ESPN preseason ranking

[stamfordhusky]

Yea i can think of more than 7. South Carolina, USC, UCLA, Texas, Notre Dame, NC State, LSU, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ohio State.

Right now we don't have 14 players. Right now we only have 8/9 confirmed as cleared to play. Morgan has been dealing an hamstring injury since last January and wasn't cleared to play in June so yes it might take more than 6 months for her to heal. Is Ayanna back to full practices? I haven't seen that reported anywhere. I don't have any reason to believe Ayanna, Carol, Azzi, Morgan or Aubrey will be ready day one so i am not assuming they are or will be.

So you are basing your prediction on very speculative assumptions. I would be willing to bet that at least three of them will be good to go.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Except we know they are not healthy lol

We don’t know they are not healthy and more importantly, YOU do not know that they are not healthy. Three of them have had more than the normal time to recover from the injuries that they sustained.

 

[Alydar]

Except we know they are not healthy lol

I don't know. I believe that Patterson said back in the early summer that she would get re-evaluated in mid September. I expect her to get released for full activity.
I agree that it's likely that Griffin and Fudd won't be playing 5X5 yet but even with them out UConn is loaded. Arnold and Shade were playing well in the tournaments last season and yet they may lose their starting positions. When that is going on you know the team is deep.

In a couple of weeks I'll know who is practicing and who isn't.

 

[Cuango]

2 seems high for us early in the season. Too many huge question marks, i think 8-12 feels like a more realistic range right now.

What exactly are the “huge question marks”? We have the most talented roster in the country, we have the best player in the country, there is not a single player on our 14 woman roster that is not either a starter or a heavy rotational player on all but four or five teams in the country, we finally have a top quality big with real size, we have an elite recruiting class that includes the #1 player who appears to be a generational talent, we have an experienced backup PG who starred in a system that is virtually identical to ours, Azzi is looking like she will finally be healthy this season, KK & Ash have experience, Aubrey is looking good, we have a highly ranked backup (with experience) for Jana in Ice Brady, it is looking like Ayanna and Caroline might actually be able to play, and we have a bevy of good to elite shooters! I’m shocked we’re not number one! Nothing personal, but 8-12 is simply ludicrous! Anyone who ranks this team out of the top five is either delusional or biased! I could see Caroline and Ayanna as question marks and Azzi & Aubrey as perhaps uncertain as to when they will be fully cleared but even so, there is plenty of talent to carry this team until Azzi and Aubrey are ready. I’d love to hear the 8-11 teams that are better than us right now?

 

[GirlBoo1020]

What exactly are the “huge question marks”? We have the most talented roster in the country, we have the best player in the country, there is not a single player on our 14 woman roster that is not either a starter or a heavy rotational player on all but four or five teams in the country, we finally have a top quality big with real size, we have an elite recruiting class that includes the #1 player who appears to be a generational talent, we have an experienced backup PG who starred in a system that is virtually identical to ours, Azzi is looking like she will finally be healthy this season, KK & Ash have experience, Aubrey is looking good, we have a highly ranked backup (with experience) for Jana in Ice Brady, it is looking like Ayanna and Caroline might actually be able to play, and we have a bevy of good to elite shooters! I’m shocked we’re not number one! Nothing personal, but 8-12 is simply ludicrous! Anyone who ranks this team out of the top five is either delusional or biased! I could see Caroline and Ayanna as question marks and Azzi & Aubrey as perhaps uncertain as to when they will be fully cleared but even so, there is plenty of talent to carry this team until Azzi and Aubrey are ready. I’d love to hear the 8-11 teams that are better than us right now?

The only returning healthy post player we have is Ice Brady who struggled to crack a rotation with only one other post player in it. We have no idea what Jana will look like against real competition or Sarah for that matter.

We also have no idea what the injured players will look like upon return. They could be good to very far off from what they used to look like.

What we do know we have returning is a good, not great, group with no real size.

 

[Cuango]

UConn has had a plethora of #1 recruits, some of whom that did not meet the lofty expectation, but were still very good. Thus, the initial skepticism. It is unfair to expect so much from freshmen out of the gate, however, such is the present state of college basketball with last year's freshman class possibly raising unrealistic levels of expectation.

