Who is Number 1 Chime in with your thoughts and opinions

[Cuango]

T

I just think the biggest struggle for Uconn is they're going to go on a 6 week span to end the season without playing a real threat. South Carolina, Stanford will have 5-6 games that are going to test them for the tournament. How can Uconn sustain that competitive edge when big east games are over after the first quarter?

The same way they’ve always done it on the way to winning 11 titles!

 

[Kaizen]

I can objectively assess talent and performance so no argument on the superiority of the UConn guards, but what on earth leads you to believe UConn’s forwards have ANYTHING over SC’s?

UConn beat South Carolina last year along with 4 other teams. What on earth leads you to believe UConn's and other 4 teams have ANYTHING not over South Carolina?

 

[Cornell Lt]

The biggest variable will be determined by what games Dee Kanter officiates

 

[Bayareahusky]

" So what sets all three teams apart?" Paige & Azzi . . .

This is exactly what i am thinking.... your top must be at the top, and for the top UConn is on top

 

[GoChips20]

UConn beat South Carolina last year along with 4 other teams. What on earth leads you to believe UConn's and other 4 teams have ANYTHING not over South Carolina?

I didn’t ever say that SC was better than UConn or that I’d rank them higher—just that it was a poor assessment of the interior players on each respective roster.

By your same logic, though, Arizona and Arkansas would both have some sort of claim over UConn (which I sincerely doubt to be true in practice), so I’d steer clear of that.

 

[ConwayGmck]

UConn beat South Carolina last year along with 4 other teams. What on earth leads you to believe UConn's and other 4 teams have ANYTHING not over South Carolina?

Do you get good juice pitting your oranges argument against his apples? He was referring to the comparison between both team's frontcourt players:

SC:
A. Boston: 8-17, 17 pts, 15 rebs, 3 blks, 2 stls
V. Saxton: 2-3, 5 pts, 8 rebs
L. Amihere: 2-5, 4 pts, 2 rebs, 1 stl
L. Grissett: 1-3, 3 pts, 3 rebs, 1 blk
TOTAL:
13-28, 29 pts, 28 rebs, 4 blks, 3 stls

CT:
O. Nelson-Ododa: 3-10, 6 pts, 7 rebs, 1 blk
A. Edwards: 4-9, 8 pts, 5 rebs, 1 blk
TOTAL:
7-19, 14 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks, 1 stl

Please add any other players who you feel are more frontcourt than backcourt. CT also had Aubrey Griffin who was 2-7 for 4 pts, 7 rebs, 3 blks, and 2 stls. SC also had Brea Beal who was 3-9 for 8 pts and 10 rebs.

CT only had one player that finished in double-digits for the game. For such a low-scoring affair, she WAS the Connecticut offense. How that translates into a 21-22 "team" that is superior in every facet seems strange to me......

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

There was hardly any difference between SC, UCONN and Stanford last season and SC added the most, by a hair, so I think SC, but we will know a lot more by the end of December.

 

[Inthepaint]

The last time a game was actually played Stanford assumed the mantle. Therefore they are #1.
All of this preseason speculation is just that, speculation.
Until games are played this season, they remain #1.
At least that’s the way I see it.

While I don't necessarily disagree with ranking Stanford # 1 at this point, would we, according to the same logic, rank Arizona # 2?
With UCONN and SC tied for # 3?
Just playing Devil's Advocate.

 

[CL82]

While I don't necessarily disagree with ranking Stanford # 1 at this point, would we, according to the same logic, rank Arizona # 2?
With UCONN and SC tied for # 3?
Just playing Devil's Advocate.

UConn, South Carolina and Stanford are all very close oh, so why not give the champs the tie-breaker? Not that I care much one way or the other.

 

[veryolddog]

Speculation? Never under estimate your oponent no matter who they are. Always play your best, no matter their ranking.

 

[visitingcock]

While I don't necessarily disagree with ranking Stanford # 1 at this point, would we, according to the same logic, rank Arizona # 2?
With UCONN and SC tied for # 3?
Just playing Devil's Advocate.

Stanford, UConn and SCar did not have major losses to matriculation of their contributing players. Arizona did. If Stanford had major losses and lacked talented returners, I would not have them number one. But that's not the case.

I would rank them

1. Stanford: defending champs
2. UConn: final 4 team with win reg season win over SC
3. SCar: Final 4 team with reg season loss to UConn
4. Maryland (fluke loss to Texas)

5. NC State
6. Indiana Big 10 #2 deserves it
7. Louisville. ACC #2 deserves it
8. Baylor maybe/maybe not: Still have talent but large question on coaching change.

9. Arizona
10. UCLA
11. Michigan
12. Oregon

 

[MooseJaw]

As I said in a prior post I feel UCONN has the highest ceiling but the lowest floor of the 3. Their ability to knock down 3's exceeds the other two teams. Thus execution of UCONN's offense is critical along with of course not being crushed by either team's physicality.

