Cox will surprise many this year. I'd take her any day of the week over Hebard. Cox played her role, which was to feed Brown. Several players can play the point: Cooper, Landrum, Scott- Grayson, and Ursin. KM did a great job making Jackson the point. I don't see an issue this coming year.
I second this. As a fan of Mississippi State I’m certainly hopeful for a great season but think there are too many questions to be in this conversation yet.
I'd put UConn over OSU and A&M any day. They lost a lot but if ONO makes that big jump. Then they'll be better than they were last year. They lacked that true big. Getting that opens up for their guards. I also see Williams providing All American impact.
Only tough games this upcoming season are South Carolina at home and NC State on the road. I do not know who their Thanksgiving weekend opponents are. The Big 10 will have another quiet year. Ohio State did have a good offseason.
I don't see in UCONN's lineup next season, reason to believe they will be better after losing to graduation, two WNBA players (one who is likely rookie of the year).
Agree, in addition, I still think the lack of a dominate post will be a problem in as far as the top five is concerned. UConn strength is with the guards, great guards are very valuable but they usually are not rebounders and that is were the big bodies really excel.
Cox will be fine now that she has the green light to go off now that brown is gone. Also, there are many guards on the team that can run point. The 3 guards in the starting line up had a high assist to turnover ratio. Also, there will be more than 1 threat from the 3 point line. Didi has been working on her 3 point shooting. Cooper can hit it but not in a high rate! Moon ursin was great from 3’s. Decosta is going to be deadly from out there
Lol I just was shocked to see some put Oregon State and Texas a&m over UConn. Which I think with the team now, UConn is better than.
We probably won't know until well into the season if UCONN is better than Texas A&M or Oregon State. As far as Oregon State goes, it has much do to do with OSU's Roster "health". If all are healthy on OSU's roster, then it is not a stretch to see OSU performing very well next season.
I'm excited to see who steps up for SC. They lose their top two leading scorers in Cooper and Jennings (also their leading rebounder), but they certainly have the players to step up. I'm interested to see what version of Herbert-Harrigan we see, as even SC fans were critical of her being inconsistent, not giving full effort, and lacking discipline at times late in the season. She has a very, very high ceiling, and will be a problem if she works out all the little things -- because the talent and athleticism is surely there.
I almost always agree with @DefenseBB, and in this case I do! The one variable which is HUGE for UCONN is whether or not Westbrook is eligible. Westbrook is that good, and, important, for UCONN's success next season.Opinions can vary and they should however questions with some programs have to be noted and answered. For example it is noted that SC has a young and talented team with the ONLY leader being Ty Harris. MHH is not a leader. She has skills but has been inconsistent and with a questionable work ethic. Is that enough to lead this SC team over Texas A&M? I am not so sure.
Does UConn get Westbrook for this year? Will Ania (Anna) surprise many with her pro league experience, will Liv, Meg and CW all step up their games to help with what KLS and Phee took with them.
Will Kim continue to work her magic with point guards and will they really develop an outside shooting presence (they haven’t shown it in a few years so stating it will is met with skepticism).
Stanford too has talent but where is their leadership and with UO and OSU along with UCLA it will be a battle.
I am not saying some of these questions have no answers but they are fair and legitimate questions to ask and watch to see it unfold. Is Baylor a top 2-absolutely, is it a foregone conclusion they will win (they are not Stewie/Mo/Morgan) probably not.
How will Oregon mesh with greater expectations?
This is a better anticipated WCBB season than most have been and maybe ever. Just keep the discussions positive and rationale with noted evidence of your opinions is all I ask.
For argument sake here’s my top 10
1. Baylor (see @skilz I believe in Kim!)
2. Oregon (I also believe Hebard is much better than most believe)
3. UConn (I expect Westbrook to be eligible with big steps taken by the others and Ania surprising us)
4. OSU (this was a tough choice but with health and Slocum being back Scott is a good guy to bet on)
5. Texas A&M with the whole squad back and maybe with Carter more under control, Coach Blair has on of his best teams ever.
6. Maryland (talent is there Coaching is not). Add in a soft schedule and this team may not be battle tested.
7. Stanford has lots of talent and a great coach. That said she hasn’t won since 1992 and has a much tougher conference and a young team.
