Final 4 sleeper

[Vowelguy]

Consider teams NOT in the pre-season top 12.
(UConn / SC, Miss St / ND, Lou, Duke / Oh St / UCLA, Stan, Ore / Tex, Bay)

 

[CocoHusky]

I voted other and I'm thinking Texas A&M.

 

[BostonCanuck]

From this list (excluding other) it's Maryland by a country mile for me. Not even sure I'd consider them a dark horse (though certainly more likely that they do not make it to the Final Four).

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[Orangutan]

What's the deal with A&M? They were totally unremarkable last year. What am I missing?

 

[Huskee11]

So, can`t pick Oregon but that`s a team I would love to see in Columbus. Go Sabrina!

 

[stwainfan]

I am anxious to see Tennessee play Tuesday night. The main thing I'm looking for in that game. Is the point guard position between Westbrook and Hayes. I think the both bring skills to upgrade that position.

 

[Vowelguy]

So, can`t pick Oregon but that`s a team I would love to see in Columbus. Go Sabrina!

They are ranked 11th in both polls. Hardly a sleeper pick.

 

[MilfordHusky]

What's the deal with A&M? They were totally unremarkable last year. What am I missing?

Possible National Freshman of the Year, Chennedy Carter. She's Jia Perkins's cousin and an uber-talened PG. HoopGurlz rated her #6 overall. She may have more of an impact than Destiny Slocum did, though Destiny had better finishers.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I went with DePaul/Marquette. It was the only option with 2 teams. DePaul has Doug Bruno as coach, and Marquette has my granddaughter in the student body and fan base.

 

[Ctpaul0825]

I am anxious to see Tennessee play Tuesday night. The main thing I'm looking for in that game. Is the point guard position between Westbrook and Hayes. I think the both bring skills to upgrade that position.

Will the game be streamed?

 

[oldude]

Had to go with other. A sleeper will almost certainly come out of one of the P-5 conferences. My pick is FSU which has been hanging around the fringe for a couple of seasons.

 

[triaddukefan]

What's the deal with A&M? They were totally unremarkable last year. What am I missing?

Balanced scoring...... Big bodied effective Center...... double double machine at one forward...... quality off guard... impact Freshman PG...... will be battled tested playing in the SEC.... and a quality coach.

 

[stwainfan]

Will the game be streamed?

Yes it will.
vs. Carson-Newman

 

[triaddukefan]

Yes it will.
vs. Carson-Newman

Go Eagles

 

[stwainfan]

Go Eagles

I don't think the Eagles will win.

 

[Orangutan]

Balanced scoring. Big bodied effective Center. double double machine at one forward. quality off guard... impact Freshman PG. will be battled tested playing in the SEC.... and a quality coach.

Fair enough. I still don't really see it, but we are talking about sleepers after all. I voted for Maryland on the logic "Frese may actually be an evil sorceress" so I can't throw stones.

 

[oldude]

I don't think the Eagles will win.

Probably not, but think of all the fun everyone would have on VolNation if they did....

 

[CocoHusky]

What's the deal with A&M? They were totally unremarkable last year. What am I missing?

Really surprised that Texas A&M did not crack the top 25. For starters Texas A&M returns a pair of starters K. Hillsman and Danni Williams that are both more productive than the TN returning duo of Russell and Nared. Additionally TA&M also returns another double digit scorer in Ariel Howard. Not to mention Miss Chennedy Carter is on the way to get buckets for A&M.

 

[bballnut90]

I chose Maryland....they lose a lot but Brenda has proven she can build successful teams after losing talent. They also return Charles, Confroy and Fraser who were all solid contributors last year. Not to mention Jones and Small who were also rotation players. Maryland was a major Final Four threat last year until they were put in UCONN's regional. I don't think they'll make the Final Four but they have a better shot than any team on this list.

 

[eebmg]

I voted other and think FSU


Looking at their roster, they have a lot of talent and good senior leadership as well as a strong coach. Ranked 18 in the AP poll. I think significiantly underrated.

Florida State Seminoles 2017-18 Team Player Roster - College Basketball - ESPN


Some of their core seniors. The year after will be a problem.


