I think UT is stacked this season. The SEC is going to be tough, with UT, LSU, Vandy and Ga.

Don't ignore the Big 12! Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech will all be heard from. Big 12 Coaches' Poll

I agree, the Big 12 will be super tough. I think this may be a bit of a down year in the Big East, with the exception of maybe Rutgers and UConn

Chiming in to affirm my loyalty to the UConn women. I'm not much for stats and am finding I'm having trouble keeping track of the players. But I am hoping for an exciting season.

On the one hand, we will see some traditional powers at the top. At least to start the year. Duke should be ready to rumble with Monique Currie returning to the program (she got an extra year of eligibility due to injury issues in the past, and decided to go for one more round instead of entering the WNBA). Lindsay Hunter returns from her suspension (have to stay away from plagarizing in those difficult Duke classes) to run the team. They have pretty much all the other pieces and parts to have a great year. I am living in Durham now and have season tickets -- including an awesome matchup with Tennessee in January.

Speaking of -- Tennessee has all the talent they had last year and then some. They lost some good seniors, but nobody who was irreplaceable. They add another great freshmen class and return Candace Parker and another top player injured all of last year. I am SOOOO not a fan of Pat Summitt, but she turns out exceptional basketball teams. I am glad my Spartans snuck up on the Vols in tne national semis last year.

LSU, Texas, UConn, Georgia, Rutgers -- all names we have heard in the past. Georgia has lost three players already in the pre-season, so they will probably under-achieve yet again. (Georgia and NC State are the two women's programs with the most history and no national championship.) Connecticut now has the services of former Blue Devil Brittany Hunter. Big power post who will potentially make a big difference for the Huskies who were just not an elite team last year. Sorry.

Ohio State should be an excellent team this year. Their big power post (Jessica Davenport) is pretty much all that. They lose some outside shooting, but they are the Big Ten favorites. Jim Foster is a great coach who may never win the big one either. All those years at Vandy losing to Tennessee took their toll.

It will be interesting to see how last year's finalists fare. My Spartans are potentially stronger this year than last. They had an excellent recruiting class including 3 of the top 4 freshmen in the state of MI and the top recruit in the state of Ohio. I went to school there and it is hard for people to say no. Beautiful facilities, amazing campus, and the national coach of the year.

Baylor should also be tough again this year. No repeat in my opinion -- they lost two strong seniors and the three-point shooter who lit up MSU has transferred to UCSB. Kind of tough to replace all of that right away. But Kim Mulkey has always known how to win and will be tough again.

There is very little new news to discuss this year. UCLA and USC are expected to make it back to the top ranks, but they have both been there before. There are very few black horses to bet on.

I do have to say that I really hope the likes of UNC and Texas Tech may fade into the background. UNC has one of the most unpleasant teams around. I see them play several times a season. Coach Sylvia Hatchell is unpleasant and teaches her team to follow suit.

Marcia Sharp's Lady Raiders are okay, but they always fall a bit short of their potential. I am kind of tired of hoping they will come up with the goods only to see them fall completely short. I guess one national championship is a special thing, but they have been nowhere close since.

Two of the players that UGA lost, Russell and Felder, did not play at all last year. They would have been a bonus this year. The third, Rowsey, was a starter, but not a significant contributor other than minutes played. The Lady Dawgs return Tasha Humphrey and the entire backcourt trio from last year. I look for a very good year, although the SEC is once again stacked.

The Humphrey girl has got some mad skills and she is a bruiser. I love to watch her play, with the exception when the play UK. Im hoping Mickie DeMoss starts a tradition for the UK women. They are young but very very talented.

Looks like Ohio State is the beast of the Big 10. Hoping my Boilers can stay healthy and give them a run.

We Spartans aren't ready to concede anything.

Go Golden Gophers! Jessica Davenport is going down! :-)

Should be an interesting year.

wow! Spark! Hoping that the Big Ten is a grind'em out season. Would be fine with me if the Bucks go down....preferably at the hands of the Boilers but I suspect that UMinn and MSU are going to be tough again.

Just make sure Penn St. is one of the contenders

oops! that would be ....that Penn St. is NOT one of the contenders...

Agreed PurdueRox. I hope Rene Portland goes 0 for whatever this year.

Never have liked her. Always liked knowing that she can't beat Purdue in the Big Ten Tourney. I'm sure that sticks in her throat...

Georgia lost Angel Robinson. They are left with mega-star Humphrey and an array of fast guards. They really needed Russell and Robinson to help out with space, and weak side-D.


Duke is loaded. Their frontcourt are a set of tall, shotblocking, rebounding terrors. Black, Bales, Bass...all pretty interchangeable. And it only got better with the addition of Carrem Gay. And their backcourt and 3pt. shooting has been enhanced now that Harding and Emily Waner run the point...freeing up Wanisha Smith and Foley to move over to the two along with Abby Waner. Add in WNBA-ready Currie to the mix, and barring injuries- they will be the team to beat.


TN- I like the thought of Tennessee, but it seems that the motion offense loses its motion some of the time. Sometimes it seems a bit stagnant. Nevertheless, they are young, probably as talented as Duke- but I think Duke edges them out because of experience.


UNC- is another team brimming with talent. Except their coach makes them play with reckless abandon. And all their talent lies in the 3/4 spots. They need a 3pt. threat other than Latta to be successful.