Looking Back-Expert's Predictions for 2013-14

[mudcat]

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...tions-2013-14-women-college-basketball-season

Just looking at ESPN's expert predictions: I think Voepel came closest and even she was pretty far off. Just show's you how unpredictable WCBB can be. At least they all recognized that UCONN was the overwhelming favorite to repeat: the only thing that made that a question last year were the injuries. How close were you? I was pretty far off, except for predicting Notre Dame's success in the ACC. Any predictions for surprises this year?

 

[Sonny44]

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...tions-2013-14-women-college-basketball-season

Just looking at ESPN's expert predictions: I think Voepel came closest and even she was pretty far off. Just show's you how unpredictable WCBB can be. At least they all recognized that UCONN was the overwhelming favorite to repeat: the only thing that made that a question last year were the injuries. How close were you? I was pretty far off, except for predicting Notre Dame's success in the ACC. Any predictions for surprises this year?

One of the great ones.

 

[bballnut90]

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-b...tions-2013-14-women-college-basketball-season

Just looking at ESPN's expert predictions: I think Voepel came closest and even she was pretty far off. Just show's you how unpredictable WCBB can be. At least they all recognized that UCONN was the overwhelming favorite to repeat: the only thing that made that a question last year were the injuries. How close were you? I was pretty far off, except for predicting Notre Dame's success in the ACC. Any predictions for surprises this year?

While I think they are very knowledgeable, I have never been overly impressed with the "experts" at ESPN....I think they underestimate coaching and history while overestimating the importance of teams having multiple top 10-15 recruits. For example, this past season everyone (myself included) underestimated Notre Dame due to Diggins graduating, but Notre Dame was hands down one of the 3 best teams in the nation the previous year, all of which were head and shoulders above anyone else in WCBB. Comparatively, teams like Duke and Tennessee are top 3 teams on paper but haven't produced, missing the Final Four for the last 5-6 years. Even if Duke has more top 10 recruits, Notre Dame was returning a better crop of players from their team and by the end of the season, Notre Dame was undefeated playing for a National Title and Duke was out in the 2nd round.


Good coaching, good team chemistry and good results from the previous year are 3 common trademarks of great teams. As far as predictions for this upcoming season, my guesses for what the "experts" picked last season are as follows:
POY: Stewart
Final Four: UCONN, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, South Carolina
NCAA: UCONN over Notre Dame
AAC Champ: UCONN
ACC: Notre Dame
B12: Baylor
Big East: No idea
Big Ten: Maryland
Pac 12: Stanford
SEC: Tennessee

Some sleeper teams to keep an eye on--Texas has a great class coming in and has some good talent, I think UT is 2 years away from being a true Final Four threat, but could contend for a Big 12 title this year if they are consistent. Michigan State and Rutgers are 2 more sleepers to keep an eye on. Teams like Baylor, Maryland Louisville, Kentucky, North Carolina and Stanford are hard to count out based on their strong performances in previous seasons but all of these teams will have some major vacancies to replace, and I don't see their current rosters having the star power to make up for this. I think it will be another dominating 40-0 season for UCONN without any real competitors....in terms of competition, the best shot anyone has will be when Stewart is a senior or possibly the year after her departure.

 

[Coler]

I think Rutgers will surprise people next season, I just feel like last season was a huge step in the right direction finally after the last few disappointing season, we RU fans have some big things to look forward too.
I also think it wouldn't be surprising if Rutgers went on to win the B1G next year and here's why:

Rutgers was handed a reasonably favorably conference schedule with only having to play Ohio State, Michigan State, Iowa, Minnesota, & Nebraska all once, & the ladder three at home.

Also Rutgers returns 10 of 11 of it's roster from last year, including our starting 5.

We have a duo(Scaife & Copper) that was very good this past season, but I think they could be very very good this season, they'll give other teams problems.

Just watching the last few games I could tell we had as much as good team chemistry as we had in a long long time, but this group seems to really like each other and it shows.

Also, I feel like CVS went out and addressed our lack of 3-point shooting in signing two sharp shooting JuCo players, and the two freshman are also 3-point shooters. As well as I bet all our returning guards are working on their 3-point shot this off-season so I'm not worried.

Also it's looking as if we'll play a hard OOC schedule as well with some exciting games against Tennessee, UNC, that I know of...will have to wait until our schedule to find out.

Overall, this is the most excitement I've felt in a long time. So hopefully we'll pick up where we left off and hit the ground running.

Go RU!