Stanford only lost by 12, in Connecticut, which is a more and more impressive result as the season moves along. Otherwise, the Huskies’ closest game is 30 (Virginia, 75-45), and it’s not like Geno is playing Oklahoma State’s schedule: The strength of schedule is third best in all the land.
This just makes Pat Summitt’s decision not to play UConn all the more damaging to the sport. Imagine the hue and cry leading up to this year’s game – it would have been hyped on ESPN and even sports-talk radio might have gotten into it.
A huge opportunity has been missed, not to mention a great game. We can only hope it happens in Tampa.
(Record through Monday) Points -- Last week's rank (first-place
votes)
1. Connecticut (13-0) 775 -- 1 (31)
You know, these are good teams the Huskies are beating. By 50. OK, Villanova and Purdue aren’t what they were, but this display is still immensely impressive. The problem, though, is that being immensely impressive in January doesn’t really count for that much.
2. Tennessee (12-1) 741 -- 3
The loss to Stanford doesn’t look quite as good after the Cardinal lost two games to middle-of-the-pack Pac-10 teams (and you know how much SEC folks like to diss West Coast basketball). Then again, beating ranked DePaul by 44 made a stronger case for the Volunteers, who now jump into conference play.
3. North Carolina (14-1) 706 – 4
ACC play is under way, but the Heels will only dip their toe in those often-dangerous waters this week. The road swing to Virginia Tech and North Carolina State should be challenging enough to keep the starters in most of the way, but also should be no danger to this ranking. Then again, that’s what Stanford was thinking last week.
4. Maryland (18-1) 674 -- 5
The first titanic ACC collision is set for Monday, when Duke comes to College Park. The Terrapins will be favored, not only for the home court advantage, but also because of superior talent, but it would be unwise to bet the rent on this one.
5. Rutgers (11-2) 648 – 6
The Scarlet Knights have beaten Maryland, which would argue for Rutgers at number five. Then again, Rutgers lost to Duke, which lost to Vanderbilt and Penn State, so number six is probably about right. But if Vivian’s charges sleep on Seton Hall, an upset is possible.
6. Oklahoma (9-2) 581 – 8
The Sooners’ next two opponents – Iowa State and Oklahoma State – are a combined 23-3, which puts this ranking in peril. Oh, and both are on the road. The Big 12 is awfully good again.
7. Stanford (12-3) 578 – 2
Lots of folks have had a lost weekend in L.A., but the Cardinal didn’t suffer as much wrath from the voters as expected. Speaking of wrath, Pac-10 mediocrities Oregon and Oregon State come to Maples this week, and it’s not going to be pretty.
8. Baylor (12-1) 549 – 9
The Bears jump into the top ten despite a strength of schedule rated 120th best in the nation, but the Big 12 will prove much more of a challenge in general, and Texas A&M in particular. Luckily, the game’s in Waco, which might be enough to tip the scales in Baylor’s favor.
9. California (13-2) 519 – 10
The Bears didn’t grow short of breath in the rarefied air of the top ten, slipping past USC and UCLA (which Stanford couldn’t do). Now back at home, Cal needs to take care of business against the Oregons – and with Devanei Hampton healthier and healthier, the jobs get easier..
10. Georgia (13-1) 509 – 7
Like Baylor, the Bulldogs haven’t extended themselves in preseason (81st in strength of schedule), and it caught up to them against a five-loss (though talented) Xavier team. Auburn, which Georgia visits Sunday, is a lot better than Xavier.
11. LSU (11-3) 473 – 11
The game’s a lot harder when that 6-6 kid isn’t in the middle getting rebounds, blocking shots and disrupting the opposition at both ends. Still, look for the Tigers to successfully navigate the trip to untested Arkansas, and then hold serve at home against young Vanderbilt.
12. Texas A&M (12-2) 419 – 12
The Aggies have a chance to put themselves back in the top ten – all they have to do is win at Baylor, which happens about as often as snow in San Antonio. Then again, A&M has played a much tougher schedule, which makes this a test case for how important a difficult preseason really is.
13. Duke (12-3) 403 – 13
The Blue Devils have rebounded nicely from that three-game losing streak, recording seven wins in a row. They’d like to make it nine, which would mean beating Maryland at Maryland, but looking past Florida State, even at home, would be a big mistake.
14. Notre Dame (11-2) 335 – 14
Notre Dame better get its confidence back pretty quickly after that lesson delivered by Tennessee, as the trip to Louisville and West Virginia is fraught with peril (I’ve always loved that phrase). But even if the Irish lose both, they’re still a pretty good team.
15. Texas (12-2) 318 – 17
The Gail Goestenkors-bashers have been notably silent of late – could it be that the woman really is a very good coach? Of course, it could be that the 131st best schedule in the land has a lot to do with the 12-2 record, and that some Big 12 losses will get the we-hate-Gail chorus back in full throat.
16. West Virginia (11-2) 316 – 16
I don’t quite get the loss at Indiana, an average team in a below-average conference, but the Mountaineers will have two big chances to prove themselves this week. First, they travel to Connecticut (the nightmares may have subsided by now), and then they host Notre Dame. Since both are ranked higher, WVU is expected to lose twice, but even so, the stay in the top 20 may end unless an upset emerges.
