Next year's #1 | The Boneyard

Next year's #1

Vowelguy

Vowelguy

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With A LOT of top players from top teams graduating, seems like a bunch of shuffling coming in the top 5.

Who will be #1 ?

Oregon (if Ionescu stays)?
Stanford?
Baylor?
 
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UConnCat said:
Feb 1st is of course the perfect date to project next year's #1 team.
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No one's forcing you to read this thread, Cat. And it's not like the thread title was misleading.
Would it be better if I started yet another thread about last night and/or complaining about Geno/the players?

I just wanted something different to talk about the board.
 
Huh ???

They won't be. What's ranking have to do with anything. #1 is the winner of the final game, not the 1st game.

Rational ? How do you figure that. As a Longtime Fan you got delivered NC after NC --- by undeniably the best program directors and managers arguably in all of sport and you're ready to jump off a bridge on an off year, or maybe 2-3 years. ---some would call that the definition of IRRATIONAL

--You are entitled to nothing. You are owed nothing, Not by the coach, not by the players.

Buddy - hate to say it but you don't deserve another NC.

FAITHLESS

Go root for the Knicks
 
Tennessee... I say that tongue-in-cheek. Every preseason it seems, the "experts" look at all the AA's on their roster as well as the top players coming in and say "Tennessee should be in the top 5 or 10"..., And recently, every year, They lose a bunch of games they should not and tumble in the rankings.

For next year I would say Oregon. They lose the least of the elite teams.... Probably Baylor #2. Maybe Stanford #3?
 
EricLA said:
Tennessee... I say that tongue-in-cheek. Every preseason it seems, the "experts" look at all the AA's on their roster as well as the top players coming in and say "Tennessee should be in the top 5 or 10"..., And recently, every year, They lose a bunch of games they should not and tumble in the rankings.

For next year I would say Oregon. They lose the least of the elite teams.... Probably Baylor #2. Maybe Stanford #3?
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depends if a certain point guard decides to stay or go doesn't it?
 
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EricLA said:
Tennessee... I say that tongue-in-cheek. Every preseason it seems, the "experts" look at all the AA's on their roster as well as the top players coming in and say "Tennessee should be in the top 5 or 10"..., And recently, every year, They lose a bunch of games they should not and tumble in the rankings.

For next year I would say Oregon. They lose the least of the elite teams.... Probably Baylor #2. Maybe Stanford #3?
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That is probably the most important factor, but definitely not the only important factor. Given the sophomore leap is usually the largest, teams with excellent freshmen classes might improve a bunch. And sophomores to juniors is a big jump, too, for players that take a little longer to develop. (Incoming freshmen almost never have a significant impact.)
Think about UConn after the big 3 graduated. Napheesa and KLS had great sophomore campaigns. And Gabby and Kia raised their games as juniors. (Dangerfield didn't have much of an impact as a freshman that year.)
Or take Notre Dame the year after Diggins graduated. Conventional wisdom had Notre Dame taking a step back (preseason #6 AP and #7 Coaches), but the rest of the players showed so much development that Notre Dame was undefeated until the NC game, when an Achonwa-less Irish team (she tore her ACL in the E8 game against Baylor) were drubbed by the your Huskies.
So in that vein, I would be wary of Baylor, as they have an excellent freshman class and lots of returning talent.
 
vowelguy said:
With A LOT of top players from top teams graduating, seems like a bunch of shuffling coming in the top 5.

Who will be #1 ?

Oregon (if Ionescu stays)?
Stanford?
Baylor?
Expand ...

Preseason or who wins it all?
 
I would put South Carolina in the mix, especially if Cooper stays. They don’t lose a lot and have a loaded class coming in.

And just a little note. I was bashing SC pretty badly earlier in the season. They look a whole lot better now. Realized they just implemented a new offensive system this year and it’s starting to gel.
 
Baylor, Oregon, Stanford, Oregon St?, Texas?, South Carolina?

No particular order. I think the first 3 will be in top 5. UConn somewhere in top 6. The other 3 have the roster's to be good.
 
vowelguy said:
With A LOT of top players from top teams graduating, seems like a bunch of shuffling coming in the top 5.

Who will be #1 ?

Oregon (if Ionescu stays)?
Stanford?
Baylor?
Expand ...