10 Leticia Romero G 5-8 SR Las Palmas, Spain

12 Brittany Brown G 5-8 SR Fort Walton Beach, FL

15 Kiah Gillespie F 6-2 SO Meriden, CT

20 Shakayla Thomas F 5-11 SR Sylacauga, AL

23 Ivey Slaughter F 6-1 SR Macon, GA


32 Imani Wright G 5-9 SR Hooks, TX

42 Kai James C 6-5 SR West Palm Beach, FL

50 Chatrice White C 6-3 SR

 

[triaddukefan]

I voted other and think FSU


Looking at their roster


Florida State Seminoles Roster
Florida State Seminoles
NO NAME POS HT CLASS HOMETOWN
3 Sayawni Lassiter G 5-10 FR Dorchester, MA
4 AJ Alix G 5-6 SR Houston, TX
10 Leticia Romero G 5-8 SR Las Palmas, Spain
11 Iho Lopez F 6-2 FR Blanes, Spain
12 Brittany Brown G 5-8 SR Fort Walton Beach, FL
12 Nicole Ekhomu G 5-9 SO Bolingbrook, IL
13 Nausia Woolfolk G 5-9 SO Fort Valley, GA
15 Kiah Gillespie F 6-2 SO Meriden, CT
20 Shakayla Thomas F 5-11 SR Sylacauga, AL
23 Ivey Slaughter F 6-1 SR Macon, GA
25 Ama Degbeon C 6-2 SR Grunberg, Germany
31 Savannah Wilkinson G 5-11 FR London, England
32 Imani Wright G 5-9 SR Hooks, TX
42 Kai James C 6-5 SR West Palm Beach, FL
50 Chatrice White C 6-3 SR

If they had that roster... they'd have a legit shot at the final four..... unfortunately thats kinda LAST year's roster.... not sure why they havent removed last year's seniors from the list.... they do list the other players correctly in terms of their class

 

[Orangutan]

Really surprised that Texas A&M did not crack the top 25. For starters Texas A&M returns a pair of starters K. Hillsman and Danni Williams that are both more productive than the TN returning duo of Russell and Nared. Additionally TA&M also returns another double digit scorer in Ariel Howard. Not to mention Miss Chennedy Carter is on the way to get buckets for A&M.

I compared the stats just for the sake of my own edification:

Williams - 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg., 1.7 apg, 38.4% FG, 36.2% 3FG
Nared - 15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 42.3% FG, 37.8% 3FG

Hillsman - 16.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 62.4% FG, 41 blocks
Russell - 16.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 56.2% FG, 45 blocks

I don't know that I would say Hillsman & Williams are more productive, though they are comparable.

Hillsman, Williams, and Howard were the main piece last year alongside Curtyce Knox and A&M finished outside the top 25. I know Carter is a huge talent but I'm skeptical that Carter is going to be that much better in her first year than Knox. Knox's stats - 10.8 ppg, 8.9 apg, 2.5 A/TO ratio

 

[stwainfan]

I compared the stats just for the sake of my own edification:

Williams - 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg., 1.7 apg, 38.4% FG, 36.2% 3FG
Nared - 15.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 42.3% FG, 37.8% 3FG

Hillsman - 16.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 62.4% FG, 41 blocks
Russell - 16.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 56.2% FG, 45 blocks

I don't know that I would say Hillsman & Williams are more productive, though they are comparable.

Hillsman, Williams, and Howard were the main piece last year alongside Curtyce Knox and A&M finished outside the top 25. I know Carter is a huge talent but I'm skeptical that Carter is going to be that much better in her first year than Knox. Knox's stats - 10.8 ppg, 8.9 apg, 2.5 A/TO ratio

One more stat Russell led the SEC with 19 double doubles.

 

[UConnCat]

I voted other and think FSU


Looking at their roster, they have a lot of talent and good senior leadership as well as a strong coach. Ranked 18 in the AP poll. I think significiantly underrated.

Florida State Seminoles 2017-18 Team Player Roster - College Basketball - ESPN


Some of their core seniors. The year after will be a problem.


10 Leticia Romero G 5-8 SR Las Palmas, Spain

12 Brittany Brown G 5-8 SR Fort Walton Beach, FL

15 Kiah Gillespie F 6-2 SO Meriden, CT

20 Shakayla Thomas F 5-11 SR Sylacauga, AL

23 Ivey Slaughter F 6-1 SR Macon, GA


32 Imani Wright G 5-9 SR Hooks, TX

42 Kai James C 6-5 SR West Palm Beach, FL

50 Chatrice White C 6-3 SR

We are officially in the "year after" and there's a problem. Romero, Brown, Slaughter and James are gone.