UConn is legitimately the second best team in the country - talent, coaching, tradition, and Paige Bueckers. They might stumble early as Strong develops, but come March, no program will want to be in UConn's region.

UConn has had a plethora of #1 recruits and you are right, some have been merely good rather than program changing. Megan Walker, Christyn Williams, and Katie Lou are three who, while very good, were not program changers. On the other hand, Stewie, Maya, were program changers. I would include Paige as a program changer as well even though she has not won a title. KML was yet another #1 who, while very good, I would not classify as a “changer” along with Azzi Fudd who simply has not had a chance yet. I believe Sarah is going to be in the same category as Stewie, Maya, and Paige. We will see.

 

[Cuango]

I think I may be nit-picking but as usual UConn's recruits' prospects are conditional while other teams' recruits are expected to contribute, without a doubt.

SCar:
Joyce Edwards, the 6-foot-3 No. 3 recruit in the country, leads another stellar freshmen class.

USC:


UConn:


Notice how only Strong needs to prove her worth. Smith is a given to contribute. Also notice how three top 30 recruits is great while UConn only has one I guess, even if their other two recruits are ranked higher than all of the USC recruits, including Kennedy Smith.

At least Charlie is consistent from year to year.

I would be willing to bet that virtually all coaches would choose our class over USC’s! No surprise of course that Charlie would not!

 

[Cuango]

Except we know they are not healthy lol

How do we know that? Are you getting special reports from the training staff/coaches? lol

 

[ucbart]

I think I may be nit-picking but as usual UConn's recruits' prospects are conditional while other teams' recruits are expected to contribute, without a doubt.

SCar:
Joyce Edwards, the 6-foot-3 No. 3 recruit in the country, leads another stellar freshmen class.

USC:


UConn:


Notice how only Strong needs to prove her worth. Smith is a given to contribute. Also notice how three top 30 recruits is great while UConn only has one I guess, even if their other two recruits are ranked higher than all of the USC recruits, including Kennedy Smith.

At least Charlie is consistent from year to year.

Thank you! ESPN is atrocious

 

[UConnCat]

2 seems high for us early in the season. Too many huge question marks, i think 8-12 feels like a more realistic range right now.

. Are you @hoopsnloops32 with another handle? That poster had UConn ranked #10-15 last season.

#8-12 means another Final Four to me! I’ll take it.

 

[UConnCat]

Yea i can think of more than 7. South Carolina, USC, UCLA, Texas, Notre Dame, NC State, LSU, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ohio State.

Right now we don't have 14 players. Right now we only have 8/9 confirmed as cleared to play. Morgan has been dealing an hamstring injury since last January and wasn't cleared to play in June so yes it might take more than 6 months for her to heal. Is Ayanna back to full practices? I haven't seen that reported anywhere. I don't have any reason to believe Ayanna, Carol, Azzi, Morgan or Aubrey will be ready day one so i am not assuming they are or will be.

Ohio State’s post players are?

 

[PacoSwede]

The only returning healthy post player we have is Ice Brady who struggled to crack a rotation with only one other post player in it. We have no idea what Jana will look like against real competition or Sarah for that matter.

We also have no idea what the injured players will look like upon return. They could be good to very far off from what they used to look like.

What we do know we have returning is a good, not great, group with no real size.

what a hoot!

i know trolls really love to indulge in this kind of BS, but otoh you add some real humor too. it's kind of neat to have someone stirring the BY pot with some innovative hilarity. thanks.

 

[PacoSwede]

UConn has had a plethora of #1 recruits, some of whom that did not meet the lofty expectation, but were still very good. Thus, the initial skepticism. It is unfair to expect so much from freshmen out of the gate, however, such is the present state of college basketball with last year's freshman class possibly raising unrealistic levels of expectation.

UConn is legitimately the second best team in the country - talent, coaching, tradition, and Paige Bueckers. They might stumble early as Strong develops, but come March, no program will want to be in UConn's region.

that has been standard practice for at least 20++ years, of course. that's why some have said uconn was 'bad for basketball.' ... hope that continues indefinitely.

 

[yhun89]

The only returning healthy post player we have is Ice Brady who struggled to crack a rotation with only one other post player in it. We have no idea what Jana will look like against real competition or Sarah for that matter.