Vowelguy: Excuse this question but it helps the way I think about it.
Do you mean #1 at the beginning of the season? (Pretty sure you do.) Or the national champion pick?
As we all know, a number of teams are bringing in hordes or freshman and/or having massive personnel changes :rolleyes: and it might take awhile to get the kinks out.
Thanks.
 
Dillon77 said:
Vowelguy: Excuse this question but it helps the way I think about it.
Do you mean #1 at the beginning of the season? (Pretty sure you do.) Or the national champion pick?
As we all know, a number of teams are bringing in hordes or freshman and/or having massive personnel changes :rolleyes: and it might take awhile to get the kinks out.
Thanks.
Expand ...

start
 
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Oregon St. will very much depend on Andrea Aquino, Kennedy Brown, and Taylor Jones. If any of those 3 can step into the starting role at the 5, they can be very good. Slocum, Pivec, Tudor, and Corosdale will all be very experienced by next season, but they need a consistent scorer from the 5.
 
vowelguy said:
With A LOT of top players from top teams graduating, seems like a bunch of shuffling coming in the top 5.

Who will be #1 ?

Oregon (if Ionescu stays)?
Stanford?
Baylor?
Expand ...

I was thinking about this yesterday...my initial thoughts were:
1. Oregon-assuming Ionescu is back, they'll be the favorite next year. All starters for Cazorla are back, plus they have the younger (and allegedly better) Sabally returning.

2. Baylor-they lose AA Kalani Brown and Chloe Jackson but return Lauren Cox and their loaded freshman class. If Egbo, Decosta and Smith all improve, look out.

3. South Carolina-if Te'a Cooper is back, Gamecocks should be a Final Four favorite. They return all contributors besides Alexis Jennings and bring in the top class. Boston should make an impact from the get go. They'll have one of the deepest rosters in the country.

4. Connecticut-the roster *appears* to be very thing right now, but we know a lot can change with grad transfers making a big impact. Connecticut still has Williams/Walker/ONO who will all take on much bigger roles, plus one of the best PGs in the country in Dangerfield. Filling out the rotation is the big question mark, as none of Irwin, Coombs or Bent have shown they are capable rotation players.

5. Oregon State-everyone but role players Grymek and McWilliams returns for Rueck. Aquino will also make her mark as a RS freshman. Slocum should be one of the best players in the nation next year.

6. Stanford-could be higher or lower. Jones is good but doesnt make up for Smith. Belibi is athletic but is her game college ready?

7. Notre Dame-they lose more than anyone else when you look at how seldom they use their bench, but they'll return a NPOY candidate in Jackie Young who will lead this team. They also bring in a standout recruit in Brunelle and have a lot of freshmen and sophomores who will log big minutes next season. Muffet is one of the best coaches in the country, so as long as Young stays I think ND will be strong.


Most of the top teams are going to be seriously depleted due to graduation:
Baylor-lose starting PG and center. Both are standouts

UCONN-lose their 2 best

ND-lose 4 double digit scorers

Stanford-lose an AA senior in Smith

Mississippi State-Danberry, McCowan, Howard and Holmes all leaving. And the 5th starter is coming off an ACL. They're as depleted as anyone.

Marquette-lose five 1000 point scorers

The 2019 graduating class is fantastic, but none of 2019, 2020 or 2021 appear to be powerhouse classes. There havent been a lot of standouts yet like weve seen from 2018 and 2019.
 
Certainly not expecting another Final Four caliber squad, but Mississippi State will have a lot to work with next year. Promise Taylor and Jess Carter in the post (being coached by a proven post developer in Johnnie Harris). Bibby back. AEH and Bre Scott back. Xaria Wiggins. Rickea Jackson and some other nice freshmen.

Key will be how far Myah Taylor progresses at the point and if one of the freshmen can capably back her up.

3 or 4 seed seems a reasonable goal.
 
