Way Too Early 2017-18 rankings

[Plebe]

Duke aint losing to no Big 10 team in the tournament

Hopefully this thread will be locked just in case.

I can see Duke vs. Rutgers in a first- or second-round matchup

 

[Vowelguy]

What about Oregon? I think they deserve to be in the Top 10- without doubt. Everyone comes back- and they're no longer freshmen!

Oregon was 8-10 in the PAC and very nearly lost to Temple in the 1st round. Instead they got a lucky draw (Duke injury, overrated/overconfident MD), and suddenly everyone has them as world beaters next year.

They have a lot of young talent, but top 10 seems like an extreme leap for a team that barely made the tourney this year.

 

[triaddukefan]

Oregon was 8-10 in the PAC and very nearly lost to Temple in the 1st round. Instead they got a lucky draw (Duke injury, overrated/overconfident MD), and suddenly everyone has them as world beaters next year.

They have a lot of young talent, but top 10 seems like an extreme leap for a team that barely made the tourney this year.

A Temple team without a key starter as well........ if only they hadnt blown that lay-up at the buzzer

 

[HoopsFan21]

No Tennessee?

 

[Plebe]

They have a lot of young talent, but top 10 seems like an extreme leap for a team that barely made the tourney this year.

Could one not say the same for West Virginia, save for its hot run in the Big 12 tourney?

 

[triaddukefan]

1. UConn
2. South Carolina
3. Notre Dame
4. Baylor
5. Texas
6. UCLA
7. Stanford
8. Louisville
9. Mississippi State
10. Maryland
11. Tennessee
12. Oregon ?

No Duke ?

 

[HuskyNan]

Even if it's locked, somebody can start a new thread and link to it

It's an automatic feature that locks old threads to prevent them from coming back, like zombies.

 

[Plebe]

No Duke ?

Sorry, mis-edit. The list is still in progress.

But even you said they're not top 10.

 

[BostonCanuck]

Mississippi State will be in the top 10 for sure. They only lose Dillingham, Richardson and I a couple of other role players.

 

[triaddukefan]

Sorry, mis-edit. The list is still in progress.

But even you said they're not top 10.

Id say #15-18 .... but I wont really have a good idea until I see them scrimmage and after the exhibition game. Pre-Lambert injury I would have had them hovering in the 10 range.

 

[Vowelguy]

Could one not say the same for West Virginia, save for its hot run in the Big 12 tourney?

At least wv beat Tex and bay

 

[Plebe]

Id say #15-18 .... but I wont really have a good idea until I see them scrimmage and after the exhibition game. Pre-Lambert injury I would have had them hovering in the 10 range.

There are some teams that should be top 10 based on talent but now have a track record of underachieving: Ohio State, Tennessee, Louisville.

Louisville was a #2 seed last year, lost no one important to graduation, got Asia Durr healthy, but somehow became a worse team.
Ohio State brought in enough new talent to field two competitive teams, but did nothing memorable this season except beat Maryland and Kentucky.
Tennessee, well, we all know about that.

So when we go to preseason-rank these teams, do we take into account their recent history of squandering talent?

 

[Plebe]

At least wv beat Tex and bay

And Oregon beat Washington and UCLA.

 

[HuskyNan]

There are some teams that should be top 10 based on talent but now have a track record of underachieving: Ohio State, Tennessee, Louisville.

Louisville was a #2 seed last year, lost no one important to graduation, got Asia Durr healthy, but somehow became a worse team.
Ohio State brought in enough new talent to field two competitive teams, but did nothing memorable this season except beat Maryland and Kentucky.
Tennessee, well, we all know about that.

So when we go to preseason-rank these teams, do we take into account their recent history of squandering talent?

You should add Kentucky to your list of underachievers, IMO.

 

[Plebe]

You should add Kentucky to your list of underachievers, IMO.

You think Kentucky underachieved this year? I thought they overachieved, given their losses and lack of depth.

Perhaps they underachieved last year.

 

[HuskyNan]

You think Kentucky underachieved this year? I thought they overachieved, given their losses and lack of depth.

Perhaps they underachieved last year.

