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Message: [QUOTE="DefenseBB, post: 5310752, member: 7492"] The list of realistic POY candidates is pretty limited and with Juju out for the bulk of the season, I wanted to outline my list of potential players for this award. Being great is not the only criteria, you have to have a media presence and be on a good team. In the history of the award, since 1983, only 2 players won the award on a team that did not reach at least a ONE final four during their career-Megan Gustafson and Sue Wicks (Rutgers 1988). While the vote takes place before the NCAAT, Gustafson's team was #2 seed as was Wicks Rutgers team. That said, here is my top ten and reasoning: 1. Lauren Betts, UCLA-a returning 1st Team AA on a returning Final Four squad. She will get plenty of media attention and without any real challenges in the Big 10, she has to be the front runner. Team prediction-Big 10 titles, Top 2 ranking by the time of the selection show. 2. Hannah Hidalgo, ND-also a returning 2 time 1st Team AA. However, ND will be not as talented this year and Hannah took a "media hit" with her spat with Miles and with Miles transferring out (along with many other players transferring). Top 4 ACC team, possible top 16 seed but... 3. Sarah Strong, UConn- a 2nd Team AA on the defending National Champion. She too will get plenty of media attention but as only a sophomore, while her all-around game should put her 1st, she will be relegated due to her second year standing. Big East titles, Top 2 Ranking by the time of the selection show. 4. Madison Booker, Texas-is a returning 2 time AA (one 1st team, one 2nd team) on a Final Four squad. Texas is a talented team who could return to the Final Four but the SEC is much deeper with SC, LSU and Oklahoma all chomping at the bit. Plus TN/Ole Miss squads who got a massive haul of Portal players or top recruits. My guess is 2nd in the SEC and top 6 seed. 5. Ta'Niya Latson, SC-is 3-time returning AA player (1-2nd team and 2-Honorable Mention) and is now on a strong team who will garner much need media attention for her. How well she fits into a more structured offense and a required defensive scheme will be interesting. 6. Olivia Miles, TCU-also a 3-time returning AA players (2-2nd team, 1-HM) who also transferred. The TCU team is reloading so I view their ceiling at the Elite 8 or Sweet 16 level. My guess is top SEC team, Top 3 seed. 7. Flau'Jae Johnson, LSU-a 3rd Team AA selection last year, she garners a lot of media attention (though I am not convinced she warrants it all). This team will be good but is behind SC and Texas but if they surprise and she is the leader, she could jump up. The other problem is she has Williams, Fulwiley and 3 elite 2025 recruits on this team and Johnson is not a ball-sharer so it will be interesting. My guess is 4th in SEC and top 12 seed 8. Raegan Beers, Oklahoma-a 2 -time returning AA player (1-3rd team, 1-HM) on a talented team with a noted high scoring offense. My guess is 3rd in the SEC and top 10 NCAAT seed 9. Azzi Fudd, UConn-the Final Four MOP and former #1 ranked player in the 2021 class. Up to this point Azzi has been beset by injuries so the full display of her skills has been limited. That said, she needs to stay healthy, score, assist, steals and continue to lead the UConn team to garner enough attention away from the players higher up on this list. I do think she can and will achieve her first AA selection this year but National POY might be a bridge too far....we shall see. Big East titles and Top 2 seed. 10. Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt-a 3rd Team AA player as a freshman, she will be given a lot of time and opportunity to score and score often, but in the SEC, she will be overshadowed by the better teams listed above. This team has gotten better but 6th in the SEC and it will not be a top 16 seed. Other players to watch-Fulwiley, LSU; Harmon, Texas; Kitts and Edwards, SC, Rice and Leger-Walker at UCLA and Audi Crooks ISU. Thoughts? [/QUOTE]

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