Who Are The Big Losers - besides us?

[Sonny44]

We lose Stef & Bria, OUCH!
I'd like to see a discussion about our competitors. Who else loses big time? Seems ND loses big too. Who else?

 

[pap49cba]

Maryland, Duke, Baylor.... probably others.

 

[calpedaler]

Stanford

 

[Vowelguy]

Louisville, Kentucky, Penn St, W Virginia

 

[doggydaddy]

Tennessee. They lose their leading scorer......snicker, snicker.

 

[rvwsleep]

From where I stand, here are the 5 teams which will provide the most competition for us next year. In no particular order.
ND
NC
SC
Duke
Tenn (addition by subtraction)

 

[stwainfan]

Tennessee. They lose their leading scorer.snicker, snicker.

The mock WNBA draft has her going too Connecticut Sun.

 

[Blueballer]

The mock WNBA draft has her going too Connecticut Sun.

Nothing Donovan does would surprise me.

 

[doggydaddy]

The mock WNBA draft has her going too Connecticut Sun.

ONE mock draft has her going 11.

This one has her going. 20 to Atlanta. http://wnbadraft.net/2014-wnba-draft/

This one has the first round from two writers. She isn't in it.

http://www.wnba.com/lynx/draft-2014.html

Congrats for finding the only mock draft where she is in the first round.

 

[sawxfan23]

The mock WNBA draft has her going too Connecticut Sun.

I guess that's why they call it a MOCK draft then because everyone in this State will Mock the Sun if they draft her.

 

[blaqtech]

IMHO. She would be a fan favorite if San Antonio grabs her. Nothing like playing in front of the hometown fans.

 

[huskeynut]

We will see who the real coaches are. Every major team is seeing key players graduate. Who will re-invent themselves for next year? UCONN without a doubt. Geno is a master at this. ND will be fine though maybe not to this year's level. Louisville is a big question mark, as is Stanford. Duke is loaded with talent but we know how that has worked out.

As to the mock draft - I have no faith in Donovan.

 

[meyers7]

We lose Stef & Bria, OUCH!
I'd like to see a discussion about our competitors. Who else loses big time? Seems ND loses big too. Who else?

Well let's take a look.

Louisville - loses S. Schimmel, Slaughter, Taylor, Gibbs and ?Vails? They take a big hit.
Tennessee - Lose Simmons. Probably not a big hit considering who they have left.
Kentucky - Loses Walker, Stallworth, Evans, Pinkett, and Drake. Pretty good hit, especially height wise (Frontcourt)
S. Carolina - Montout. Pretty well set for next year.
Notre Dame - McBride, Braker, Achonwa. Pretty big hit.
Duke - Gray, Peters, Liston, Jackson. Big hit. And not sure when/how Jones comes back from ACL.
Maryland - Thomas, DeVaughn, Rutan, Austin, Townsend. Pretty big hit.
UNC - nobody. Really nicely set for next year.
Baylor - Sims, Robertson, Chandler. Big hit.
Stanford - Ogwumike, Ruef, James. Big hit.

 

[Vowelguy]

Well let's take a look.

Louisville - loses S. Schimmel, Slaughter, Taylor, Gibbs and ?Vails? They take a big hit.
Tennessee - Lose Simmons. Probably not a big hit considering who they have left.
Kentucky - Loses Walker, Stallworth, Evans, Pinkett, and Drake. Pretty good hit, especially height wise (Frontcourt)
S. Carolina - Montout. Pretty well set for next year.
Notre Dame - McBride, Braker, Achonwa. Pretty big hit.
Duke - Gray, Peters, Liston, Jackson. Big hit. And not sure when/how Jones comes back from ACL.
Maryland - Thomas, DeVaughn, Rutan, Austin, Townsend. Pretty big hit.
UNC - nobody. Really nicely set for next year.
Baylor - Sims, Robertson, Chandler. Big hit.
Stanford - Ogwumike, Ruef, James. Big hit.

Penn St - L 3 of top 4 including Lucas
WV - L 5 of top 9 incl 2 starters

 

[meyers7]

Penn St - L 3 of top 4 including Lucas
WV - L 5 of top 9 incl 2 starters

Sonny asked about our "competitors". Thought about adding Penn St., but then thought....nah.

 

[EricLA]

PSU loses Maggie Lucas.
WVU loses Busie and Caldwell (and 2 others, but those were 2 of their top 4 scorers)
NC State loses Goodwin-Coleman and Gatling (and 2 others but those were their top 2 scorers)

Didn't check Cal, USC, MSU, OK State, or Purdue, but suffice to say they all probably lose one of their top scorers.

