A set of games to watch: UCLA and USC at both Stanford and Cal. The Pac-10 Thursday-Saturday schedule leaves little time to recover, as the Cardinal discovered when they lost both in Southern California earlier this year. Clearly, Stanford will be out to make a statement, as will Cal after stumbling against its archrival Saturday. Then again, USC and UCLA both really need these wins to get to the NCAA tournament, so like so many conference matchups across the country, nothing will come easy.
(Record through Monday) Points -- Last week's rank (first-place
votes)
1. Connecticut (19-0) 775 -- 1 (31)
Even at sold-out Notre Dame, the Huskies were unfazed. South Florida and Providence should be no problem, but the trip to Rutgers is looming. And by the way, just how good is Maya Moore?
2. Tennessee (18-1) 744 -- 2
Duke was overmatched talent-wise but easily could have won. The Volunteers don’t appear to be in high gear, but then again, they don’t need to be until tournament time – though Rutgers and LSU come to Knoxville in mid-February.
3. North Carolina (18-2) 707 – 4
Though UNC did beat Maryland, it took two overtimes so it’s not like the Tar Heels dominated. They’ve got another serious road test next Monday, this time at Duke, but like Tennessee, for this team, nothing really counts until postseason.
4. Rutgers (17-2) 665 – 5
Order has been restored, as Rutgers beat Maryland head-to-head, which should put the Scarlet Knights ahead of the Terrapins. But this spot is hardly guaranteed: Rutgers travels to West Virginia and Pittsburgh this week before hosting UConn. A 2-1 record would be a very solid result.
5. Maryland (22-2) 658 -- 3
The Turtles can be excused for a little fatigue after back-to-back double-overtime games – but it’s unlikely they’ll be extended against either Miami or Virginia Tech. And we’re all hoping Brenda Frese’s pregnancy goes well …
6. Baylor (18-1) 620 – 7
The Big 12 gantlet continues: Texas at home, coming an upset of A&M and a 30-point win over Missouri; at Kansas State, which is riding a nine-game winning streak; and at Oklahoma State, primed to rebound after two straight losses. This is a very good league, justifiably first in RPI.
7. Stanford (17-3) 600 – 7
It makes it easier when a 29% three-point shooting team makes nine of 20, but the Cardinal also played great defense, played smart and knocked off Cal in the friendly confines. More revenge on tap: The L.A., schools, which swept Stanford to start the month, come north.
8. LSU (16-3) 558 – 9
A 20-point win at Auburn is something to build on, and the Tigers followed it up with a 26-point win at Kentucky. South Carolina will be a breather, but the trip to Florida is another SEC challenge.
9. California (17-3) 499 – 8
The Bears didn’t look like a top ten team in the 20-point loss to Stanford and their margin of victory in the first round against USC and UCLA was a total of eight points – plus an overtime. It’s easier at home, but Cal will need to play well to win these two and stay alone at the top of the Pac-10.
10. Oklahoma (13-4) 484 – 11
In the midst of the nasty Big 12 schedule, Sherri Coale brought Georgia to town, and the Sooners came through with a 65-57 win. If Amanda Thompson keeps playing at this level, Oklahoma is a team to be feared.
11. Duke (15-5) 474 – 10
A great effort against Tennessee came up just short, and luckily reeling Virginia Tech is next because after that it’s North Carolina. Joanne P. McCallie could calm the somewhat troubled waters with a win over the Tar Heels.
12. West Virginia (16-3) 433 – 12
If you could somehow erase that 79-66 loss at 12-8 Indiana, the Mountaineers would be in the top ten. Of course, if they beat Rutgers at home Tuesday, they’ll probably get there anyway..
13. George Washington (16-4) 316 – 17
It’s not clear why the Colonials should jump four spots by beating 9-11 La Salle and 13-8 Charlotte, and since the toughest game they have left is against Dayton at home Tuesday, they will probably continue to rise. Of course, it will all shake out in the tournament.
14. Georgia (16-4) 301 – 14
The Bulldogs have won just three of their last seven, and Andy Landers is doing his usual combustible act on the sidelines – but with Tasha Humphrey no longer dominating, Georgia may simply not be that good. Luckily, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are at home.
