ESPN re-ranks the top 25 players in WCBB

[bballnut90]

I think that the recency factor has Harris so high on the list. She is a quality court general for her strong squad, but I have never seen her as high on a national player list as #6. Check her overall stats this season.

Your list seems that it was significantly impacted by what you have seen the players do against UConn, rather than what each player has put together for the entire season for her squad.

She's put up huge numbers in all of SC's big games. Took over vs. Mississippi State, was the best player vs. UCONN and soundly outplayed Te'a Cooper against Baylor. Her stats aren't great (neither are Lauren Cox's) but it's clear Harris impacts the game at a higher level than anyone else for South Carolina who is #1 in the country. She is also a hawk defensively. SC deserves representation and she's the standout.

 

[uconnfan68]

So please help me to understand: Are ESPN's calculations of collegiate top players off only for UConn because they seem to work and compute out for every other team? Oregon has three top 15 players and they are a top 5 team, SC has has two players in the top 16 and they are a top 5 team. Oregon State has a few in the top 15 and they are a top 10. UConn has three top 15 players but it doesn't translate into being a top 5 school. Question: How come this simple formula--having top players equals having a top team--pretty much works for every team except us?

No one plays 3 on 3.

 

[uconnfan68]

Lauren Cox is shooting 43% from the field and averaging 11 and 8 in 29 MPG for a stacked Baylor team.

She shouldn't be #2.

Watch her play.

 

[Boreifs]

Kind of a weird list IMO. Far too low are:
Michaela Onyenwere-12
Aliyah Boston-13
Ty Harris-16
Nalyssa Smith-22

Over ranked are:
Walker-8
Hebard-5
Evans-7
Carter-10
Williams-15


I just don't get how they put Harris below all 3 UCONN players immediately after she dominated the game. Cushy stats are nice but what you do in big games tells a lot more about a player IMO. Williams will get better but doesn't deserve to be on this list based on her play this season.

The article was probably written before that game.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Doyle from Iowa should be higher.

If only one player from Stanford is chosen, I think I would lean toward Lexie Hull rather than Kiana Williams. She does some of everything for them, including leading them in scoring and rebounding.

I won't get into pointing out various players I think are too high, but I have to say as much as it pains me that Pivec has been too inconsistent to be #6.

 

[Plebe]

She's put up huge numbers in all of SC's big games. Took over vs. Mississippi State, was the best player vs. UCONN and soundly outplayed Te'a Cooper against Baylor. Her stats aren't great (neither are Lauren Cox's) but it's clear Harris impacts the game at a higher level than anyone else for South Carolina who is #1 in the country. She is also a hawk defensively. SC deserves representation and she's the standout.

Doesn't take away from all her stellar performances you mentioned, but she did have a poor game vs. Indiana.

 

[WestCoast]

Doyle from Iowa should be higher.

If only one player from Stanford is chosen, I think I would lean toward Lexie Hull rather than Kiana Williams. She does some of everything for them, including leading them in scoring and rebounding.

I won't get into pointing out various players I think are too high, but I have to say as much as it pains me that Pivec has been too inconsistent to be #6.

I think Pivec needs to shoot more if OSU is going to do anything in the postseason. Very difficult to score more than 15 points a game when you are taking 10.5 shots per game. She is shooting very well from the field (52.4%) once again this season, but is taking fewer shots per game. She needs to look aggressively for her shot more if OSU is going to be more efficient on offense, especially with 6'6" frosh Kennedy Brown now lost for the season due to a knee injury.

 

[bballnut90]

The article was probably written before that game.

True. Even so, aside from maybe Harris and maybe Williams I figured they'd think higher of Onyenwere and Smith.

 

[BobbyJ]

Kind of a weird list IMO. Far too low are:
Michaela Onyenwere-12
Aliyah Boston-13
Ty Harris-16
Nalyssa Smith-22

Over ranked are:
Walker-8
Hebard-5
Evans-7
Carter-10
Williams-15


I just don't get how they put Harris below all 3 UCONN players immediately after she dominated the game. Cushy stats are nice but what you do in big games tells a lot more about a player IMO. Williams will get better but doesn't deserve to be on this list based on her play this season.

Remember, it's not like these are coaches or experts making these lists. These are just fans like you giving an opinion. Just filling space on a website.

 

[tchalla1]

No one plays 3 on 3.

I see your point--true it isn't a game of 3 on 3, but my point is about the under performance of our two top 15 players, CW and MW, while other top 5 teams's top players are performing to the level of a top tier player. If CW and MW were able to play to the level of their supposed status in the Baylor, Oregon and SC games, we would not have suffered these lop-sided defeats. As a comparative, CW and MW are not on the level of the other top tier players--at least they are not performing to it. So they are either overrated or under performing...