We also have no idea what the injured players will look like upon return. They could be good to very far off from what they used to look like.

What we do know we have returning is a good, not great, group with no real size.

Uhh...

No real size?

CD: 6'2
MC: 6'2
AP: 6'2
IB: 6'3/6'4
JEA: 6'5
SS: 6'2
AG: 6'1

Trolling maybe? Plethora of forwards. Some athletic, some incredibly strong. WDYM, "no real size."

 

[GirlBoo1020]

Uhh...

No real size?

CD: 6'2
MC: 6'2
AP: 6'2
IB: 6'3/6'4
JEA: 6'5
SS: 6'2
AG: 6'1

Trolling maybe? Plethora of forwards. Some athletic, some incredibly strong. WDYM, "no real size."

If you read my post, I am not counting CD, AP, JEA, MC or AG because they are not healthy right now. So its 6'3 Ice Brady and 6'2" Sarah Strong.

what a hoot!

i know trolls really love to indulge in this kind of BS, but otoh you add some real humor too. it's kind of neat to have someone stirring the BY pot with some innovative hilarity. thanks.

I am really not trolling and don't get what is so controversial about saying we are 8--12 range until we have a full roster at least??? We were in that range all season last year and the season before. It seems exceedingly reasonable to to expect us to be around that same range until proven otherwise, no?

How do we know that? Are you getting special reports from the training staff/coaches? lol

Yes! Geno himself said they weren't cleared back in June! We have not gotten any updates or indicators that the status' have changed so I am keeping steady with the most recent update.

 

[sun]

Did anyone else notice that the article mentions that Mir McLean is now playing for Maryland?

I did notice some of the other ranked teams (including UCLA) that have multiple superbigs as a result of transfers.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for UConn this year, but we should already know that only results matter, not rankings.

 

[yhun89]

If you read my post, I am not counting CD, AP, JEA, MC or AG because they are not healthy right now. So its 6'3 Ice Brady and 6'2" Sarah Strong.

I am really not trolling and don't get what is so controversial about saying we are 8--12 range until we have a full roster at least??? We were in that range all season last year and the season before. It seems exceedingly reasonable to to expect us to be around that same range until proven otherwise, no?

Yes! Geno himself said they weren't cleared back in June! We have not gotten any updates or indicators that the status' have changed so I am keeping steady with the most recent update.

Jana has been all set for awhile. She tore her achilles more than a year ago. She's more than done protocol by now.

Other posts you've made make me think you're brand new to the game or trolling. Like this one earlier in this thread.

"Yea i can think of more than 7. South Carolina, USC, UCLA, Texas, Notre Dame, NC State, LSU, Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ohio State."

OSU is NOT in the same category as SC, USC, Texas, ND, UCONN, NC State, or UCLA right now. They lost too much and didn't bring enough back. Cambridge and Petty will not win them even a B1G championship. The loss of Sheldon and Taylor is huge on their defense, and I do not think it'll be anywhere near as good as it was last year and the year before.

 

[stamfordhusky]

How do we know that? Are you getting special reports from the training staff/coaches? lol

GirlBoo does not know that, and it is likely not accurate. Girlboo is an anti-UConn troll.

 

[Tonyc]

We showed last season with a limited and pretty much inexperienced roster how to stop top teams some of which we will face this season with a much deeper roster and a more talented roster. If we are healthy and it appears from early reports we are we are the team to beat. Paige, surrounded by all this talent will be almost unstoppable. That alone will carry us. Paige Azzi and Chen give us guards who can score and create and no team in WCBB has a trio like that. Playing defense like we did last season with more experience and a deeper roster with height tells me we are gonna be really really tuff to beat. The keys are stay healthy. We have way to much talent and depth of talent to not be able to handle opponents. I was thinking the past few seasons it would be the Paige and Azzi show. This year will be only with alot more talent surrounding them who can play up to their standards. We're Back. Bigger Stronger and Deeper then ever

 

[Artifact]

Can’t wait!

Undefeated season, here we come!

We are rated 'Great' , no # 2 on paper, I will wait, to see how they rate playing on the, 'Wood' !

