espnW: Top 10 mid-major teams and players

[Plebe]

I linked this article on another thread, but I think it deserves its own:

Who is the mid-major player of the year front-runner?

South Dakota's Ciara Duffy, whose team is up to No. 2 in our mid-major top 10, is the favorite, with Bella Alarie and Micaela Kelly also in the race.

www.espn.com

Graham Hays of espnW has the mid-major teams currently ranked like this:

1. Gonzaga
2. South Dakota
3. Florida Gulf Coast
4. Princeton
5. Central Michigan
6. Missouri State
7. James Madison
8. Rice
9. Bradley
10. Drake

Three of these teams are from the Missouri Valley. The other 7 are each from distinct conferences.

As for the best mid-major players, Hays has:
'
First team:

• Ciara Duffy, South Dakota. Frontrunner for mid-major POY.
• Bella Alarie, Princeton
• Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
• Erica Ogwumike, Rice
• Chelsey Perry, UT Martin

Second team:

• Ellie Harmeyer, Belmont
• Kamiah Smalls, James Madison
• Alexa Willard, Missouri State
• Macee Williams, IUPUI
• Jenn Wirth, Gonzaga

Interesting that only 3 of these 10 players (Duffy, Alarie and Kelly) were named to the Her Hoop Stats watchlist for mid-major POY.

Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List

15 Student-Athletes Named to HHS Mid-Major Player of the Year Mid-Season Watch List

herhoopstats.substack.com

 

[DaBball]

I have a hard time with Stella Johnson not being on Hays’ list. She is the leading scorer in the NCAA for a team that is 15-2 overall and 8-0 in conference. Not sure what else she could do to get her name on that list.

 

[ochoopsfan]

If Graham Hays or anyone else publish their polls or opinions and they are not also participants of the BY, I give them little time.

 

[Cedar]

It's interesting that Hays has Florida Gulf Coast ranked above Princeton. They played against each other in November, and Princeton won, 67-53.

 

[Plebe]

It's interesting that Hays has Florida Gulf Coast ranked above Princeton. They played against each other in November, and Princeton won, 67-53.

Yeah, I noticed that as well. Not sure what his rationale is for putting FGCU ahead like that.

He talks about how Gonzaga is one overtime loss (to Stanford) away from an undefeated record. Well, the same can be said of Princeton, whose only loss was in overtime at Iowa, the team that owns the nation's 2nd longest home winning streak after Baylor.