 

[cferraro04]

Kind of a weird list IMO. Far too low are:
Michaela Onyenwere-12
Aliyah Boston-13
Ty Harris-16
Nalyssa Smith-22

Over ranked are:
Walker-8
Hebard-5
Evans-7
Carter-10
Williams-15


I just don't get how they put Harris below all 3 UCONN players immediately after she dominated the game. Cushy stats are nice but what you do in big games tells a lot more about a player IMO. Williams will get better but doesn't deserve to be on this list based on her play this season.

Also in the "far too low group should be...

Chrystal Dangerfield

 

[bballnut90]

Remember, it's not like these are coaches or experts making these lists. These are just fans like you giving an opinion. Just filling space on a website.

Isnt it Creme and other writers who specialize in women's basketball?

 

[WestCoast]

Isnt it Creme and other writers who specialize in women's basketball?

Yes. The writers are ESPN women's college basketball analysts. They tend to watch more basketball than most of us. Probably more qualified than most of us to provide their opinions. I will begrudgingly give them that.

 

[WestCoast]

So?? What else matters?

Good point.... However, women's college basketball is also played outside of the AAC.

 

[BostonBay]

What a joke. Boston should be Top 5 any any list. It's not just the stats, but few influence a game like she is doing. MW at #8?? Geez - no WNBA team would draft her in the 1st round right now.

 

[j66kicker]

What a joke. Boston should be Top 5 any any list. It's not just the stats, but few influence a game like she is doing. MW at #8?? Geez - no WNBA team would draft her in the 1st round right now.

So... Are you her mother, or what?

 

[Bigboote]

The thing that jumps out at me is no mid-major players. I don't get to see too many mid-major games, but I've seen South Dakota three times, and Ciara Duffy has been really impressive. I'd take her on my team over about half the players on this list.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Watch her play.

Numbers don't lie.

she is not the second best performing player in the country this year.
she's a good player. She makes Baylor better.

but She's less productive and less efficient than many other players in the country this year. Call it injury or whatever you want, but it's a fact.

I think she looks like a good basketball player who is struggling offensively when I watch her.

 

[bballnut90]

What a joke. Boston should be Top 5 any any list. It's not just the stats, but few influence a game like she is doing. MW at #8?? Geez - no WNBA team would draft her in the 1st round right now.

She's good but I wouldnt put her top 5 yet. In terms of potential, absolutely though.

Walker would easily be a first round pick. She projects quite well to be a SF in the WNBA.

 

[ReadR00ster]

Lauren Cox is shooting 43% from the field and averaging 11 and 8 in 29 MPG for a stacked Baylor team.

She shouldn't be #2.

This isn't stat spreadsheet contest based on this year only. It's like here are the best players like were are going to start a league and draft players to win on the court. You can't leave out the stuff that isn't on the stat sheets like the intimidating presence factor of being 6'5 giant that with guard skills and a 7ft wing span.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

This isn't stat spreadsheet contest based on this year only. It's like here are the best players like were are going to start a league and draft players to win on the court. You can't leave out the stuff that isn't on the stat sheets like the intimidating presence factor of being 6'5 giant that with guard skills and a 7ft wing span.

This isn't argument so much as it is sentiment.

I could make the same kind of vague statement about anyone to explain away the failure of the stats to deliver a case.

 

[BobbyJ]

Isnt it Creme and other writers who specialize in women's basketball?

Yes, like I said, Creme and writers are fans who specialize as much as you do. They watch the games and form opinions. Anybody can do that. Form a website, you know as much as they do.

 

[BobbyJ]

What a joke. Boston should be Top 5 any any list. It's not just the stats, but few influence a game like she is doing. MW at #8?? Geez - no WNBA team would draft her in the 1st round right now.

Only top 5? I thought she was generational. Whatever that means. Still waiting to hear your criteria for that.

 

[ReadR00ster]

I think that the recency factor has Harris so high on the list. She is a quality court general for her strong squad, but I have never seen her as high on a national player list as #6. Check her overall stats this season.

Your list seems that it was significantly impacted by what you have seen the players do against UConn, rather than what each player has put together for the entire season for her squad.

No, it isn't the just the UConn game. She's amazing just about all year. I don't know what factors you consider important. I am looking at everything, not just popular stats people like use. I mean she is better than "quality" floor general. She is a GREAT floor general this year. Her assist to turnover ratio is fantastic. Second to none at a running the fast break. She plays great defense, and is shooting it well. .416 from the field and .378 from behind the arc. Her stats are not why she is a great player but they certainly are not a weakness for her either. Also, she is excellent at controlling the pace and tempo of the game which is more important that people like to give credit for. And she is a 90% free throw shooter which is important at the end of games.

 

[ReadR00ster]

Doesn't take away from all her stellar performances you mentioned, but she did have a poor game vs. Indiana.

Right and the next game was Baylor and she had a big game and was diving all over the floor even and in the post game she said she was slacking and took the blame for the loss basically. And that is when the team got kicked into high gear.