OK, not to go out on a stretch but I still love my hometown Boilermakers. Even with the unexpected loss of Shalicia Hurns to junior college, the team still has plenty of talent to go around: Kelly Komara played extraordinarily well in the NCAA tourney last year after Erika Valek went down with an ACL. Shereka Wright has the intelligence, quickness, and skills to be a potent offensive and defensive force. Transfer Laura Meadows was on an all-SEC team during her three years at Kentucky and should play plenty of minutes. Depth will be stretched as the majority of players are sophomores, some of whom didn't get a lot of experience last year. My major worry is at center, where junior Mary Jo Noon has yet to play an entire college season without being hurt in some respect--she redshirted her freshman year due to a foot injury and she's gotten concussions the last two years. If my Boilers, however, have even an average year, it'll still be one for the record books as Kelly Komara will leave the Big Ten as the lone member in the winningest class in conference history. The Boilermakers should finish high in the conference race and do well in the NCAAs. Final Four? Dunno.

Other top choices: I like Vanderbilt a lot. You've got a top center in Chantelle Anderson and a great point guard in Ashley McElhiney, and a tough conference to cut their teeth on.

Oklahoma's got one of the best backcourts in the nation with Stacey Dales and LaNeshia Caulfield and, as we all know, it's the backcourts that are most important during tourney time.

Duke's the sexy pick. Everyone loves Duke, including me.

I'm surprised that Athlon picked Tennessee #1 with the loss of Randall, Clement, and Catchings. Granted, the team is deep but can they be considered better than last year's team? :confused:

What teams am I forgetting?

SteveIN

I am a huge womens college basketball fan!!!!
My preseason TOP 25 are:
1. OKLAHOMA-SOONER BOOMER!!! BOOMER SOONER!!! They have my favorite player in Stacy Dales and have a great help for her in La Neisha Caufield and Catolin Hill!!!! Sherri Coale is one of the best young coaches.
2. Vanderbilt-Vandy has the best center in the nation. The commardores should beat the Vols for the SEC title and could very well be the national champs.
3. Connecticut-UCONN is Awsome. Geno Aurimeo is a fantastic coach who has a very talented roster.
4. Tennessee-The LADY VOLS are the greatest program in womens college basketball. PAT SUMMITT's THE BEST COACH. Despite some key losses, The Vols should contend for yet another national championship.
5. Duke-The Lady Blue Devils are awsome but lets hope they dont choke like last year.
6. Louisiana Tech- Ayna Walker could lead the Lady Techsters to a national championship. Leon Barrymore is one of the best coaches.
7. Texas Tech- The Lady Red Raiders could be a final four team. Great Coaching and Players!!!
8. Iowa State- The Cyclones are good but lets see if they can not choke in the post season like in previous years.
9. Stanford- THE CARDINAL ARE BACK!!!!!
10. N.C. State- Kay Yow is one of the best coaches, so her teams are always tough and watch out this year.
11. Florida- The Lady Gators will be chomping at the heavies of the SEC.
12. Purdue-Never count out the Boilermakers. There the defending National Runner Ups!!!
13. Washington-Last Years Cinderalla team is back and to be reckoned with.
14. Baylor-The Lady Bears are coming off a strong year and will be very strong again.
15. Michigan-The Lady Wolverines have the talent lets see if coaching can finally get them to TOP TIER Standards.
16. Colorado-The Lady Buffaols are for real and one of many BIG 12 teams that will be real tough!!!
17. Norte Dame-The Defending Champs are good but not great like last year.
18. Texas-The Lady Longhorns are back.
19. Utah-The Lady Utes are for real.
20. Old Dominion-Always a team to be reckoned with.
21. Maryland-The Lady Terps are not a dormat team anymore.
22. Penn State- Rene Portland's teams are always tough.
23. Wisconsin-Despite the loss of Nina Smith, Look for the Badgers to make some noise.
24. Drake-The suprise team from Missouri Valley Confrence
25. Georgia-Despite the loss of the Miller girls, There always tough!!!

My Final Four:
Vanderbilt Vs. Tennessee
Connecticut Vs. Oklahoma

Championship Game:
Vanderbilt Vs. Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always have high hopes that some new upstarts will crash the party, but it always seems to be the same names. Notre Dame came through last year, but UConn and Purdue were previous Final 4 teams. The year before it was another (yawn!) UConn/Tennessee battle (or walkover considering how UConn manhandled the Vols).

In 2001, I am looking for:
1) Notre Dame and UConn to be the beasts in the Big East once again
2) ACC: Duke has a good returning squad, with several young returners (Alana Beard) -- however, I saw them play in person a bit last season and they did not choke, they were just not as good as people thought they were; NC State is returning a strong squad
3) SEC: well, so many things that could be discussed, but Tennessee and Georgia almost always have the last say (although Georgia fell flat last year in the end, and does lose some big time players)
4) Big Ten: Purdue is always good, but Iowa and their new coach were very impressive last year -- it could be back to Iowa ruling the Big Ten
5) Pac 10: the Huskies could return a great squad; Stanford needs to pick itself up after some off seasons; UCLA may have missed out on its best chances the past three seasons; Arizona may continue to do well
6) Big 12: Oklahoma has been awfully tough the past couple of years, and Texas is trying to return to the top; Texas Tech has not turned the corner in the end the last few seasons
7) Others: La Tech is always a threat; ODU may or may not be a solid team this year (too much open on that one); who will be this year's surprise team -- ???

