Going into Baton Rouge and beating a hot LSU team sends a message to the other five serious contenders for the national title (North Carolina, Tennessee, Rutgers, Maryland and yes, LSU) that cutting down the Huskies will be required before cutting down the nets in Tampa.
And that’s it for intersectional games as well, because we’re just a little ways away from conference tournament time – which means some top 25 blood will be shed. Just don’t expect it to be Connecticut’s.
(Record through Monday) Points -- Last week's rank (first-place
votes)
1. Connecticut (27-1) 771 -- 1 (30)
There’s not much doubt now: The Huskies are clearly number one – except in RPI. Maybe beating DePaul and Rutgers Saturday and Monday will convince the computers, but otherwise there’s little doubt.
2. North Carolina (26-2) 734 – 2 (1)
Well, there’s more than a little doubt in the mind of one voter, who, despite a head-to-head double-digit loss, still like the Heels over the Huskies. I don’t get it, but expect that voter to remain steadfast until deep in the tournament.
3. Tennessee (25-2) 698 – 3
According to RPI, it’s Tennessee that’s number one, but the Volunteers shouldn’t worry too much. Even if they have to travel a bit more than they’re accustomed to during the NCAA tournament, they’re still a top seed.
4. Rutgers (22-4) 680 – 4
The Scarlet Knights really can’t focus on UConn, because DePaul and Syracuse are not only both teams that can beat Rutgers, but need to beat Rutgers to solidify their tournament standing. And remember, Vivian’s club is 5-2 in the last month.
5. Maryland (28-2) 657 -- 5
A trip to North Carolina State is all that’s left of the ACC regular season, and with Brenda Frese having delivered healthy twins, the news is all good in College Park.
6. LSU (23-4) 618 – 8
No shame in losing to the marvelous Maya Moore and the number one Huskies, even at home. Still, couldn’t Sylvia Fowles have done a little more to stop Tina Charles inside?
7. Stanford (25-3) 612 – 7
The Cardinal played in front of the largest-ever Pac-10 crowd (only because Maples Pavilion, their home court, is much smaller than Cal’s home court) and didn’t blink. They’ve swept the Bears in the Pac-10, and now travel to Washington for a pair of gimmes.
8. Baylor (23-3) 544 – 9
After getting surprised by Texas, the Bears dispatched Iowa State (on the road) and Oklahoma. Saturday, another nasty Big 12 midterm at Texas A&M. The loss of Jhasmin Player, though, is beginning to have an impact.
9. California (23-4) 529 – 8
Stanford may romp through the Northwest, but look for Cal to have to earn a win at Washington. Washington State? Despite those two recent wins, the Cougs are just not BCS caliber.
10. Oklahoma (20-5) 480 – 10
If Amanda Thompson keeps playing at a high level, the Sooners are a team to fear. Texas Tech and Texas should be the next two victims.
11t. Old Dominion (24-3) 444 – 11
Finally, a real game. The Monarchs must travel to James Madison Sunday, and though the Dukes were stunned by Drexel a couple weeks back, they’re still pretty good. An ODU loss might make an at-large berth problematic if the Monarchs don’t win the CAA tournament.
11t. Duke (21-7) 444 – 13
After beating Virginia, it certainly makes sense that the Blue Devils should jump, but all the way to Old Dominion’s level? I think not – and this Sunday’s loss at North Carolina should drop them out of the tie next week.
13. West Virginia (22-4) 382 – 12
The Mountaineers are ending the Big East season with a tough run, even though it may not appear that way. Pittsburgh (on the road), Louisville (with Angel McCoughtry) and Syracuse (on the road) isn’t murder’s row, but it’s at least mugger’s alley.
14. Notre Dame (21-6) 355 – 14
The Irish got what they deserved – even though they lost a game to Rutgers, they stayed at 14. After all, they’re supposed to lose to the Scarlet Knights. A loss to either South Florida or Seton Hall this week, however, will not be so easily forgiven.
