How many teams could win it all?

[Vowelguy]

When you're reviewing the rankings, how many teams do you look at and say "I wouldn't be shocked if this team won it all."

 

[bballnut90]

When you're reviewing the rankings, how many teams do you look at and say "I wouldn't be shocked if this team won it all."

For me it's 7....Stanford, SC, Baylor, Maryland, UCONN, A&M, and NC State. Louisville has somewhat of an outside shot but I doubt it happens, and I don't think any of the 3 seeds have the horses to win it all, though I think they can (and will) knock off several of the top 7 teams.

 

[bluedevil]

I would drop NC State from that list..they are good but not NCAA Champ good...

 

[UcMiami]

I put the top 8. My question mark is NC St, just because of these teams they are the one with no FF experience in coaching or players and while it will be a strange (unprecedented) experience this year, it still helps having been their before.

I think not having all the craziness of fans and hoopla will make it an easier experience, but there will still be distractions - and all the other coaches have dealt with them.

 

[Sched234]

I put the top 8. My question mark is NC St, just because of these teams they are the one with no FF experience in coaching or players and while it will be a strange (unprecedented) experience this year, it still helps having been their before.

I think not having all the craziness of fans and hoopla will make it an easier experience, but there will still be distractions - and all the other coaches have dealt with them.

I’m not much of a NC State fan and have been low on them for most of the year, but at the end of the day, they have three top-five wins (SC, LVille x2) and none of those were at home. They don’t look like the favorite, but they don’t have any obvious deficiencies that I’ve seen.

For me, the most pressing issues for each of the top teams is as follows:

• UConn - shooting, overreliance on PB
• Stanford - unproven against the best of the best, thin at the 4/5 spots
• Texas A&M - unconventional post play (a low-impact 5 and a 4 for whom few plays are run) and an affinity for close games
• South Carolina - shooting, turnovers, consistent production from someone not named Aliyah Boston
• NC State - ? Not much jumps out at me. A few iffy losses; unpredictable offensive production at times
• Baylor - shooting, turnovers
• Maryland - defense

 

[MilfordHusky]

I’ll go with the top 8, though Louisville is the most marginal. In normal years, the number is 3-5.

 

[LoboDays]

I’ll throw Georgia in the Pot and call it 9.

 

[ME Husky Fan]

I think you could derive anywhere from 5 to 10, realistically but I’ll try and tighten it up some and in no certain order - SC, Baylor, UCONN.

 

[Vowelguy]

Based on the poll results I can tell that TonyC hasnt voted yet.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Stanford - unproven against the best of the best, thin at the 4/5 spots

How do you figure on that second part? Easily one of the best front court rotations in the country.

 

[bbsamjj]

I’m not much of a NC State fan and have been low on them for most of the year, but at the end of the day, they have three top-five wins (SC, LVille x2) and none of those were at home. They don’t look like the favorite, but they don’t have any obvious deficiencies that I’ve seen.

For me, the most pressing issues for each of the top teams is as follows:

• UConn - shooting, overreliance on PB
• Stanford - unproven against the best of the best, thin at the 4/5 spots
• Texas A&M - unconventional post play (a low-impact 5 and a 4 for whom few plays are run) and an affinity for close games
• South Carolina - shooting, turnovers, consistent production from someone not named Aliyah Boston
• NC State - ? Not much jumps out at me. A few iffy losses; unpredictable offensive production at times
• Baylor - shooting, turnovers
• Maryland - defense

MD and Baylor have both found a lot of success this year with "untraditional line-ups." MD doesn't really have a center; just a bunch of very talented forwards (Collins, Reese, Bibby, Miller). Would be interesting to see them go up against a SC, NC State, or Baylor.

Meanwhile, Baylor has made Didi Richards into a PG, despite...not being a PG. But she can defend 1-4 better than almost anyone.

 

[LoTrader]

How do you figure on that second part? Easily one of the best front court rotations in the country.

Clearly is mixing up Stanford with some other team?

 

[bballnut90]

I would drop NC State from that list..they are good but not NCAA Champ good...

I think they're a good dark horse team. They remind me of 2011 Texas A&M when they had a veteran roster led by a very good big post player, although no top 5 kids on the roster. Everyone knew they were a solid team but I don't think anyone expected they'd win the title that year. This season feels wide open so I could see them putting together a string of good games and winning.

 

[LETTERL]

I would drop NC State from that list..they are good but not NCAA Champ good...

@LETTERL Making edits to Christmas card mailing list.

Next...

 

[TerpWomenFan]

To win six consecutive games, you need a special player to dominate throughout the tournament. The only team I can think of in the top 8 that "I believe" don't have that type of player is Texas A&M. They have some solid players but they don't have "the" player like Cunane, Evans, Boston, Bueckers, Owusu, Jones and Smith.

 

[triaddukefan]

Little Carolina, NC State, Uconn, Baylor, MD, Stanford, and to a lesser extent TAMU. Can't see anyone else winning it.

 

[chrissaran]

It's open to 8-10 teams depending on the matchups.

 

[Drumguy]

technically any team in the tournament could win. Imagine a sceenerio where every team except one tests positive! and has to drop out!

Also they do play the games for a reason.

 

[Majic Hands]

Went with 10. I know, crazy. But last year and this year being what they were. Kids quarantine for about 3 weeks for the tournament. Games mostly within conference. Do we really have any idea how good teams are and do we have any idea of anything?

My thoughts were can any of the 1 seeds win. Answer was "Da". How about a 2 seed winning. Answer " oh h*ll yes" can a 3 seed win? Since 4, 3 seeds have won I've got to go with, that's possible.

Actually. Now that I think about it I should have said 12 not 10.

 

[Sched234]

MD and Baylor have both found a lot of success this year with "untraditional line-ups." MD doesn't really have a center; just a bunch of very talented forwards (Collins, Reese, Bibby, Miller). Would be interesting to see them go up against a SC, NC State, or Baylor.

Meanwhile, Baylor has made Didi Richards into a PG, despite...not being a PG. But she can defend 1-4 better than almost anyone.

Maryland’s post situation isn’t an issue for me simply because their 4 and 5 position rotation is so skilled. I do think MD could be in trouble if they run into a team with a dominant big and enough firepower outside her (SC and NCST come to mind).

Teams like Texas A&M should want nothing to do with Maryland because they simply cannot score enough.

I don’t expect Maryland to pull some incredible defensive tactics out of nowhere after not showing them all season. But I am curious how Maryland will fare against a stellar defensive squad. Something tells me they’ll still hang 75 on UConn or SC—the x-factor will be whether they can be outscored,

 

[KY Card Fan]

I voted for six - UConn, Stanford, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Baylor and NC State

Alas, my Louisville Cardinals don't have what it takes.

NC State is my dark horse and will be my rooting interest when/if Louisville is eliminated.

Although I think UConn wins it.

 

[LETTERL]

I voted for six - UConn, Stanford, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Baylor and NC State

Alas, my Louisville Cardinals don't have what it takes.

NC State is my dark horse and will be my rooting interest when/if Louisville is eliminated.

Although I think UConn wins it.

@LETTERL making more edits to Christmas card list.

 

[fomalhaut]

There was no vote for 3, so I checked four. But I think it's Connecticut, Stanford, or Baylor.

 

[JellyBean]

I went with 8 teams.
UConn
Stanford
Maryland
South Carolina
NC State
Texas A&M
Louisville
Baylor