 

[Surly1]

What exactly are the “huge question marks”? We have the most talented roster in the country, we have the best player in the country, there is not a single player on our 14 woman roster that is not either a starter or a heavy rotational player on all but four or five teams in the country, we finally have a top quality big with real size, we have an elite recruiting class that includes the #1 player who appears to be a generational talent, we have an experienced backup PG who starred in a system that is virtually identical to ours, Azzi is looking like she will finally be healthy this season, KK & Ash have experience, Aubrey is looking good, we have a highly ranked backup (with experience) for Jana in Ice Brady, it is looking like Ayanna and Caroline might actually be able to play, and we have a bevy of good to elite shooters! I’m shocked we’re not number one! Nothing personal, but 8-12 is simply ludicrous! Anyone who ranks this team out of the top five is either delusional or biased! I could see Caroline and Ayanna as question marks and Azzi & Aubrey as perhaps uncertain as to when they will be fully cleared but even so, there is plenty of talent to carry this team until Azzi and Aubrey are ready. I’d love to hear the 8-11 teams that are better than us right now?

I realize it is preseason, but I'm scratching my head over some of these posts stating UConn doesn't deserve a #2 or 3 pre-season ranking. Have they forgotten that Paige is still on the roster? Last year was more of a question mark for UConn because it was unknown how quickly or well Paige would perform a year off from injury/surgery. All I can say is that she's the frontrunner for NPOY, and any team that has a former NPOY on their team has extremely high aspirations.

Regardless of who is and isn't ready to begin the season, UConn has Paige, Ashlynn, KK, Kaitlyn Chen (a 5th-year player), Ice Brady, the number #1 recruit and Jana El Alfy for starters. As somebody stated previously, it doesn't matter how many players you have, only 5 can play at a time.

There are 8-10 programs that are stocked with talent this year, UConn among them. Even though SC returns almost everyone from its NC team, I'll stack UConn's roster against anyone. Each season, it seems a player that was unexpected to contribute, makes a sizable one. Last year, it was KK & Ashlynn. This season, this year's (LLS) is Kaitlyn Chen, and Qadence Samuels will show dramatic improvement in her overall game. However, my sleeper pick is Ayanna. Freshman year, her offense was nonexistent. However, she looks taller & stronger. We know she's athletic, and I feel she's going to make her presence felt on the glass and offensively, by just playing and not overthinking like she did her first season.

This is Paige's team outright, and I expect her to minimize those in-game lapses from last season. She's healthy, stronger and it will help that she won't accumulate as many minutes. Even subtracting Azzi, Caroline & Aubrey, UConn has the requisite talent to challenge for a NC.

After the past 3 seasons, UConn is overdue for some positive juju. Geno can take his time incorporating last year's injured players into the mix as he has other horses in the barn, ready to show what they can do.

 

[Alydar]

We showed last season with a limited and pretty much inexperienced roster how to stop top teams some of which we will face this season with a much deeper roster and a more talented roster. If we are healthy and it appears from early reports we are we are the team to beat. Paige, surrounded by all this talent will be almost unstoppable. That alone will carry us. Paige Azzi and Chen give us guards who can score and create and no team in WCBB has a trio like that. Playing defense like we did last season with more experience and a deeper roster with height tells me we are gonna be really really tuff to beat. The keys are stay healthy. We have way to much talent and depth of talent to not be able to handle opponents. I was thinking the past few seasons it would be the Paige and Azzi show. This year will be only with alot more talent surrounding them who can play up to their standards. We're Back. Bigger Stronger and Deeper then ever

I am blinded by the offensive potential this year but the defense could be even better. As good as they were they couldn't play high pressure. They had to avoid fouls and they had to play long minutes. The depth will allow Geno to play up tempo on offense and defense. Open shots early in the possession by the elite shooters will be encouraged.

 

[yhun89]

I am blinded by the offensive potential this year but the defense could be even better. As good as they were they couldn't play high pressure. They had to avoid fouls and they had to play long minutes. The depth will allow Geno to play up tempo on offense and defense. Open shots early in the possession by the elite shooters will be encouraged.

Defensive wise, we’ve got a decent showing:

Paige, resident point forward, elite anticipation IQ. Can tip the pass or steal it before it gets to the opponent.

Ashlynn, a great man to man defender on perimeter players, not as effective if they’re scrappy (like a Hannah or like Gabbie)

KK, able to cover scrappy players and pickpocket if needed. Puts pressure on the ball handler or the off ball mover.