With that said, Paige, Evina, Azzi, Nika and CWill all were hurt last year or had recent surgeries to a degree, regardless minor or not, it's the accumulation with each. Azzi hasn't played a lot of competitive basketball either. So, a strength of the team I'd like to see be healthy and extremely efficient as a unit rather than be told that their health is all okay. For example, can I say this year without a doubt that Azzi will be better than all of the SC backcourt and wings? She hasn’t played that much in these past 2 years because of her injury and COVID.

So I have SC number 1 early on. They barely lost to Stanford, and Stanford lost a star, while SC reloaded with a potentially equal transfer as any team has gotten, and a power recruiting class in which I don’t believe their number 2 and number 3 recruits had injuries. Stanford didn't reload with recruiting this year. While SC lost nothing.

They lost another banner.

 

[UConnCat]

I just think the biggest struggle for Uconn is they're going to go on a 6 week span to end the season without playing a real threat. South Carolina, Stanford will have 5-6 games that are going to test them for the tournament. How can Uconn sustain that competitive edge when big east games are over after the first quarter?

But, but, but I thought the schedule works to UConn's advantage because they're players are more rested and not worn down. Right, that's only when they win.

Wasn't a problem in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Wasn't the reason they lost FF games in 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2021. But sure.

If by 6-week span you're talking about the last 6 weeks of the regular season, UConn plays Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee during that 6-week span.

They'll be fine.

 

[AgStatesman]

I don't know about that.......wasn't 6'5" Aaliyah Boston an All American last season? 6'7" Cardoso, 6'4" Amihere and the 6'3" Mcdonald's All American freshman Sania Feagin plus Grissett and Saxton make for a pretty imposing front court...........

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

 

[Charliebball]

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

well I guess that's settled..........let's see what happens on the court..........

 

[Cuango]

Stanford, UConn and SCar did not have major losses to matriculation of their contributing players. Arizona did. If Stanford had major losses and lacked talented returners, I would not have them number one. But that's not the case.

I would rank them

1. Stanford: defending champs
2. UConn: final 4 team with win reg season win over SC
3. SCar: Final 4 team with reg season loss to UConn
4. Maryland (fluke loss to Texas)

5. NC State
6. Indiana Big 10 #2 deserves it
7. Louisville. ACC #2 deserves it
8. Baylor maybe/maybe not: Still have talent but large question on coaching change.

9. Arizona
10. UCLA
11. Michigan
12. Oregon

Pretty much in agreement except for AZ. They should swap positions with Oregon. I think Ari’s loss is going to take a little while to overcome. Having said that, I do believe Adia will keep them in contention for as long as she is there but I think they will slide back a little this season.

 

[visitingcock]

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

My friend.

 

[Ozimoto]

For now, Stanford. I suspect that this will not be the case by the end of the season. If you pardon the expression, it should be a dog fight (which should favor the Huskies).

Can't help thinking of the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons though. He usually (but not always) got the better of the dog.

I would very much like to see the Huskies hoist the NC trophy, but they have some real challenges ahead of them to get there. Since I hate to be wrong, I'm not willing to make a prediction on who will be No. 1 at the end of the season.

 

[jchusky]

But, but, but I thought the schedule works to UConn's advantage because they're players are more rested and not worn down. Right, that's only when they win.

Wasn't a problem in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Wasn't the reason they lost FF games in 2017, 2018, 2019 or 2021. But sure.

If by 6-week span you're talking about the last 6 weeks of the regular season, UConn plays Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee during that 6-week span.

They'll be fine.

I'll never understand why we have to go back to other seasons that have 0 relevancy to 2021. Different era of wcbb now, the transfer portal has opened many opportunities for teams to level the playing field if they don't do well in recruiting. And February 6 will be the last game they play vs a really good team. That means 3 weeks + tourny week + a week off + the 1st week of tournament we all know they'll squash whoever they play that first weekend is 6. Compare that to South Carolina who could be playing in a 3 game in 3 days scenario: A&M, LSU, Kentucky or Stanford playing Oregon State, Ucla, Oregon. Much different scenarios.

 

[ConwayGmck]

Stanford, UConn and SCar did not have major losses to matriculation of their contributing players. Arizona did. If Stanford had major losses and lacked talented returners, I would not have them number one. But that's not the case.

I would rank them

1. Stanford: defending champs
2. UConn: final 4 team with win reg season win over SC
3. SCar: Final 4 team with reg season loss to UConn
4. Maryland (fluke loss to Texas)

5. NC State
6. Indiana Big 10 #2 deserves it
7. Louisville. ACC #2 deserves it
8. Baylor maybe/maybe not: Still have talent but large question on coaching change.

9. Arizona
10. UCLA
11. Michigan
12. Oregon

Wasn't Kiana Williams something like, their leading scorer for the season last season?? Started every game they played. Led them in assists, too.....

 

[UConnCat]

I'll never understand why we have to go back to other seasons that have 0 relevancy to 2021. Different era of wcbb now, the transfer portal has opened many opportunities for teams to level the playing field if they don't do well in recruiting. And February 6 will be the last game they play vs a really good team. That means 3 weeks + tourny week + a week off + the 1st week of tournament we all know they'll squash whoever they play that first weekend is 6. Compare that to South Carolina who could be playing in a 3 game in 3 days scenario: A&M, LSU, Kentucky or Stanford playing Oregon State, Ucla, Oregon. Much different scenarios.