DaBball said:
Oregon St. will very much depend on Andrea Aquino, Kennedy Brown, and Taylor Jones. If any of those 3 can step into the starting role at the 5, they can be very good. Slocum, Pivec, Tudor, and Corosdale will all be very experienced by next season, but they need a consistent scorer from the 5.
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Oregon State, barring injury, will be a force next year. Pivec, Tudor, Maddie Washington will all be experienced seniors. Aleah Goodman, Destiny Slocum, and Taya Corosdale will be experienced juniors. We will have 6'9" freshman Andrea Aquino (looks great in warm ups!), 6'6" McDonald's AA Kennedy Brown, 6'3" Taylor Jones, and 6'7" sophomore Trish Morris.

Barring injury, Oregon State & Oregon will be the favorite to win the PAC-12 next year.
 
My way-too-early top 5:
  1. Baylor: loses Brown and Jackson but the strong freshman class led by NaLyssa Smith will step in.
  2. Oregon: loses Cazorla and Gildon but should get the younger Sabally sister.
  3. Stanford: loses Smith and some role players, but strong recruiting class arrives.
  4. Maryland: loses only Fraser.
  5. South Carolina: loses Cuevas-Moore, Jennings and Cliney; but killer recruiting class is on the way.
 
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LoTrader said:
Oregon State, barring injury, will be a force next year. Pivec, Tudor, Maddie Washington will all be experienced seniors. Aleah Goodman, Destiny Slocum, and Taya Corosdale will be experienced juniors. We will have 6'9" freshman Andrea Aquino (looks great in warm ups!), 6'6" McDonald's AA Kennedy Brown, 6'3" Taylor Jones, and 6'7" sophomore Trish Morris.

Barring injury, Oregon State & Oregon will be the favorite to win the PAC-12 next year.
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Lord, that is some serious size!!
 
Fightin Choke said:
That is probably the most important factor, but definitely not the only important factor. Given the sophomore leap is usually the largest, teams with excellent freshmen classes might improve a bunch. And sophomores to juniors is a big jump, too, for players that take a little longer to develop. (Incoming freshmen almost never have a significant impact.)
Think about UConn after the big 3 graduated. Napheesa and KLS had great sophomore campaigns. And Gabby and Kia raised their games as juniors. (Dangerfield didn't have much of an impact as a freshman that year.)
Or take Notre Dame the year after Diggins graduated. Conventional wisdom had Notre Dame taking a step back (preseason #6 AP and #7 Coaches), but the rest of the players showed so much development that Notre Dame was undefeated until the NC game, when an Achonwa-less Irish team (she tore her ACL in the E8 game against Baylor) were drubbed by the your Huskies.
So in that vein, I would be wary of Baylor, as they have an excellent freshman class and lots of returning talent.
Expand ...

Good points across the board.

Oregon with an exclamation point if Ionescu comes back for her senior year and the younger Sabally sister is ready to roll from her injury.

I agree with you on Baylor, for the reasons you mention, plus the fact that I think the Cox/Smith dynamic might turn out to be a very good one. Bonus points if Alexis Morris comes back from suspension. (Late(r) note: Just found out she transferred to Rutgers: scratch that PG input.)

Maryland returns every current starter (most of their rotation, actually). Austin and Mikesell have had solid frosh years and if they see any soph bump, whew. Blair Watson will only be stronger after this season. If they get anything out of incoming freshman such as Ashley Owusu and Diamond Miller, that could be a very strong squad.

As for our Irish, Notre Dame is losing four (4) starters...there's no getting around that...and there are no seasoned players like "Ace" Achonwa and/or K-Mac. Of course, there's a variable that could make this even more tenuous (Ok, worse): will Jackie Young come back for her senor year? If so, expect Jewell Loyd-like explosions. If not, this will be a rebuilding year. Not even thinking #1 here, just how the Irish will do. Fully expect MM to whip them into Fighting (Irish) shape, but have no lofty expectations for the beginning of the season. Patience.
 
Last edited:
IWearShoes said:
Lord, that is some serious size!!
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I should have mentioned that Taya Corosdale is 6'3" and usually getting 10+ boards a game. But she is 2nd on the team to 5'10" Mikayla Pivec who had 19 rebounds last weekend vs Washington. Beavers will be very difficult to outrebound next year.
 
Under what conditions does Sabrina return to University of Oregon for her senior year?
 
Someone in the know on the Baylor board reported that there is a chance Chloe Jackson could apply for an extra year of eligibility. I don't know if that waiver would be granted, or if she is even interested, but that would obviously have a major impact next year.
 
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