17. George Washington (12-3) 273 – 19
Since the unsightly back-to-back losses to James Madison and Old Dominion, the Colonials have regrouped and beaten both Texas A&M and Auburn. Xavier is the only game this week, at home, and a win over the team that just beat LSU should move GWU up a little higher.
18. Arkansas (15-0) 206 – 21
I’ve made mention of some weak schedules, but the Razorbacks delve into uncharted territory (for a top 25 team, at least) with theirs. It’s ranked 264th (out of 337), which comes after the game against 50th (in RPI) Texas Tech. Then again, Arkansas thumped the Aggies, and gets LSU without Sylvia Fowles at home Thursday. Maybe the ‘Backs are this good.
19. Ohio State (11-3) 166 – 19
The Buckeyes lost to 9-7 Michigan State, but did bounce back against Michigan and Iowa. Maybe they aren’t the best in the Big 10 right now (Penn State has beaten Duke and Pittsburgh), but they’re the team to watch out for in postseason.
20. Auburn (12-3) 151 – 18
The Tigers started 9-0, but are 3-3 since – and even lost to 8-7 St. Joseph’s. This does not bode well for the trip to Knoxville, or the visit from Georgia.
21. DePaul (11-3) 139 – 15
The Blue Demons didn’t play anyone of note until four games ago, and then promptly lost three. The win was over Appalachian State, a team much more typical of their schedule than Texas, Tennessee or Pittsburgh, which beat DePaul by a combined total of 93 points. Providence, next up, is 10-4, but against an even worse schedule, so the Demons should get back on track.
22t. Old Dominion (10-3) 128 – 23
The losses are to Connecticut, Tennessee and Stanford, and there are wins over Penn State and Vanderbilt. It used to be that once CAA play started, the Monarchs could relax, but tough James Madison shows up in Norfolk on Sunday.
22t. Wyoming (12-1) 128 – 22
I’m just not sure what to make of the Cowboys, whose best win is Iowa and who have beaten two non-D1 teams. I, and everyone else, will know a lot more, however, after the dance with New Mexico in the Pit Wednesday night.
24. Oklahoma State (12-1) 62 – 25
Want to get a high ranking and impress your friends? Play Kurt Budke’s schedule, 307th in the nation, and get your ‘best’ win against UC Riverside. Play a team 111th in RPI (TCU) and lose. By 34. But you’re still 24th – at least until a couple of real teams like Kansas and Oklahoma show up.
25. Arizona State (10-5) 56 -- 24
The Sun Devils survived the trip to Oregon, and only play Arizona (6-9, and but a shadow of the power it was not so long ago) this week. The real chance comes the following week, when Cal and Stanford come to the desert.
Dropped out: None
Things will change next week. Now that conference play has begun in earnest, upsets will be more common – you know what they say about familiarity.
Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh (11-3) 30; Syracuse (13-1) 28; Iowa State (11-2) 20; Colorado (11-2) 19; UCLA (7-8) 19; Vanderbilt (11-4) 16; Utah (11-3) 14; Texas Tech (12-2) 13; Marist (13-2) 9; Louisville (11-3) 8; Hartford (10-4) 7; Penn State (11-4) 6; Georgia Tech (13-2) 5; North Carolina State (12-4) 5; Western Kentucky (10-5) 5; Florida State (11-5) 3; Illinois State (12-1) 3; Liberty (12-2) 3; Xavier (10-5) 3; Middle Tennessee (8-7) 2; Minnesota (12-4) 2; Jacksonville (12-3) 1; Texas-El Paso (11-2) 1.
Syracuse has lost only to North Carolina, but years of mediocrity make it hard for folks to take the Orange seriously. They beat Louisville last week, but Pittsburgh and South Florida on the road is probably asking too much. But should Syracuse get it done, the top 25 should be a lock.
The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches
at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball
Coaches Association. The board for the 2007-08 season: Agnus
Berenato, Pittsburgh; Pam Borton, Minnesota; Brian Boyer, Arkansas State; Beth Burns, San Diego State; Debra Clark, Florida A&M; Beth
Couture, Butler; Leslie Crane, Western Illinois; Dana Eikenberg,
Southern Illinois; Tricia Fabbri, Quinnipiac; Sharon Fanning,
Mississippi State; Brian Giorgis, Marist; Julie Goodenough,
Charleston Southern; Kellie Harper, Western Carolina; Mary Hegarty,
Long Beach State; Nate Kilbert, Mississippi Valley State; Melissa
McFerrin, American; Kevin McGuff, Xavier; Tina Martin, Delaware; Curt
Miller, Bowling Green; Dan Muscatell, Sacramento State; Paul Nixon,
Columbia; Rick Reeves, Gardner-Webb; Lee Ann Riley, Stephen F.
Austin; Jennifer Rizzotti, Hartford; Rhonda Rompola, Southern
Methodist; Julie Rousseau, Pepperdine; Brady Sallee, Eastern
Illinois; Cindy Stein, Missouri; LaVonda Wagner, Oregon State; Adrian
Wiggins, Fresno State; Kay Yow, North Carolina State.
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