[BostonCard]

This looks like déjà vu from the last four or so years.  A very good team with some clear weaknesses that will beat most teams, will maddeningly lose a set here and there against weaker teams will wind up first or second in the ACC, ranked around the top 5 or so, and will be fighting for that top regional seed and will lose in the regional final.  Good, maybe great, but not elite.

BC

---

Note Kansas actually scored more total points (93) than Stanford (91) but we had a better distribution across sets.

BC

[BostonCard]

This looks like déjà vu from the last four or so years.  A very good team with some clear weaknesses that will beat most teams, will maddeningly lose a set here and there against weaker teams will wind up first or second in the ACC, ranked around the top 5 or so, and will be fighting for that top regional seed and will lose in the regional final.  Good, maybe great, but not elite.

BC

---

Note Kansas actually scored more total points (93) than Stanford (91) but we had a better distribution across sets.

BC

[TonyLima]

1788136565[/url]']
This looks like déjà vu from the last four or so years.  A very good team with some clear weaknesses that will beat most teams, will maddeningly loose a set here and there against weaker teams will wind up first or second in the ACC, ranked around the top 5 or so, and will be fighting for that top regional seed and will lose in the regional final.  Good, maybe great, but not elite.

BC

---

Note Kansas actually scored more total points (93) than Stanford (91) but we had a better distribution across sets.

BC

Writing that down. Will revisit in December. T

[TonyLima]

1788136565[/url]']
This looks like déjà vu from the last four or so years.  A very good team with some clear weaknesses that will beat most teams, will maddeningly loose a set here and there against weaker teams will wind up first or second in the ACC, ranked around the top 5 or so, and will be fighting for that top regional seed and will lose in the regional final.  Good, maybe great, but not elite.

BC

---

Note Kansas actually scored more total points (93) than Stanford (91) but we had a better distribution across sets.

BC

Writing that down. Will revisit in December. T

[Card10Fan]

It's too early to write off the season. A lot hinges on Parks. We have lots of lethal offensive weapons if she can run the offense and set better consistently. I think things looked pretty shaky at times with her this opening weekend. Defense remains to be seen. 

If we figure those things out, can we contend for a Final 4 sure. If not, will be a similar result to years past.

[Card10Fan]

It's too early to write off the season. A lot hinges on Parks. We have lots of lethal offensive weapons if she can run the offense and set better consistently. I think things looked pretty shaky at times with her this opening weekend. Defense remains to be seen. 

If we figure those things out, can we contend for a Final 4 sure. If not, will be a similar result to years past.

[BostonCard]

I would say that the last few years we have “contended” for a final four; that’s what being eliminated in the regional final as a #1 or #2 seed means: we were in contention for a final four slot, but fell just short.  I expect we will be in that position again.  Maybe we break through this year and make it into the final four, maybe we remain just short.

Barring injuries we will almost certainly be a top-10 team, probably around the #5 mark, which was our pre-season ranking.  I again expect Nebraska to be the runaway favorite, but that’s what I expected last year; I did not have Texas A&M on my championship Bingo Card.  I think Texas and Kentucky would be the next tier down.  Then I’d have a number of teams including Pitt and Stanford.

One thing I want to emphasize is that only by Stanford’s lofty expectations is a top-10 season that ends just shy of the final four a season “written off”.  For pretty much any team not named Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, Penn State and maybe one or two others such a result would be phenomenal.  And that we can do that year in and year despite all the changes in the collegiate athletics landscape is a testament to the program.  I take nothing for granted. 

BC

[BostonCard]

I would say that the last few years we have “contended” for a final four; that’s what being eliminated in the regional final as a #1 or #2 seed means: we were in contention for a final four slot, but fell just short.  I expect we will be in that position again.  Maybe we break through this year and make it into the final four, maybe we remain just short.

Barring injuries we will almost certainly be a top-10 team, probably around the #5 mark, which was our pre-season ranking.  I again expect Nebraska to be the runaway favorite, but that’s what I expected last year; I did not have Texas A&M on my championship Bingo Card.  I think Texas and Kentucky would be the next tier down.  Then I’d have a number of teams including Pitt and Stanford.

One thing I want to emphasize is that only by Stanford’s lofty expectations is a top-10 season that ends just shy of the final four a season “written off”.  For pretty much any team not named Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, Penn State and maybe one or two others such a result would be phenomenal.  And that we can do that year in and year despite all the changes in the collegiate athletics landscape is a testament to the program.  I take nothing for granted. 