Your post said the "six week span to end the season." Now you've changed it to be the six week span that ends before the Sweet 16? Will that be the end of the season? Very confusing.

The point is it won't matter. If you're good enough you're good enough. Nothing you say disputes that.

South Carolina didn't advance to the championship game last season because Aaliyah Boston missed a wide open layup. Funny stuff happens at Final Fours that have little to do with games you played over a weekend in early March.

 

[visitingcock]

Wasn't Kiana Williams something like, their leading scorer for the season last season?? Started every game they played. Led them in assists, too.....

With Haley, Lexie and Lacie they have plenty of talent on the perimeter.

 

[TC22]

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

Boston may have agreed with you - so went and lost over 20 lbs in the off-season. But Amihere, another one of SC's bigs, must have outplayed Edwards because she was the 1st player off the bench and Edwards didn't get much time at all for the Canadian Olympic team. Ono should have outplayed Cardosa - she's a Sr. and has been playing for Geno for 3 years. Cardosa had a year at Syracuse. It's gonna be a fun year. Let's hope we play 3 times. That will mean we are both doing well.

 

[ConwayGmck]

With Haley, Lexie and Lacie they have plenty of talent on the perimeter.

I was addressing your statement that Stanford - like CT and SC - did not have major losses to matriculation of their contributing players. You even stated that had Stanford lost any major players, that it'd impact your ranking of them, but that they hadn't lost anyone of that magnitude...

 

[ConwayGmck]

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

This is funny. So you choose ONE GAME between Nelson-Ododa and Cardoso to make your judgement: Cardoso played the fewest minutes of the starting 5 and yet tied for the team lead with Engstler with 12 pts and also had 7 rebs. But Boston scored 17 pts and 15 rebounds, with 3 blocks and 2 steals against CT - Edwards only scored 8 pts and 5 rebs in your game with SC, but somehow that ONE GAME gets past your radar? Both Edwards and Nelson-Ododa COMBINED for 14 pts, 12 rebs, and 2 blocks with 0 steals in that game - they couldn't outplay Boston two players against one.

Perhaps Edwards should have not focused so much on running around back and forth on the court, and focused instead on playing some basketball, that day....

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

For now, Stanford. I suspect that this will not be the case by the end of the season. If you pardon the expression, it should be a dog fight (which should favor the Huskies).

Can't help thinking of the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons though. He usually (but not always) got the better of the dog.

I would very much like to see the Huskies hoist the NC trophy, but they have some real challenges ahead of them to get there. Since I hate to be wrong, I'm not willing to make a prediction on who will be No. 1 at the end of the season.

 

[visitingcock]

I was addressing your statement that Stanford - like CT and SC - did not have major losses to matriculation of their contributing players. You even stated that had Stanford lost any major players, that it'd impact your ranking of them, but that they hadn't lost anyone of that magnitude...

No, you are only addressing less than half of my conditional. I said, if Stanford had major losses (plural) AND had no incoming talent, I would drop them. ( I did not use the word “ any.” They lost one (admittedly talented) player but are loading up some top frosh. Not as many as Scar or UConn, but a couple of good uns’.

 

[Happydad745]

Ask me again around the middle of January. Right now the top five or six could make a run for the title.

 

[GoChips20]

Boston is the most overrated player in college basketball. If I'm drafting a team I take Edwards over her every day of the week. Edwards is just flat out a better player. She can get up and down the court six times for every one trip Boston makes. Just a few months ago, ONO had a chance to play Cardosa head to head and she completely schooled her. As far as off the bench, again, no one in their right mind would take any of the Cocks over Dorka. Case closed, South Carolina has an embarrassingly pathetic front court compared to the dominant Husky's.

I see one of these posts every now and then and can’t think of any explanation besides satire.

You could take Edwards over Boston at your discretion and you’d likely be sacked as a GM if your other picks followed suit.

We aren’t gonna talk about ONO schooling anybody after that NCAA tournament to forget.

I just don’t get it. UConn may well be the best team in the country this year and bring home a national championship trophy. They may go undefeated. It’s all possible. But I don’t see any other team’s fans on here speak such baseless conjecture without objectively assessing their team’s respective strengths and weaknesses.

 

[AgStatesman]

I see one of these posts every now and then and can’t think of any explanation besides satire.

I just don’t get it. UConn may well be the best team in the country this year and bring home a national championship trophy. They may go undefeated. It’s all possible. But I don’t see any other team’s fans on here speak such baseless conjecture without objectively assessing their team’s respective strengths and weaknesses.

Satire is probably the correct term as far as literary devices go. I like to think of it more as good old trash talk. A lot of people on these boards try to analyze every facet of the game. I am simply not that sophisticated. I find it fun to lob a grenade once in a while and see where the shrapnel strikes.

As far as baseless conjecture and not "objectively assessing my team's strengths and weaknesses" goes, I will assert my right to claim "home court advantage."