10-15-2017, 07:06 PM
There is Charlie Creme's rankings which are at least plausible:
http://www.espn.com/womens-college-baske...25-2017-18
He has UConn as 1, Baylor as 2, Ohio State as 3, Stanford as 7, Tennessee as 8, and UCLA as 11.Â
So 6 games against top 11 teams! You would not get that level of competition even if you went all the way to the NCAA finals.
I would indeed be very happy with a 3-3 split at the beginning of the season, with a very very young team. I think Tennessee and UCLA at home are our best bets, and perhaps the second game against Ohio State on a neutral court after having played them once before. Beating Ohio State must be done with excellent defense, and an experienced rebounder and stopper like Kaylee could be very important in such a game. But @ Baylor, @ Ohio State, and UConn will each be very very tough.
We are going to learn a lot about whether Tara thinks any of the incoming freshmen are ready to start four years. For quite some time she has been reluctant to give freshmen many minutes. How fast will they come along? She says she will be throwing our young team "into the deep end of the pool" so maybe she is willing to play them early. My biggest questions will probably be answered soon:
1) Is sophomore Anna Wilson sufficiently recovered to start playing effectively for serious minutes? Italy did not look promising.
2) Will freshmen Maya or Kiana become a very rare 4 year starter for us? We haven't had one since Chiney, I think.
3) Is sophomore DiJonai going to become, as Italy suggests, a major offensive force for us? Will she be starting and playing long minutes?
4) Will we be playing three or even four guards/wings to take advantage of our lopsided talent in that dimension?
5) What will the new offense be?
http://www.espn.com/womens-college-baske...25-2017-18
He has UConn as 1, Baylor as 2, Ohio State as 3, Stanford as 7, Tennessee as 8, and UCLA as 11.Â
So 6 games against top 11 teams! You would not get that level of competition even if you went all the way to the NCAA finals.
I would indeed be very happy with a 3-3 split at the beginning of the season, with a very very young team. I think Tennessee and UCLA at home are our best bets, and perhaps the second game against Ohio State on a neutral court after having played them once before. Beating Ohio State must be done with excellent defense, and an experienced rebounder and stopper like Kaylee could be very important in such a game. But @ Baylor, @ Ohio State, and UConn will each be very very tough.
We are going to learn a lot about whether Tara thinks any of the incoming freshmen are ready to start four years. For quite some time she has been reluctant to give freshmen many minutes. How fast will they come along? She says she will be throwing our young team "into the deep end of the pool" so maybe she is willing to play them early. My biggest questions will probably be answered soon:
1) Is sophomore Anna Wilson sufficiently recovered to start playing effectively for serious minutes? Italy did not look promising.
2) Will freshmen Maya or Kiana become a very rare 4 year starter for us? We haven't had one since Chiney, I think.
3) Is sophomore DiJonai going to become, as Italy suggests, a major offensive force for us? Will she be starting and playing long minutes?
4) Will we be playing three or even four guards/wings to take advantage of our lopsided talent in that dimension?
5) What will the new offense be?