Well, you did mention a "record of underachieving", hence my comment.

 

[triaddukefan]

It's an automatic feature that locks old threads to prevent them from coming back, like zombies.

some threads... mostly OT ones are good to be bumped in the off season.... you know.. those related to food..... travel.... music..... food....

 

[Padutch5]

Stanford loses 3 starters but might not fall all that far. Oregon should make a big jump next year and Oregon St. might not fall as much as many will assume (just like last year).

Stamford only schedules UCONN when they think they are loaded. I don't think they have us back on their schedule for next year so I suspect that means they are not too confident.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Sniezak has started off and on throughout her career and played enough minutes this year to basically be a 6th starter. I think Sniezak is a decent upgrade over Roberson actually. Smith was great down the stretch and was their most gifted scorer in the post. Johnson was a rebounding machine as a freshman. She hasn't developed much as her career has continued but she can definitely replace much of McCall's rebounding. Karlie was their leading 3 point shooter and a heady veteran leader, but I don't she's totally irreplaceable either. They had 3 McDonald's All American freshmen this year that didn't play much, I would assume all 3 will have much expanded roles next season.

Sniezak would become light years more valuable if she had a decent outside shot.
I think the three seniors, Karlie, Bird and Bri amazingly changed Tara as a person. I still cant believe Tara was dancing after the win over N. Dame.
Who replaces Karlie's leadership and reliability. Someone will lead, but who and how well.
Unless Karlie decides to go into medicine, like Bonnie, she will be a coach. Incredible BB IQ and she deals well with all people.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Mississippi State will be in the top 10 for sure. They only lose Dillingham, Richardson and I a couple of other role players.

Mississippi State gets a very nice PF from Australia. Her name is Chloe Bibby. She was on a WNBL team this past season, very little play time, but tons of experience. She can go to college as she wasnt compensated by her team. She is also on or will play for a SEABL team, also a pro league but a step down from the WNBL.

Here is a you tube video of her, she has some bulldog in her, no pun intended. Also a write up by an Aussie on line site that covers both WBB and MBB.

Chloe Bibby: Mississippi State’s missing piece?

 

[Grad1990]

I'm sure I'm missing key players, which I know the knowledge BY crew will correct. And I'm probably forgetting some important team.

But here goes ...

(1) UConn - lose Chong; add transfers Azura & Camara + #3 HS class including HS POY Walker
(2) So Car - lose no key players (other than Coates); add #7 HS class
(3) N Dame - lose PG Allen, but lotsa talent returns; add Lili Thompson
(4) Texas - lose Lang & Taylor but McCarty/Atkins/Holmes back + 2 top 10 HS recruits
(5) Baylor - lose Jones/Prince/Davis/Cave but return a lot; add #2 HS class incl two top 10 players
(6) UCLA - return 4 of top 6 plus 3 players that were injured; add #4 HS class
(7) Duke - return 4 of top 6, add top HS recruits
(8) Oh St - lose 1 starter, return 8 players with 15+ mins
(9) Lou - return most key players; add Dana Evans (#3 PN)
(10) W Va - lose 1 starter but Tynice Martin back + add mid-season transfer Ekhelar (Oh St)

Also:
Maryland - lose top 2 (Jones, SWK) but return a lot

Leaving Mississippi State out of the top completely discredits your poll.

 

[ASweet3781]

Yeah, I also don't buy the whole "defending champ automatic #1" thing.

We should and will be ranked #1. If SC wants to use that as motivation, good for them.

South Carolina probably would have beaten us tonight. They were far tougher with MSU than we were. They didn't screw around. They looked more mature and tougher than our guys. That can change with an off season and adding more key players. But I'd absolutely rank them 1 for now.

We will be better and deeper next year. We need to be a bit meaner on the court. More mature too. I think tonight proved that we should have beaten Mississippi State.

 

[EricSD]

Yeah, I also don't buy the whole "defending champ automatic #1" thing.

We should and will be ranked #1. If SC wants to use that as motivation, good for them.

