USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll

[boomer411]

http://www.wbca.org/blog/index.cfm/2013/10/29/20132014-PreSeason-DI-Poll/

1.Connecticut (31)
2.Duke
3.Stanford
4.Tennessee (1)
5.Louisville
6.Maryland
7.Notre Dame
8.Kentucky
9.California
10.Baylor
11.North Carolina
12.Nebraska
13.Texas A&M
14.Oklahoma
15.Penn State
16.Dayton
17.LSU
18.Michigan State
19.Colorado
20.Iowa State
21.South Carolina
22.Georgia
23.Purdue
24.Oklahoma State
25.UCLA

*Sooners coming in at #14, 4 spots behind Baylor at #10
*4 Big 12 teams ranked with 2 receiving votes
*Appears to me that the standings reflect how teams finished last year, rather than the potential for this year (West Virginia and Texas not getting a lot of love and Kansas receiving votes)

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think WVU will crack the top 20 before long. It is probably too soon for Texas to reach the top 20 as they need another couple of years.

 

[badger]

Appears to me that the standings reflect how teams finished last year, rather than the potential for this year

they do this outside of football too?

 

[sybarite]

Other than mugging Notre Dame for a win at South Bend a couple of years ago, WV hasn't done anything to merit the love. With the revised officiating, they may not even win a game. All they had was a team that could push and shove their way to an occasional win. I don't see it, and they have to prove it.

Texas has earned their lack of respect. They've been over-rated almost every year recently. In order to get respect, sometime they will have to perform up to what people think their talent level is. I think their talent is a bit overrated, primarily because it is so inconsistent.

I wonder who thinks Tennessee is #1.

 

[Soonercuda]

Shooting is the reason I don't think West Va will be a top 25 team...here are their stats from last year:

Overall Shooting % 38.2%
3 pt Shooting % 30.7%
Free Throw Shooting % 64.7%

Bussie is going to have to average 15+ and shoot it well for them to get top 25 good.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Maybe my memory is failing me but I don't remember anyone in conference playing us tougher than WVU did last year other than Baylor.

 

[badger]

I wonder who thinks Tennessee is #1.

I had a terrible, awful thought and what made it worse was that it sounded like a joke in my head

I think it goes without saying so I won't

 

[SoonerShamrock]

I wonder who thinks Tennessee is #1.

Pick one:
The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 32 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2013-14 season: Joan Bonvicini, Seattle University; Joanne Boyle, Virginia; Lynn Bria, Stetson; June Daugherty, Washington State; Kathy Delany-Smith, Harvard; Brooks Donald-Williams, McNeese State; Tonya Edwards, Alcorn State; Oties Epps, Evansville; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Stephanie Gaitley, Fordham; Sue Guevara, Central Michigan; Joe Haigh, St. Francis (Pa.); Bonnie Henrickson, Kansas; Rick Insell, Middle Tennessee; Jeff Judkins, Brigham Young; Krista Kilburn-Stevesky, Hofstra; Andy Landers, Georgia; Kellie Lewis-Jay, Florida Atlantic; Kevin McMillan, Tennessee-Martin; Dave Magarity, Army; Suzy Merchant, Michigan State; Faith Mimnaugh, Cal Poly; Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick, North Carolina-Asheville; John Olenowski, Manhattan; Kathy Olivier, UNLV; Kate Peterson Abiad, Cleveland State; Jennifer Rizzotti, Hartford; Susan Robinison-Fruchtl, Providence; David Six, Hampton; Charlotte Smith, Elon; Jaime White, Northern Colorado; Amy Williams, South Dakota.

 

[Soonercuda]

Maybe my memory is failing me but I don't remember anyone in conference playing us tougher than WVU did last year other than Baylor.

ISU beat us 3 times last year including two times by about 20. We beat West Va 2 of 3...though the one win by West Va was by about 20.

 

[SoonerNorm]

ISU beat us 3 times last year including two times by about 20. We beat West Va 2 of 3...though the one win by West Va was by about 20.

Thanks, I had forgotten we lost all 3 games to ISU. I recall one of our games with WVU was really close at the end and I do remember getting beat bad in one game.

 

[boomer411]

I find it a little extreme to call West Virginia's physical play "mugging" or "dirty". Certainly Mike Carey enjoys playing a more physical game and I'm sure he is one of the coaches that will not be a fan of the new rule changes, but I definitely don't watch them play and thing "Wow, now that's a dirty team"

For example: I never saw them take a swing at another player (like Louisville players did with Griner in the Sweet 16) or pull another player down to the ground (Like Griner did to Dolson at Connecticut). Fouling may be a problem for them this year, but to say "they play dirty" or "they won't win a game" is a little extreme.

Notes from last season:
*We beat WV in Norman by 3 points
*We lost to WV in Morgantown by 19 points
*We beat them in the Big 12 tournament by 1
*Also, Jess Harlee (Big 12 All Defense Team) did not play in the Big 12 tournament after suffering an ACL tear against Texas. She had Vegas as a defensive assignment in Morgantown and Coach Coale really complimented her after the game.

I certainly think they will be one of our toughest opponents this season, and I certainly don't expect them to finish as low as they did last season. I wouldn't be surprised if they are in the Top 25 before conference play begins.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I agree, WVU certainly does not play dirty.

 

[euphguy]

I agree, WVU certainly does not play dirty.

+1

I don't understand how someone who comes across as somewhat intelligent at times can be so misguided.

 

[euphguy]

One game? Seriously? Don't forget, Asya Bussie is back. Get ready.

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I find it a little extreme to call West Virginia's physical play "mugging" or "dirty". Certainly Mike Carey enjoys playing a more physical game and I'm sure he is one of the coaches that will not be a fan of the new rule changes, but I definitely don't watch them play and thing "Wow, now that's a dirty team"

I'm not sure why dirty is in quotes. You're the first one to say it. It has a lot different connotation than what sybarite actually said.

WV was very physical, hence the use of "mugging" and "push and shove".

 

[boomer411]

"Dirty" was just something that I have heard our fans and other fans in the Big 12 say in reference to the way that WV plays. I believe someone actually posted on another thread that they are "thuggy" which I find to be a terrible choice of words and somewhat racially insensitive.

 

[sybarite]

Wouldn't you say that WV is one of the teams that provoked these rules changes?

 

[AustinTXSooner]

I believe someone actually posted on another thread that they are "thuggy" which I find to be a terrible choice of words and somewhat racially insensitive.

I don't want to get off on too much of a tangent here, but when did thug become racially insensitive? Who is it insensitive to?

I must be getting old, because to me, a thug is essentially like a bully or a punk. Or as my dad would say, a ruffian.

 

[sybarite]

"Dirty" was just something that I have heard our fans and other fans in the Big 12 say in reference to the way that WV plays. I believe someone actually posted on another thread that they are "thuggy" which I find to be a terrible choice of words and somewhat racially insensitive.

Learn to debate or discuss without ascribing words that were never actually stated or implied: "dirty," "racially insensitive." Can you discuss without twisting words or meanings?

Again I ask, was it not the WV style of play that the rules changes were designed to overcome?

 

[SoonerNorm]

Learn to debate or discuss without ascribing words that were never actually stated or implied: "dirty," "racially insensitive." Can you discuss without twisting words or meanings?

Again I ask, was it not the WV style of play that the rules changes were designed to overcome?

Not in my opinion. The powers that be want to see more scoring. End of story.