BC

[Card10Fan]

By contend, I mean more can we be a team favored to reach the Final 4 this year. We haven't done that since 2019. The last couple years felt like S16 or E8 was our ceiling and we were not really at the level of the top teams to get through to the Final 4. I hope we can this year with this group. 

Nebraska looks stellar yet again and Pitt has looked excellent. Texas hasn't impressed me the first couple weekends. It seems pretty wide open. We will know much more about our team in the weeks ahead.

[Card10Fan]

By contend, I mean more can we be a team favored to reach the Final 4 this year. We haven't done that since 2019. The last couple years felt like S16 or E8 was our ceiling and we were not really at the level of the top teams to get through to the Final 4. I hope we can this year with this group. 

Nebraska looks stellar yet again and Pitt has looked excellent. Texas hasn't impressed me the first couple weekends. It seems pretty wide open. We will know much more about our team in the weeks ahead.

[BostonCard]

We got the #1 regional seed in 2022 and 2023 so you can say that we were “favored to reach the final four” both those years. We got the #2 seed in 2024 and 2025.

BC

[BostonCard]

We got the #1 regional seed in 2022 and 2023 so you can say that we were “favored to reach the final four” both those years. We got the #2 seed in 2024 and 2025.

BC

[TonyLima]

I would say that the last few years we have “contended” for a final four; that’s what being eliminated in the regional final as a #1 or #2 seed means: we were in contention for a final four slot, but fell just short.  I expect we will be in that position again.  Maybe we break through this year and make it into the final four, maybe we remain just short.

Barring injuries we will almost certainly be a top-10 team, probably around the #5 mark, which was our pre-season ranking.  I again expect Nebraska to be the runaway favorite, but that’s what I expected last year; I did not have Texas A&M on my championship Bingo Card.  I think Texas and Kentucky would be the next tier down.  Then I’d have a number of teams including Pitt and Stanford.

One thing I want to emphasize is that only by Stanford’s lofty expectations is a top-10 season that ends just shy of the final four a season “written off”.  For pretty much any team not named Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, Penn State and maybe one or two others such a result would be phenomenal.  And that we can do that year in and year despite all the changes in the collegiate athletics landscape is a testament to the program.  I take nothing for granted. 

BC

Explanation understood. Will remove that reminder from my December calendar.

[TonyLima]

I would say that the last few years we have “contended” for a final four; that’s what being eliminated in the regional final as a #1 or #2 seed means: we were in contention for a final four slot, but fell just short.  I expect we will be in that position again.  Maybe we break through this year and make it into the final four, maybe we remain just short.

Barring injuries we will almost certainly be a top-10 team, probably around the #5 mark, which was our pre-season ranking.  I again expect Nebraska to be the runaway favorite, but that’s what I expected last year; I did not have Texas A&M on my championship Bingo Card.  I think Texas and Kentucky would be the next tier down.  Then I’d have a number of teams including Pitt and Stanford.

One thing I want to emphasize is that only by Stanford’s lofty expectations is a top-10 season that ends just shy of the final four a season “written off”.  For pretty much any team not named Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, Penn State and maybe one or two others such a result would be phenomenal.  And that we can do that year in and year despite all the changes in the collegiate athletics landscape is a testament to the program.  I take nothing for granted. 

BC

Explanation understood. Will remove that reminder from my December calendar.

[BostonCard]

LOL, it’s ok. This is a message board, and receiving crap for making overly bold statements two games into the season is part and parcel with poasting. I’d be thrilled to be shown up for having sold this team short in labeling them “good, maybe great but not elite” come December.  Send all correspondance to:

Boston Card
2026 Eat Crow Lane
Burlingame, CA 94010

PS, in the words of the inimitable Gregg Easterbrook, “All predictions are wrong, or your money back”

[BostonCard]

LOL, it’s ok. This is a message board, and receiving crap for making overly bold statements two games into the season is part and parcel with poasting. I’d be thrilled to be shown up for having sold this team short in labeling them “good, maybe great but not elite” come December.  Send all correspondance to:

Boston Card
2026 Eat Crow Lane
Burlingame, CA 94010

PS, in the words of the inimitable Gregg Easterbrook, “All predictions are wrong, or your money back”