Exactly. It's not like what UCONN loses and adds is unknown. We made it to the final 4 with a bunch of sophomores and juniors. We lost Chong, who was a revelation this season, but bring in potentially one of the top 5 players in all of WCBB (Stevens), hands down the best incoming freshman in the country (Walker), a fierce and physical post player (Camara), and 3 other highly touted freshmen to complement Danger and Big Nat.

Now if you want to argue that SC is the better team based on their personnel vs. ours, that's fair game. But to say they are #1 next year because they won the NC this year is silly. BTW no idea why Miss State was left off, but clearly the AP and coaches will have them in their top 6 to start next season.

And as much as it pains me to say this, Tennessee should be preseason top 10 as well. They bring almost everyone back (lose Reynolds) and get their starting PG back. Not to mention a very talented freshman class. They lost a lot last year, but a lot of those games were close. I could see them losing no more than 4-5 games all of next season and being a 2 seed. Let's hope it's more of the past 2 years, but still, there's more talent on their team next year than almost any of Pat's teams. A ferret could win with that roster...

 

[SCGamecock]

The glaring omission is Mississippi State. Almost everyone comes back.

Mississippi State returns Vivians, William and McCowan... but they lose Chapel, Richardson, Dillingham and Okorie. That's a big loss. Richardson and Dillingham are easily the best defenders on the team besides William and Okorie provides valuable paint depth.

Mississippi State isn't going to be chopped liver but I would be surprised if they are better next year than they were this year. That would require William, Vivians and McCowan taking BIG leaps (which is possible, but we'll see I guess)..

 

[AndyCT]

Now if you want to argue that SC is the better team based on their personnel vs. ours, that's fair game. But to say they are #1 next year because they won the NC this year is silly. BTW no idea why Miss State was left off, but clearly the AP and coaches will have them in their top 6 to start next season.

And if you take their "We're #1 until someone beats us" logic to it's natural conclusion, then since Mississippi State made it to the championship game and beat Connecticut head-to-head, the Bulldogs start the season at #2 next year, ahead of Connecticut,...and Stanford is #4.

I don't know where Maryland will be, but they'll be whining about it no matter....

 

[triaddukefan]

Well lemme try

1) UCONN 2) South Carolina 3) Baylor 4) ND 5) Texas 6) UCLA 7) Ohio State 8) Louisville 9) Tennesee 10) Stanford

11) Miss State 12) Oregon 13) Duke 14) Florida State 15) Maryland

 

[HuskyNan]

some threads... mostly OT ones are good to be bumped in the off season.... you know.. those related to food..... travel.... music..... food....

there was a problem on another board where people kept bumping old threads. It's not my call. I tried to unlock a thread the other day and couldn't so I share your frustration.

 

[CocoHusky]

And if you take their "We're #1 until someone beats us" logic to it's natural conclusion, then since Mississippi State made it to the championship game and beat Connecticut head-to-head, the Bulldogs start the season at #2 next year, ahead of Connecticut,...and Stanford is #4.

I don't know where Maryland will be, but they'll be whining about it no matter....

"We are Number 1 until someone beats us" is not a South Carolina invention-how could it possible be? That notion was presented here by UCONN fans even after the graduation of the big three.

 

[Shenandoah]

South Carolina should be ranked #1 as they are the defending champs....it will be interesting to watch how they handle having the big target on their backs all of next season.....the Gamecocks will learn very quickly that it is much more difficult to be the hunted then the hunter....Geno gave away his Olympic coaching spot to Dawn and now she goes and takes his NCAA Championship too!!....he may deny it but I think he will be a man on a mission next year......hope the UConn players are ready for what's to come.....

They may be practicing 5 on 10, instead of 5 on 8!

 

[Shenandoah]

South Carolina probably would have beaten us tonight. They were far tougher with MSU than we were. They didn't screw around. They looked more mature and tougher than our guys. That can change with an off season and adding more key players. But I'd absolutely rank them 1 for now.

We will be better and deeper next year. We need to be a bit meaner on the court. More mature too. I think tonight proved that we should have beaten Mississippi State.

We've all gone through all of the "what if's" of the MSU game, BUT, if we had pulled it out, and gotten to the championship game, we don't lose. UConn NEVER loses Championship games (men and women) , and we don't play 2 bad games in a row.