ESPN's predictions for Final Four and National Championship | The Boneyard

ESPN's predictions for Final Four and National Championship

BRS24

BRS24

LisaG
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Here we go folks. Some initial predictions as we start the season today.
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Unless UCONN has a 0-2 loss season at the same time as Iowa has a disappointing 8+ loss season, I can see Clark racking up big numbers as she plays 37+ minutes a game and takes 1/2 of Iowa's shots while Paige plays 30-32 minutes per and the UCONN scoring is much more balanced then the Hawkeye's. I can envision Paige, Azzi and Liya averaging within a point or two of each other along the lines of 16-18 pts per game with Clark getting 25-30 per game.

Basically, I'm saying that the biggest roadblock to PB getting NPOY honors is the fact that she is playing on an outstanding team and for a program that aims for team excellence over individual stats.

Interesting that 2 of the 3 writers pick poor ole UCONN (#2 ranked) to beat the #1 ranked Tigers
 
Not surprisingly shocked. Vopel has always hated UConn and GENO. Her opinion means nothing!! If UConn stays healthy they will win #12. I’m not soled on LSU!!
 
Bills Fan said:
Unless UCONN has a 0-2 loss season at the same time as Iowa has a disappointing 8+ loss season, I can see Clark racking up big numbers as she plays 37+ minutes a game and takes 1/2 of Iowa's shots while Paige plays 30-32 minutes per and the UCONN scoring is much more balanced then the Hawkeye's. I can envision Paige, Azzi and Liya averaging within a point or two of each other along the lines of 16-18 pts per game with Clark getting 25-30 per game.

Basically, I'm saying that the biggest roadblock to PB getting NPOY honors is the fact that she is playing on an outstanding team and for a program that aims for team excellence over individual stats.

Interesting that 2 of the 3 writers pick poor ole UCONN (#2 ranked) to beat the #1 ranked Tigers
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There is like 5 NPOY awards. (Naismith, Wade, Wooden, AP and USBWA) If UCONN runs the table and wins a NC, I could see Bueckers and Clark splitting the awards.

(assuming they both have injury free, outstanding years)
 
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slug25 said:
Diana won player of the year with a relatively modest PPG average.
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But over who? (Not a rhetorical question, I don't actually know). Perfectly possible to win without tons of points, but not so easy over a player as spectacular as Clark. (To be clear, I think Paige is better, but she's less important to UConn than Clark is to Iowa.
 
cometjo said:
But over who? (Not a rhetorical question, I don't actually know). Perfectly possible to win without tons of points, but not so easy over a player as spectacular as Clark. (To be clear, I think Paige is better, but she's less important to UConn than Clark is to Iowa.
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Alana Beard of Duke.
 
cometjo said:
To be clear, I think Paige is better, but she's less important to UConn than Clark is to Iowa.
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I think the last two seasons have demonstrated how absolutely important Paige really is to UConn. With her in the lineup we are a contender, without her not.
 
Bone Dog said:
I think the last two seasons have demonstrated how absolutely important Paige really is to UConn. With her in the lineup we are a contender, without her not.
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What do you think Iowa would be without Clark? Last year's runner up, probably a 1 and done team without her.
 
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Never want to overreact to the first game of the season, but I wonder if any of the “experts” would reconsider their predictions after seeing SC demolish ND. That team has a lot of talent and athleticism! Looked like a FF team to me and Cardoso and that freshman guard could be special!
 
I think the speculation on the demise of South Carolina's shot at the Final Four are a bit premature, to say the least. They also won their exhibition against Rutgers by 40 points or so.
 
I can't find it right now, but I seem to remember that Iowa was #3 or 4 in ESPN's own preseason poll. Yet of these four writers, who all voted in that, none has Iowa making the final 4. SMH.

My own dirty lens, I'd lean toward Indiana making the final 4. But honestly I think these folks are correct that UConn and LSU are odds-on to make the Final 4; beyond that it's a crap shoot. If I had to guess, I'd have South Carolina as the final team, but right now any of Iowa, VaTech, UCLA, maybe Iowa.
 
Ozimoto said:
I think the speculation on the demise of South Carolina's shot at the Final Four are a bit premature, to say the least. They also won their exhibition against Rutgers by 40 points or so.
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I’d be shocked if they didn’t make the final 4
 
nwhoopfan said:
What do you think Iowa would be without Clark? Last year's runner up, probably a 1 and done team without her.
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Were you expecting me to disagree with this sentiment? I merely said Paige was absolutely important to UConn.
 
Bigboote said:
UConn and LSU are odds-on to make the Final 4;
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I don't agree with this. LSU strikes me as a long shot for the final four. SC UConn VPI Utah IU, even ND and UCLA, all look like more likely Final Four teams to me. In my view, if Reese has to play the 5, which she didn't have to do last season, they become a small team. On the other hand, if they rely on Rosario to play the 5, Reese will have better stats but they will be a slow team.
 
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SEbluebood said:
Never want to overreact to the first game of the season, but I wonder if any of the “experts” would reconsider their predictions after seeing SC demolish ND. That team has a lot of talent and athleticism! Looked like a FF team to me and Cardoso and that freshman guard could be special!
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I agree--Maylasia Fulwiley, IMO, is just as impressive as Juju Watkins and along with PaoPao and other incoming players, SC is the most formidable team in WBB. Their depth in the frontcourt is unbelievable Don't know why the experts are not considering SC!
 
I think perhaps some perceptions in this thread changed a little after the USC-ND game. Maybe they will change again after the LSU-Colorado game later tonight??? Or, maybe not........... :oops:
 
tchalla1 said:
I agree--Maylasia Fulwiley, IMO, is just as impressive as Juju Watkins and along with PaoPao and other incoming players, SC is the most formidable team in WBB. Their depth in the frontcourt is unbelievable Don't know why the experts are not considering SC!
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I’m not sold yet that SCar is the most formidable team in WBB based on just the first game of the season.
 
LSU is playing later this evening. I'll try to catch a little of their game. Based on what I saw of SC this afternoon, I think the Gamecocks may well be the better team. I guess Tennessee is playing for 3rd place in the SEC this season--maybe.
 
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maple said:
I’m not sold yet that SCar is the most formidable team in WBB based on just the first game of the season.
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Actually, my assessment was made before their win over Notre Dame...
 
nwhoopfan said:
Both are critically important to their teams. I think if you removed both, UConn would be considerably better than Iowa.
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I couldn’t agree more. But I don’t want to speculate about any injuries. Instead, I’ll just point to ND. Without Miles they may not make the Sweet Sixteen. Without “Miles” Iowa might not even make the tournament. But without “Miles” UConn probably makes the Final Four again.
 
South Carolina looked great versus ND, and has a legitimate chance this year. LSU looked really bad against Colorado. Their transfers did not look comfortable, and the team generally looked disjointed. Should be an interesting season. Go Huskies!
 
MilfordHusky said:
LSU is playing later this evening. I'll try to catch a little of their game. Based on what I saw of SC this afternoon, I think the Gamecocks may well be the better team. I guess Tennessee is playing for 3rd place in the SEC this season--maybe.
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I stand by my statement that SC may be the better team. Or change it to SC is definitely the better team.
 
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