The chaos of last week, despite giving us a new No. 1, had nothing on Week 4. UCLA is still my top team, but after that things changed dramatically from top to bottom. At this point in the season, strength of schedule starts to hold more weight. For me, playing close with a top team means more than blowing out a team that won’t sniff the top-25 this season.
Here’s how I voted in the Week 4 poll (my Week 3 rankings for each team are in parentheses):
3. South Carolina (4)
DROPPED OUT: Oregon
ALMOST FAMOUS: Michigan State, Stanford, Florida State, Tennessee, Utah
NOTES ON THE VOTES:
- South Carolina: There was no doubt in my mind that South Carolina would bounce back after its first loss in 43 games, but the way in which the Gamecocks dominated Iowa State was unexpected. The Cyclones scored just nine total points in the first half, and were held to single-digits in three out of the four quarters. UCLA breaking South Carolina’s winning streak was huge for two reasons. The first, is that it established the Bruins as the new No. 1 team. The second, is that South Carolina had that impressive of a winning streak in the first place. South Carolina may not be the top team right now, but the Gamecocks are still the standard in women’s college basketball. They proved that with a balanced 76-36 win over the Cyclones. Only two players scored in double digits, but 10 players scored between four and eight points. That’s what makes South Carolina dangerous.
- Texas: Sunday’s 78-73 win over West Virginia was a statement for Texas. It was the Longhorns’ first test of the season and it came against one of the toughest defenses in the country. There were some scares, but Texas handled them for the most part. The most impressive thing about Texas in the win was its depth. Madison Booker (5 of 14) and Rori Harmon (3 of 10) struggled shooting the ball, but the Longhorns got plenty of offense elsewhere, with Aaliyah Moore dominating in the paint and finishing with 20 points (8 of 11 shooting), and Justice Carlton and Kyla Oldacre scoring 10 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench. Plus, any team that can bring Laila Phelia – who scored 16.8 points per game at Michigan last season – off the bench, clearly has a stacked roster. The Longhorns have another tough game coming up on Dec. 5, when they travel to Notre Dame for the SEC/ACC challenge.
- TCU: I’ve had TCU ranked since the start of the season and it continues to impress week after week. A 76-68 comeback win over Notre Dame is just the latest win in a 7-0 start to the season. Notre Dame had a commanding lead heading into the fourth quarter, but a 31-12 run by the Horned Frogs sealed the outcome. Notre Dame is known for its intense defense, particularly at the guard spot, but TCU’s Hailey Van Lith handled it with ease. She finished with 21 points, seven assists and just one turnover. The graduate senior has reinvented herself after a challenging year at LSU last season, and she looks like an All-American right now. So does teammate Sedona Prince, who had the stat line of the week with 20 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks. They’re proving to be a formidable duo.
- Notre Dame: After upsetting USC and rising to No. 2 in the rankings, Notre Dame had a difficult week, losing to TCU and then unranked Utah. I still think Notre Dame is one of the few teams in the country that can win the title, but I can’t rank the Fighting Irish on potential. Both matchups featured veteran guards on the opposing team who were able to handle Notre Dame’s pressure. As I mentioned above, Van Lith had just one turnover, and Utah’s senior point guard didn’t commit one miscue. If Notre Dame can’t get out in transition, it loses its biggest advantage.
- Duke: The Blue Devils had the best week of any top 25 team, knocking off both Kansas State and Oklahoma. Ashlon Jackson, who scored 30 points against Kansas State, and Reigan Richardson, who had 35 against Oklahoma, are proving themselves as elite shooting guards who are worthy of more national recognition. Coach Kara Lawson didn’t shy away from scheduling tough competition, and Duke has a huge test coming up against South Carolina on Thursday. Neither Kansas State nor Oklahoma has the kind of depth and athleticism that South Carolina does, so this will serve as a measuring stick for Duke as ACC play approaches.
- Oklahoma: Despite the loss, the Sooners were impressive against Duke. It’s easy to see why teams across the country were going after center Raegan Beers when she decided to transfer from Oregon State. The junior has the ability to change any game with her play in the paint. It’s near-impossible to guard Beers one-on-one, which opens things up for other players in the Oklahoma rotation. Payton Verhulst also played the best game of her career, finishing with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, showcasing her versatility.
- Maryland: The Terrapins didn’t play anyone of note this week, but they did defeat Duke 85-80 on Nov. 10, and after Duke’s two big wins, that victory looks all the more impressive.
- NC State: So far this season, NC State’s biggest resume boost was a 76-73 loss to TCU. Wes Moore scheduled tough preseason competition, including South Carolina and LSU, but right now it’s proving to be a bit much for the Wolfpack. The only reason they’re staying ranked is because of the caliber of opponents – all three losses have come to teams in my top seven – and because they haven’t faltered in their other contests. But the Wolfpack needs to beat Ole Miss on Thursday, or I won’t be able to justify keeping them ranked.
- South Dakota State: The Jackrabbits are one of the best midmajor programs in the country, and after some internal debate, I decided they not only deserved a spot in the top 25, but they deserved to jump a few of the bottom teams. Teams like Iowa and Alabama may be undefeated, but to me, South Dakota State defeating Oregon and Creighton, and losing by just four points to Duke is much more impressive than having an unblemished record against mediocre competition.
- Iowa State: I was hard on Iowa State when it lost to Northern Iowa, and when it nearly lost to Drake, and this is why. The Cyclones had the chance to prove themselves against South Carolina, and instead, it was a beatdown. Top teams don’t lose by 40 points. There are some good pieces on this team, with sophomore’s Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, along with veteran point guard Emily Ryan, but clearly Iowa State has a lot to work on.
- Michigan, Alabama, Iowa: Here’s the tough part about rankings at this point in the season. Some teams have played multiple high-level opponents, and others have yet to be tested. Michigan is ranked purely because of its close call with South Carolina earlier in the season, while Alabama and Iowa are both in the rankings because of their undefeated records, the eye test and various statistical metrics. Once conference play starts, teams won’t be able to avoid top competition and the bottom part of these rankings will become clearer.