15. Old Dominion (16-3) 298 – 18
The Monarchs jump into the top 15, and with no serious competitors until Feb. 21, they could keep rising as the BCS types beat each other up. No one’s been closer than eight since the loss to Tennessee Dec. 5.
16. Wyoming (18-1) 278 – 19
We’ll know a lot more next week at this time. The Cowgirls first host Utah, the perennial Mountain West power, and then must travel to BYU, which is never an easy trip. Though most don’t know it, the MWC is a very tough league, and if Wyoming goes unbeaten in conference play, it will be a significant achievement.
17. Ohio State (16-4) 243 – 15
The Buckeyes pounded Penn State, but look for a much tougher test whenMinnesota comes to Columbus Sunday. The Big 10 is still up for grabs.
18. Oklahoma State (163) 222 – 13
Losing to Kansas State at home was a confidence-buster for a team with the 144th best schedule in the country – and Baylor arrives next Tuesday. Oh, and if the Cowgirls sleep on Colorado, even in Stillwater, it could be a three-game losing streak when the Bears show up.
19. Pittsburgh (16-3) 221 – 21
The Panthers get a big win over Louisville and are now 13th in RPI. So quick, name two Pittsburgh players. If Pitt beats Rutgers at home Saturday, a lot more people will know who Marcedes Walker and Shavonte Zellous are (just to name two).
20. Notre Dame (15-5) 195 – 16
Notre Dame has lost four of seven, including a one-point home heartbreaker to DePaul – which makes one wonder why the Irish are still in the top 20, much less the top 25. They’ll need to be ready to beat Cincinnati on the road Saturday.
21. Kansas State (14-5) 120 -- NR
Now, DePaul, which was previously 25th, knocked off Notre Dame head-to-head in South Bend – so wouldn’t it make sense that DePaul would be the one to move into this spot, or even one higher. Yes, the win over Oklahoma State was nice, but the Wildcats’ stay could be brief if Baylor goes off on Saturday.
22. Syracuse (16-3) 111 – 24
A solid win at Villanova and then a 28-point demolition of St. John’s at home sets up the Orange for a big trip to DePaul. A win over the Blue Demons in Chicago would not only mean the top 20 beckons, but that Syracuse is definitely for real.
23. Texas A&M (14-6) 110 – 20
That 58-51 win at Kansas was a lifesaver for a drowning team that had lost four of five. Missouri at home should be another boost before Texas Tech comes to town. Then again, consistency has not been an Aggie strongpoint.
24. DePaul (15-4) 88 – 25
The big win at Notre Dame proved that the Blue Demons belong in the top 25, but they’ll need to hold serve against Syracuse at home to stay. It helps that Villanova comes to Chicago as well.
25. Texas (15-5) 72 – NR
Gail Goestenkors has righted the ship, it appears, but this week will test her navigation skills: at Baylor Wednesday and Oklahoma in Austin Sunday. A split should preserve a top 25 ranking, but going 1-1 won’t come easy.
Dropped out: No. 22 Auburn, No. 23 Georgia Tech
Auburn beat Georgia by 30 on Jan. 13, and then lost at Kentucky by seven and LSU by 20 – but the defeats are just life in the SEC and Georgia is still ranked. If the Tigers beat Mississippi State, they should move back into the rankings. Georgia Tech got demoted for losing in double OT at home to Maryland and at Duke. Makes no sense.
Others receiving votes: Auburn (14-6) 63; Illinois State (17-1) 55; Georgia Tech (16-3) 26; Utah (16-3) 26; Marist (19-2) 19; Arizona State (13-7) 16; Western Kentucky (16-5) 15; Hartford (15-4) 14; Liberty (17-2) 14; Vanderbilt (14-6) 10; Minnesota (15-6) 9; Middle Tennessee (13-8) 5; Nebraska (15-5) 5; North Carolina State (14-7) 3; Texas-El Paso (15-2) 3.
Utah’s win over Minnesota looks better and better as time goes on, as does that win over Nebraska. The only bad loss is at USC (losing at Marist in overtime is no disgrace), and the Utes have an 11-game winning streak. If they take down Wyoming in Laramie, they should move up. Marist’s problem is that the Red Foxes don’t have the opportunity to play any good teams in the Metro Atlantic, and that 17-point home loss to Hartford can’t be atoned for.
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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