The teams least affected by graduation seem to be SC, Tennessee, and UNC. BUT, every year Tennessee says "oh, no big deal who we lost given either A) they weren't that good (Spani/Williams), or B) we only lose Simmons and just have so much coming back", but their problem is no coaching and poor offense can't elevate the talent on paper to any promised land, and next year will be no different.

Next season preseason I'd rank them

UCONN
ND
UNC
Tennessee
SC

Then I'll have to see after that. If UNC lands Wilson, maybe I move them to #2 and put ND at #3. At some point it seems people need to stop ranking Tennessee so high given their potential, since they rarely live up to it. they were #3 preseason last year, and ended the season outside the top 10 (or right around 10). As a team they just weren't that good. ND seems to lose so much every year, and yet they just keep on rolling. Their starting PG was a freshman this year and she was pretty darn good. Give her a year to improve and watch out. Plus they add Turner and Westbeld. Also it will be interesting to see if UCLA surpasses Stanford in the west as they have a ridiculous class coming in. I'm not sure I'd put Stanford in the top 10. And OSU has a good class with superstar PG Mitchell.

 

[Sonny44]

Well let's take a look.

Louisville - loses S. Schimmel, Slaughter, Taylor, Gibbs and ?Vails? They take a big hit.
Tennessee - Lose Simmons. Probably not a big hit considering who they have left.
Kentucky - Loses Walker, Stallworth, Evans, Pinkett, and Drake. Pretty good hit, especially height wise (Frontcourt)
S. Carolina - Montout. Pretty well set for next year.
Notre Dame - McBride, Braker, Achonwa. Pretty big hit.
Duke - Gray, Peters, Liston, Jackson. Big hit. And not sure when/how Jones comes back from ACL.
Maryland - Thomas, DeVaughn, Rutan, Austin, Townsend. Pretty big hit.
UNC - nobody. Really nicely set for next year.
Baylor - Sims, Robertson, Chandler. Big hit.
Stanford - Ogwumike, Ruef, James. Big hit.

WOW, great response, just what I was looking for. So I would conclude our only worries would be the Carolinas, eh.

 

[semper]

ND will be in the mix, I think. Loyd isn't going away and their new post/wing can ball with the best of them.

 

[Sonny44]

PSU loses Maggie Lucas.
WVU loses Busie and Caldwell (and 2 others, but those were 2 of their top 4 scorers)
NC State loses Goodwin-Coleman and Gatling (and 2 others but those were their top 2 scorers)

Didn't check Cal, USC, MSU, OK State, or Purdue, but suffice to say they all probably lose one of their top scorers.

The teams least affected by graduation seem to be SC, Tennessee, and UNC. BUT, every year Tennessee says "oh, no big deal who we lost given either A) they weren't that good (Spani/Williams), or B) we only lose Simmons and just have so much coming back", but their problem is no coaching and poor offense can't elevate the talent on paper to any promised land, and next year will be no different.

Next season preseason I'd rank them

UCONN
ND
UNC
Tennessee
SC

Then I'll have to see after that. If UNC lands Wilson, maybe I move them to #2 and put ND at #3. At some point it seems people need to stop ranking Tennessee so high given their potential, since they rarely live up to it. they were #3 preseason last year, and ended the season outside the top 10 (or right around 10). As a team they just weren't that good. ND seems to lose so much every year, and yet they just keep on rolling. Their starting PG was a freshman this year and she was pretty darn good. Give her a year to improve and watch out. Plus they add Turner and Westbeld. Also it will be interesting to see if UCLA surpasses Stanford in the west as they have a ridiculous class coming in. I'm not sure I'd put Stanford in the top 10. And OSU has a good class with superstar PG Mitchell.

Good analysis, thanks.

 

[meyers7]

WOW, great response, just what I was looking for. So I would conclude our only worries would be the Carolinas, eh.

TN has the players, whether they can play together is another question. (one that hasn't been answered positively the past few seasons). But North and South Carolina should be good. I think ND will still be good, they have a good balance. Good PG in Allen, superstar in Loyd, decent height inside in Reimer, Wright and Turner (and Westbeld), good shooter in Mabrey.

 

[intlzncster]

Tennessee. They lose their leading scorer.snicker, snicker.

Unfortunately, that means they'll get better.

 

[John Glass]

Tennessee. They lose their leading scorer.snicker, snicker.

addition by subtraction

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

Just a side note - while not contending with the top teams mentioned, Rutgers returns everyone, has decent recruits, and should see a return to the top 25. Scaife is special, Copper darn good and several others quite competitive. If Hollivay could score as well as she blocks shots, look out.

 

[Sonny44]

I'd like to see them rise, as I would for most of the former BE teams.

 

[Aluminny69]

What other team in the history of WCBB could lose two All Americans, and still be ranked #1 the following season? I mean really?