Overtime: ESPN Top 25 for the 2026-27 Season

#1
SummittSoul

SummittSoul

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#1
As is customary, ESPN has unveiled its first Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2026-27 Season.

1. UConn
2. Texas
3. South Carolina
4. LSU
5 Michigan
6. USC
7. Duke
8. Louisville
9. Iowa
10. Vandy
11. North Carolina
12. Ohio State
13. Maryland
14. Kentucky
15. Oregon
16. Illinois
17. Washington
18. Oklahoma
19. Minnesota
20. Villanova
21. Notre Dame
22. NC State
23. Nebraska
24. Virginia Tech
25. Fairfield

Yes, yes, it's too early. Things will evolve rapidly as rosters, coaching staffs etc do over the next couple of weeks and beyond. We have a long wait ahead of us. But. Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
SummittSoul said:
As is customary, ESPN has unveiled its first Way-Too-Early Top 25 for the 2026-27 Season.

1. UConn
2. Texas
3. South Carolina
4. LSU
5 Michigan
6. USC
7. Duke
8. Louisville
9. Iowa
10. Vandy
11. North Carolina
12. Ohio State
13. Maryland
14. Kentucky
15. Oregon
16. Illinois
17. Washington
18. Oklahoma
19. Minnesota
20. Villanova
21. Notre Dame
22. NC State
23. Nebraska
24. Virginia Tech
25. Fairfield

Yes, yes, it's too early. Things will evolve rapidly as rosters, coaching staffs etc do over the next couple of weeks and beyond. We have a long wait ahead of us. But. Thoughts?
Click to expand...


I read the story a few hours ago on Sunday
use that thing like a chain
post your stores linkEs
if you're on a device
Enter link manually
 
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#3
#3
www.espn.com

NCAA women's basketball Way-Too-Early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings

UCLA is the 2026 champion -- but unranked in the first top 25 for next season. Runner-up South Carolina is No. 3.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Other than a conversation starter—Creme's intention?—the list isn’t too useful. Creme has an odd way of presenting himself as an objective analyst. E.g., “Coach Cori Close has already admitted she and her staff will be active in the transfer portal.“ Admitted?
Stated, sure, but that clear verb doesn’t imply any non-existent guilt. Just part of the recruiting job these days, so Close will do it.

I stopped reading after his write up for his #1 pick, UConn. Why? Well Charlie boy left out a few pertinent facts. To wit: barring defections they have only a single roster spot to use in trying to replace Fudd or add other skill. Perhaps more striking is the omission of any mention of Big O, Storrs version, Ms. Vukosa. Nearly all ranking outfits say she’s one of the top three incoming talents.

Finally, he is too polite or too Chickenpoop to draw attention to Auriemma's mental decline. Before anyone exercises their Grid-given right to accuse me of ageism, please note that (1) I am quite a few years older than Mr. Auriemma and (2) I make no secret of my affection for obvious facts.

So, Other than that, Ms. Creme, how did you like the….
 
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#5
#5
knoxvol52 said:
It's not a stretch to say UCLA shouldn't be ranked going into next season, their top 6 players were all Seniors...
Click to expand...
Fair point.

But given their status as National Champions, I would expect Coach Close will have little trouble attracting top portal talent. How much, and how soon they might be melded into a team are unknowns, but I would be surprised if they were not ranked by the coming season's end.

The converse is troubling. How many top portal players will be attracted to a dumpster fire? Both schools' programs offer lots of playing time. One has a coach who just won a Natty.
 
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#6
#6
1reVOLver said:
www.espn.com

NCAA women's basketball Way-Too-Early 2026-27 Top 25 rankings

UCLA is the 2026 champion -- but unranked in the first top 25 for next season. Runner-up South Carolina is No. 3.
www.espn.com www.espn.com

Other than a conversation starter—Creme's intention?—the list isn’t too useful. Creme has an odd way of presenting himself as an objective analyst. E.g., “Coach Cori Close has already admitted she and her staff will be active in the transfer portal.“ Admitted?
Stated, sure, but that clear verb doesn’t imply any non-existent guilt. Just part of the recruiting job these days, so Close will do it.

I stopped reading after his write up for his #1 pick, UConn. Why? Well Charlie boy left out a few pertinent facts. To wit: barring defections they have only a single roster spot to use in trying to replace Fudd or add other skill. Perhaps more striking is the omission of any mention of Big O, Storrs version, Ms. Vukosa. Nearly all ranking outfits say she’s one of the top three incoming talents.

Finally, he is too polite or too Chickenpoop to draw attention to Auriemma's mental decline. Before anyone exercises their Grid-given right to accuse me of ageism, please note that (1) I am quite a few years older than Mr. Auriemma and (2) I make no secret of my affection for obvious facts.

So, Other than that, Ms. Creme, how did you like the….
Click to expand...

This personal opinion think unconn South Carolina Texas LSU and few others have gotten better whistle more than one occasion

More coaches should speak up regardless of what the NCAA
Says.

Personally don't like the games where turns out into a wrestling match.

And I checked before just rechecked.

A coach can request that specific official not official there games if a Bias or proceed by bias exist .

Coach don't have any control over who assigned to official games. But said sometimes request is granted to avoid controversy.

More coaches should called out specific refs if they honestly believe they are not getting a fair shake.

Like the style the officials in this year's title game some contact was allowed for both teams.
But officials set tone early by not allowing contact restricting movement, getting handsy,
Call it even

Have called out officials before
But when you should acknowledgement good officials work to.
 
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#7
#7
My bad on the link. Learning curve :)

I’m surprised by UConn at #1. I’m not sold on what they’re returning or adding. Never one to fully discount Geno and the UConn machine, skill, and weak conference though, they’re probably still top 5.

In my humble way too early opinion, if their team comes in healthy, it’s USC’s to lose.

USC

Texas
SC
LSU
UConn

Other notables: Duke, Michigan, Louisville, Notre Dame, Oklahoma. North Carolina, Maryland, NC State, Iowa.

Also, despite Cotie’s exit, Coach Yo doesn’t typically miss in the portal. So it’s a miss to not include Ole Miss imo

I have no real idea re: UCLA. They’re losing a lot and that rebuild could take time. Don’t expect them to be a serious factor but I’ve been wrong before!
 
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