Aubrey, athletic and quick. Will fight for the rebound and go for the steal and the fast break.

Kaitlyn, fairly scrappy as well. Good IQ, sticks to her girl. Had some great defense back in the Ivy’s against Harmoni Turner, a 5 star recruit from Harvard. Completely shut her down, and Turner is incredibly scrappy.

Morgan seems to be a good defender, given her show at the Jordan Classic a while back and her longer wingspan makes her a difficult presence to get by.

Sarah, a big body to try and drive on/post up. She makes it incredibly difficult to make the shot on, especially if you’re under the basket.

Jana has some high defensive IQ plays in the FIBA cup before she got hurt.

 

[UConnCat]

Ohio State’s post players are?

@GirlBoo1020

 

[NYCHUSKIES]

I just hope Ayanna and Azzi jave a breakthrough season. If those two, if healthy, can contribute, just give us the trophy in March. Ayanna has to understand and hone in her physical strength. She needs to be almost methodical about how she approaches playing defense. She is so strong and aggressive that these refs are going to call fouls against her in every possession.

 

[Geew1992]

I just hope Ayanna and Azzi jave a breakthrough season. If those two, if healthy, can contribute, just give us the trophy in March. Ayanna has to understand and hone in her physical strength. She needs to be almost methodical about how she approaches playing defense. She is so strong and aggressive that these refs are going to call fouls against her in every possession.

You spoke it into existence

 

[Dillon77]

Ohio State’s post players are?

@GirlBoo1020

Piqued my interest, so I took a visit over to the Ohio State roster page.
Looks like the main person in the middle this year will be:

- Ajae Petty, the 6'3" post/forward who came over from Kentucky. She averaged 14.2 ppg (on 51% shooting from the field) and 10.6 rebounds per game. She'll join Taylor Thierry and Cotie McMahon up front.

Beyond that, three underclassmen possibly in the pipeline:
- Faith Carson, a 6'4" post from Michigan who barely got off the bench last year
and

• Ella Hobbs, a 64" forward from North Carolina
• Elsa Lemmila, a 6'6" post from Finland. She might be worth paying attention to at some point for Kevin McGuff seems to have a knack for finding tall talent overseas (see Dorak Juhasz, Rebeka Mikulaskova).

 

[Bone Dog]

You spoke it into existence

This is why I’m so careful about even whispering the word inj***. No, don’t say it. Don’t even think it. Certainly don’t speculate on empty possibilities. A karmic cosmos doesn’t need any excuses in this matter. Also, try not to move. Its eyesight is based on movement.

 

[HopJim]

Good discussion. I appreciate the sentiment, Geno with undoubtedly a top 5 player in the country and loads of talent usually means really special things for UConn. But the other day Sue Bird was talking to Juju Watkins about how they kinda have a super team at USC. I just think the landscape of wcbb with the transfer portal is so different. Kiki going to USC is just a move you wouldn't see though it's complicated with Tara retiring. I just think the way teams load up on experienced talent is just a bit different and makes it much harder to win a championship.

I think Geno put together a really good schedule that is a bit lighter to start the season. So I think if the team can win early they will build confidence. It will make the tough December more manageable.

I think they should be top 5 all year.

The reference to USC and all their talent brings up a good question. While 99% of the posts revolve around UConn's offense, our interior defense, shot blocking, and rebounding deserves mention as well. UConn usually has a defensive stopper or two. Do we have one this year? Huskies have the talent to be a top 3-5 team but wonder about these other intangibles needed to win it all. With all the top 10 players on this team, I doubt Geno is worrying about the rankings-all eyes are on the NCAA's.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

The reference to USC and all their talent brings up a good question. While 99% of the posts revolve around UConn's offense, our interior defense, shot blocking, and rebounding deserves mention as well. UConn usually has a defensive stopper or two. Do we have one this year? Huskies have the talent to be a top 3-5 team but wonder about these other intangibles needed to win it all. With all the top 10 players on this team, I doubt Geno is worrying about the rankings-all eyes are on the NCAA's.

HopJim- - - -You can bet the farm that Geno and Staff will make an elite defense with all the talent on this team!