15t. George Washington (22-5) 291 – 16
For me, beating St. Louis and Saint Joseph’s doesn’t come close to offsetting that embarrassing loss to St. Bonaventure. Now maybe if the Colonials had beaten both on the same night …
15t. Utah (23-3) 291 – 18
Elaine Elliot knows that the 18-game winning streak won’t mean a thing to the Selection Committee unless the Utes win the Mountain West tournament. And a home loss to either TCU or Wyoming this week would certainly doom this outstanding mid-major to an awful seed.
17. Kansas State (18-8) 255 -- 15
The loss to Oklahoma, by only three in Norman, was a solid performance. The five-point loss at Colorado, though, should have dropped the Wildcats lower than this. Of course, that would require candidates ready to move up.
18. Texas A&M (20-7) 241 – 19
The Aggies manhandled Texas, but now must try and do the same to Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Oh, and then there’s Baylor Saturday and Oklahoma to finish the regular season. You gotta love the Big 12 …
19. Oklahoma State (21-5) 226 – 17
I don’t know that a loss to number 10 Oklahoma should drop the Cowgirls two spots, especially considering that win over Texas. If Oklahoma State beats A&M, though, look for a big jump.
20. Georgia (20-7) 154 – 22
The Bulldogs avenged that ugly loss at Auburn with a vintage performance. Is this the beginning of Georgia’s stretch run? Or will Tennessee burst the bubble Sunday?
21. Marist (26-2) 126 – 23
Are we in Europe? Do away points count for more? The Red Foxes have a home-and-home with 18-9 St. Peter’s this week. Does the aggregate score break a tie?
22. Ohio State (20-7) 119 – 20
I can hear the moaning now: ‘But we beat Marist.’ In the first game of the year. At home. By six. It’s a sad state of affairs when a Big 10 power has to highlight a win over Marist.
23. Texas El Paso (23-2) 94 – 25
Southern Methodist has 21 wins, but is 30 slots lower in RPI, so that and the homecourt advantage should get the Miners past the Mustangs. Tulsa is a less of a challenge, and then it’s time for the C-USA tournament.
24. Vanderbilt (20-7) 78 – NR
The Commodores march back into the rankings after beating Arkansas, but will have to prove they belong by winning at Auburn. Still, a fine season for Melanie Balcomb’s young team.
25. Wyoming (22-4) 45 – NR
After losing three of four, the Cowgirls have won three straight – but the best win was 13-12 San Diego State. If they beat Utah at Utah Sunday, then I’ll be impressed.
Dropped out: No. 21 Pittsburgh, No. 24 Syracuse
The Big East is pretty tough, and Syracuse will find out just how tough when the Orange go to Rutgers Saturday. They lost at Providence, after all, so Piscataway has to be scary. The Panthers, on the other hand, have lost five of six, and draw West Virginia next. You gotta love the Big East ….
Others receiving votes: Pittsburgh 43; Liberty (24-2) 30; Virginia (20-8) 26; DePaul (18-8) 21; Hartford (20-5) 19; Syracuse 13; Louisville (19-7) 12; Illinois State (22-3) 11; Western Kentucky (21-7) 11; Wisconsin-Green Bay (22-4) 5; Georgia Tech (20-7) 3; Nebraska (18-9) 3; TCU (17-9) 3; Arizona State (18-9) 2; Iowa (18-9) 2; Middle Tennessee (18-10) 2; Southern Methodist (21-6.
Liberty’s only bad loss is at Virginia Tech back on Nov. 19. The Flames have wins over Xavier and James Madison, which are nice but hardly definitive. Still, with Hartford struggling (just an eight-point win over 227 in RPI Binghamton), they’re poised to jump into the top 25. Remember, DePaul lost to South Florida and Louisville, and Louisville lost to Western Carolina.
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.
Free Email Newsletter
