miles controls the ball a lot. And then we haven't seen her in a bit but Maddie Scherr is a dawg. I just worry a bit about perimeter shooting though I know they got some bigs that can shoot. Rounding out the final 2, I will choose Duke and Ole Miss. I just think Duke is going to be the best team in the ACC so by virtue should have a high seed in the tournament. I've talked about how I liked their roster a lot. But point blank I haven't just put it like, what if Toby Fournier is the second best player in the ACC this season. Like what if she makes a jump. She barely started, she had a couple of injuries last season. She was dominant in spurts last season, but what if she just dominates from the jump next season. I don't think Kara has really had that type of player since she's been the coach. In terms of Ole Miss, i just think they are ready to make that type of jump. And for some reason I think there's been a bit of dirt on Cotie M's name. I saw her knock out my Huskies as a freshman to get to the elite 8, she definitely will embrace the idea of taking Ole Miss to new heights. I like Oklahoma a lot as well especially with Verhulst and Beers being in there final year. But I just trust ole miss to be better on the defensive side of the ball.

I find it kind of hard to believe that UConn will be better without Paige or at least that mindset undersells Paige's value to UConn this past season. It reminds me of how South Carolina undervalued Cardoso's ability to suck in defenders and open up perimeter shooting (plus her rebounding and post defense) this past season. Don't get me wrong, UConn is still a championship caliber team but I expect more adversity in the post season. Without Paige on the floor, other teams can put their best defender on Azzi for example.