I love the Lady Dawgs of UGA. I can't stand the men's teams. Go Jackets!!!

Despite the loss of Kelly Miller, Tweety Nolan, and Coco Miller, the numbers 2, 6, and 9 WNBA draft picks, I think the Lady Dawgs will be a surprise force this year. Who knows, with the addition of the Braxton twins to help out MacDonald and Murphy, Andy might shock the world and get his first national championship. Yeah, wishful thinking. But stranger things have happened.

Mortal lock for this season:

1) A Big 12 team will finally advance to the Final 4. The conference with Oklahoma, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor (with top-gun Sheila Lambert), plus a traditional power like Texas will break through this year. Finally. Most likely? Tech.

2) Someone in the national media will question why NCAA first and second round games are hosted by tournament teams at their home arenas. The NCAA will shrug.

Likely possibilities:

1) Sue Bird of UConn is named national player of the year.

2) At least five players from top-20 programs will have their seasons end due to ACL injuries.

3) Change of conference won't matter to a Louisiana Tech squad that will win every regular season game in the WAC.

4) East Coast bias will force some team from the ACC or Big East to be the #1 seed in the NCAA West regional. Tara Vanderveer's ears blow smoke in response.

Could happen, with some help:

1) Michigan will enter, and remain, in the Top 20 poll for all but 1-2 weeks in the season. Sue Guevara is nicknamed "Che" by the press as a salute.

2) All ten starters for UConn and Tennessee will garner AP All-American votes.

SteveIN

The NCAA actually addressed this issue (finally) with some recent decisions. I am attaching the link for everyone to read, but the gist is:

1) 2002 will have the higher seeds hosting as usual
2) 2003 will see regional sites introduced into the women's tournament
3) 2003 will also see some scheduling changes to spread the games out so the regional facilities can handle the volume of gameswomen's tournament changes

Here are my pics by confrences. I know I wrote early but some of my predictions have changed after doing some research:


BIG EAST: 3 for sure and maybe 4 for the NCAA TOURNY.
Connecticut is the team to beat. Norte Dame and Rutgers will be 2 & 3. Villinova has a shot of making the Big Dance but not enough to be in the top three.

BIG TEN: 4 or 5 for sure maybe as many as 7 for the NCAA TOURNY!!!
In a suprise Im going to go with Michigan as the team to beat. Prennial power Purdue will be on their heels. As well as Iowa and despite the loss of Nina Smith my Lady Badgers of Wisconsin with Tamara More, Jessie Stomski and Kyle Black. Penn State will always be in the hunt with Rene Portland as coach. Suprise team could be Ohio State and possibly Indiana.

ACC: 3 or 4 for sure maybe as many as 5 for the NCAA TOURNY!!!
Duke is the team to beat. Then Maryland as my suprise team and no longer a dormat. N.C.State will also be a team that will contend for the confrence title. North Carolina and Virginia will be good but long shots at confrence titles.

BIG TWELVE: 6 for sure and maybe as many as 7 teams in the NCAA TOURNY!!!
This has become the toughest confrence in Womens Ball.
Oklahoma is the head of the class. With Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech right on their heels. Texas and Colorado will also have great teams that will make some noise. Missouri was a suprise team in the tourny last year and could very well be back.

SEC: 5 teams for sure maybe 6, 7 and 8 a long shot at getting in the NCAA TOURNY!!

Vanderbilt will take the reigns over the Vols. Tennessee and Florida will be the next two toughest teams. Georgia and Louisiana State will conted but not have enough to overcome the Gators, Vols, and Commadores. Mississippi State and Auburn and Arkansas are possible tourny teams.

Pac 10: 4 teams for sure maybe 5 for the big dance.
Stanford is BACK!!!!! Their the team to beat. Washington a cinderalla team from last year will try to duplicate it this year. Arizona, Arizona State, and UCLA are possible teams that could make some noise.

MWC: 2 for sure.
Utah and Colorado State are the head of the class.

WAC: 1 for sure maybe 2 or 3 but a total long shot.
LOUISIANA TECH WILL DOMINATE THIS CONFRENCE.
Southren Methodist or Hawaii maybe.

Other Teams to Watch out for:
Drake- The Lady Bulldogs will dominate the Missouri Valley Confrence and make some noise in the tourny.
Old Dominion- The Lady Monarchs are always tough!!!!
St.Josephs- Could be this years Xavier from the Atlantic ten confrence and make some noise in the tourny.
UW-Green Bay- The Lady Phoenix have talent and are well coached.

I'm telling you guys that the Big Lady Dawgs are going to surprise you.

OK, Zaac, why? I only know of their losses at guard, and that they're strong in the post this year with Thomas, McDonald, and the Braxtons. What does their roster look like and where do you see the Lady Dawgs ending up this year?

SteveIN