8. Norte Dame is here not because I believe in the roster on paper but because when the chips are down MM always gets the best out of her teams. I soooo hope I am wrong but won’t bet on it!
9. Miss State again with this coach who preaches defense and a history of development on his resume, I have to go with him here over-
10. South Carolina. Sorry my Gamecock brethren but while the team has talent, the defections (and a retraction) along with a very young team cause me pause at putting them higher. Great that MHH is back but clearly there is friction and that can affect a young team.
UCLA, Arizona, Arkansas, Miami, Kentucky all have upside. So have it my fellow BYers and let me know the error of my ways!
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She averaged 17 PPG? Per the stats, it was about 10 PPG, and she was the fourth leading scorer?
She has incredible potential beyond how good of a player she has previously demonstrated. Will she step up and be that "GO TO" player?
Very wise man! I’d put UConn in the top 3, as well. Great coaches can do amazing things with “good” players. Never lose faith in Geno.Opinions can vary and they should however questions with some programs have to be noted and answered. For example it is noted that SC has a young and talented team with the ONLY leader being Ty Harris. MHH is not a leader. She has skills but has been inconsistent and with a questionable work ethic. Is that enough to lead this SC team over Texas A&M? I am not so sure.
Does UConn get Westbrook for this year? Will Ania (Anna) surprise many with her pro league experience, will Liv, Meg and CW all step up their games to help with what KLS and Phee took with them.
Will Kim continue to work her magic with point guards and will they really develop an outside shooting presence (they haven’t shown it in a few years so stating it will is met with skepticism).
Stanford too has talent but where is their leadership and with UO and OSU along with UCLA it will be a battle.
I am not saying some of these questions have no answers but they are fair and legitimate questions to ask and watch to see it unfold. Is Baylor a top 2-absolutely, is it a foregone conclusion they will win (they are not Stewie/Mo/Morgan) probably not.
How will Oregon mesh with greater expectations?
This is a better anticipated WCBB season than most have been and maybe ever. Just keep the discussions positive and rationale with noted evidence of your opinions is all I ask.
For argument sake here’s my top 10
1. Baylor (see @skilz I believe in Kim!)
2. Oregon (I also believe Hebard is much better than most believe)
3. UConn (I expect Westbrook to be eligible with big steps taken by the others and Ania surprising us)
4. OSU (this was a tough choice but with health and Slocum being back Scott is a good guy to bet on)
5. Texas A&M with the whole squad back and maybe with Carter more under control, Coach Blair has on of his best teams ever.
6. Maryland (talent is there Coaching is not). Add in a soft schedule and this team may not be battle tested.
7. Stanford has lots of talent and a great coach. That said she hasn’t won since 1992 and has a much tougher conference and a young team.
8. Norte Dame is here not because I believe in the roster on paper but because when the chips are down MM always gets the best out of her teams. I soooo hope I am wrong but won’t bet on it!
9. Miss State again with this coach who preaches defense and a history of development on his resume, I have to go with him here over-
10. South Carolina. Sorry my Gamecock brethren but while the team has talent, the defections (and a retraction) along with a very young team cause me pause at putting them higher. Great that MHH is back but clearly there is friction and that can affect a young team.
UCLA, Arizona, Arkansas, Miami, Kentucky all have upside. So have it my fellow BYers and let me know the error of my ways!
Shouldn't they have a high chance of receiving playing this season.
I would certainly think so, but we are dealing with the NCAA.
Wait, what? Refresh my memory but where did Tech finish in the ACC last year with these 2 players? So now you want us to believe by putting them with Jeff, that team becomes a top 5 team? I am sorry my old friend but we are parting ways on this hypothesis. For the sake of interest Who are you other 4 in your top 5?
Georgia Tech finished with an identical conference record to Tennessee (despite being in a much tougher conference), and Louisville is adding arguably their two best players (a combined 25.6 PPG).
UConn schedule is a killer next season. They play Baylor, Oregon, South Carolina plus a lot of other tough games. I think UConn will lose to all 3 of those teams and could easy lose a couple more games. Going to be tough to finish top 5.
