College top 20: Who will lead the pack?

Women's Basketball, Oct 2003 by Kallam, Clay

Every year, the talent pool gets deeper - and you can thank the WNBA.

Since the league's inception in 1997, little girls have seen basketball on TV more than any other sport. With the magnet of TV drawing good, very good and great athletes away from Volleyball, soccer and softball to basketball, it's no surprise that the depth of talent in the NCAA is greater than ever before and that sorting out the top teams is no easy task.

Of course, it's pretty simple to pick number one: Any team that wins the National title and returns every player on the roster is pretty much a no-brainer pick to win it all again, and Connecticut fits the bill. But Duke is, at most, a half-step behind, and there are a host of teams right in back of the Blue Devils, just waiting for a misstep, an untimely injury or a few bad calls to derail the favorites. And remember, every team on this list has tons of talent, and so do lots of others that didn't get mentioned.

1. Connecticut (37-1): Don't forget that Diana Taurasi battled injuries all season and barely practiced down the stretch. She easily could improve on 17.6 ppg, 47.6 percent shooting, 4.4 apg and 6.1 rpg. And with sophomores Ann Strother and Barbara Turner primed for better seasons, it should be another glorious year in Storrs. Oh, UConn added two primo recruits, too.

2. Duke (31-2): Monique Currie missed all of last season after scoring 14.6 points and grabbing 6.3 rebounds a game as a 2001-02 freshman. Since pretty much everyone else returns - including the marvelous Alana Beard - the Blue Devils should, frighteningly, be better.

3. Texas (29-6): Four starters are back from the team that lost to UConn in the Final Four last year, and two of the recruits (Tiffany Jackson and Kalee Carey) are on the A list. The only question is defensive quickness on the perimeter, and that's not a lot to overcome.

4. Kansas State (29-5): Kendra Wecker and Nicole Ohlde are joined by three returning starters, and everyone else on the roster. The Wildcats don't play much of a pre-season schedule, so look for a glittering early record.

5. Penn State (26-9): The Nittany Lions also return five starters, including superscorer Kelly Mazzante. Despite her 23.9 ppg, she and Penn State are under the radar - so far. Underappreciated point guard Jess Strom, tough Jess Brungo and athletic Tanisha Wright are also outstanding players.

6. Stanford (27-5): Stanford has everyone back too, led by Nicole Powell. Powell has had to play the point when the Cardinal has battled through injuries, but she should settle comfortably into the three this season - and Stanford should make a serious push for the Final Four.

7. Tennessee (33-5): Pat Summitt lost a lot to the WNBA (Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson). The talent is there (Loree Moore, Shyra Ely), but the Lady Vois are a year away.

8. Texas Tech (29-6): The Red Raiders were ravaged by graduation - they lost one whole player. OK, Plenette Pierson is now in the WNBA, and Tech will be hard-pressed to replace its leading scorer and rebounder. But don't cry for Marsha Sharp, who's got some great recruits and lots of returning talent.

9. Louisiana Tech (31-3): Despite losing Cheryl Ford to the WNBA, look for LaTech to be just as good, if not better, this year. The Techsters are a little small, though, so senior Amisha Carter needs to take over in the paint.

10. Georgia (21-10): If anybody knew how well Kara Braxton would play this year, the Bulldogs would be easier to analyze. The 6prime;6'' junior got tossed off the team last season, but when she's focused, she might be the best young post in the world. Christi Thomas, 6'5'', isn't far behind, and if a shooter can be found to replace the only missing starter, Georgia will be very tough, even without Braxton. With her at 100 percent, this ranking is too low.

11. Purdue (29-6): "Post player wanted for team with National Championship aspirations. Call Kristy Curry in West Lafayette." The four returning starters are led by Shereka Wright and Erika Valek, and two freshmen perimeter players (Erin Lawless and Katie Gearlds) should help right away. But somebody's got to defend on the block and rebound, and nobody knows who that's going to be.

12. Oklahoma (19-13): Oklahoma loses just one starter and replaces her with Caton Hill, one of the top players on the team two years ago. She, like numerous other Sooners, was bitten by the ACL, but everyone's healthy now.

13. Minnesota (25-6): Janel McCarville is a foul magnet, and as a result she played only 25.9 minutes per game last season. For the Golden Gophers to break into the top 10, she needs to be on the court 32 minutes a game, like Lindsay Whalen (20.6 ppg, 55 percent shooting). Minnesota also needs another scorer to emerge to replace departed Corrin Von Wald.

14. UC Santa Barbara (27-5): I confess to a little bias toward my alma mater, but even the most objective observer would have to conclude that four returning starters, plus Tennessee transfer April McDivitt, should keep the Gauchos at least at the same level - which was awfully high.