Less than a month into the schedule, and we may have already seen the best game of the season. UConn’s 72-69 win over Michigan felt like a Final Four game, and the young Wolverines almost gave the defending champs more than they could handle. It featured excellent shooting from UConn’s Azzi Fudd, who finished with 31 points, and Michigan’s Syla Swords, who knocked down eight threes, as well as impressive defensive stretches from both teams. UConn held Michigan to five points in the first quarter, while Michigan returned the favor in the third, allowing just four points.
That game was enough to sustain even the most rabid women’s basketball fan for days, but it wasn’t the only exciting contest of the week. We also had a rivalry game between Kentucky and Louisville, a buzzer-beater that got Notre Dame back into my top 25 and a wild upset of NC State by Rhode Island.
Here’s how I voted in this week’s AP Poll, with my previous rankings in parentheses.
3. South Carolina (3)
Dropped out: Oklahoma State (19)
Almost famous: Belmont, Richmond, Fairfield, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, Minnesota
Notes on the votes:
Michigan: The Wolverines lost but are moving up two spots. That’s how highly I think of No. 1 UConn and how heroic Michigan’s effort was in the 72-69 loss. The Wolverines were terrible in the first half, shooting 27.8 percent from the field and committing 10 turnovers. A bad team, or even an average team, would have taken the 45-27 deficit and chalked it up to a loss. Instead, Michigan regrouped, switched to a zone defense and was the dominant party in the third quarter, holding UConn to just four points. Despite the loss, Michigan showed smarts, resilience and skill. Sophomore Syla Swords finished with 29 points, including eight made threes, showing why she was the best recruit in program history. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Olivia Olson had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Expect to see this team late in March.
Maryland: The Terrapins are one of the country’s sneaky-good teams. They are well-balanced with six players scoring 8.0 or more points per game and have solid chemistry, despite relying heavily on transfers and freshmen. Duke transfer Oluchi Okananawa has been particularly sharp, averaging 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists per game. The Terrapins biggest test so far came on Nov. 16, when they beat a Princeton team that is just outside the top 25. Their schedule will heat up once conference play starts, but before that, a Nov. 26 game against Kentucky will pose a challenge.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes are a team with a ton of potential, and they looked solid in a 57-52 win over Baylor on Thursday. Sophomore Ava Heiden and senior Hannah Stuelke make for a great post duo and Heiden keeps improving every game. She led the Hawkeyes with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Iowa also managed to secure the victory after sophomore guard Chit Chat Wright went down with an injury. Prior to the injury, she led Iowa in both points and assists.
Baylor: Meanwhile, Baylor’s stock is plummeting. It took overtime for the Bears to defeat 4-3 Davidson, and their best win, a 58-52 victory over Duke, has lost its shine since the Blue Devils dropped from the top 25. The Bears should coast for the next few weeks until a Dec. 14 game against Texas will give them a chance to prove themselves.
Kentucky: The Wildcats boast one of the best post duos in the country in 6-foot-5 senior Teonni Key and 6-foot-5 junior Clara Strack. In a 72-62 win over rival Louisville on Saturday, they combined for 34 points, 18 rebounds and 6 blocks. And despite the graduation of star point guard Georgia Amoore, Kentucky is actually in good shape at the guard spot, as it has experience and maturity in both Penn transfer Jordan Obi and Georgia Tech transfer Tonie Morgan. The Cardinals had no answer for Morgan, who finished with a team-high 19 points and 7 assists.
Notre Dame: The Irish are back in the top 25 thanks to a last-second shot from star junior guard Hannah Hidalgo. The team’s 61-59 victory over USC was much-needed after a 93-54 loss to Michigan last week. It’s clear this team goes as Hidalgo goes. Against Michigan, she had just 12 points on 4 of 21 shooting while committing seven turnovers; against USC, Hidalgo finished with 22 points and 5 steals. As talented as Hidalgo is, the Irish desperately need to find consistent scoring from other players, or their season will be a struggle.
NC State: The Wolfpack have started the season in confusing fashion: A great win against Tennessee, a close loss to USC and a close loss to TCU. Both losses were respectable, but their Sunday defeat at the hands of Rhode Island? Not so much. There is a ton of talent on this team, including junior guard Zoe Brooks, who has proven herself against ACC competition over the last two years, Vandy transfer Khamil Pierre, who was a force in the SEC last season, and Tilda Trygger, a versatile 6-foot-6 sophomore who continues to improve. But talent doesn’t mean much if you can’t get results, and NC State needs to start stacking wins or a top-25 exit may be coming.
Oklahoma State: I have a lot of faith in this team going forward, but with no strong wins and a bad loss to St. John’s, I can’t justify keeping the Cowgirls ranked. But, I do have my eyes on their Dec. 13 game against rival Oklahoma. If the Cowgirls can have a good showing, they will likely get their spot back. Plus, it serves as a measuring-stick game before Big 12 play begins.
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