No. 1 UConn continues to carry down the highest spot whereas two applications surge up the rankings within the first Associated Press Top 25 ladies’s basketball ballot of the season, which was launched on Monday.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the ballot.
UConn holds down high spot after undefeated begin to title protection
The defending-champion Huskies (2-0) acquired 30 of the 32 first-place votes to stay No. 1 within the rankings with wins over then-No. 20 Louisville and Florida State. The win over the Cardinals was UConn’s thirtieth consecutive in a season opener, good for the second-longest energetic streak in Division I.
The Huskies’ title protection has been led to this point by key returnees Azzi Fudd (21.5 PPG) and Sarah Sturdy (21 PPG, 9.0 RPG). The lack of Paige Bueckers to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings can be troublesome to beat for many groups, however UConn seems to be simply positive with Fudd and Sturdy carrying the load.
Baylor, USC surge into high 10 after ranked wins
It was a defensive battle, however the Bears had been up for the problem in a 58-52 season-opening win over then-No. 7 Duke. Baylor (2-0), up 9 spots to No. 7 within the ballot, rode the hot hand of Auburn switch Taliah Scott and improved its report to 16-1 in video games performed outdoors america.
The Trojans skilled the largest bounce within the ballot, climbing 10 spots to No. 8 after a comeback 69-68 win over then-No. 9 NC State on Sunday. The Trojans (2-0) didn’t shoot properly and misplaced the rebounding edge, 54-40, within the win over the Wolfpack. Nevertheless, freshman guard Jazzy Davidson (21 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, three steals, 5 blocks) was sensational.
Baylor and USC can every enhance their shot-making, however these are actually two key wins to start the season, particularly for a Trojans workforce that’s with out star JuJu Watkins (torn proper ACL) for the season. An excellent greater take a look at in opposition to No. 2 South Carolina awaits on Saturday.
Duke plummets eight spots after sluggish opener
The Blue Devils had been solely in a position to handle 52 factors within the loss to the Bears, dropping them from No. 7 to No. 15 within the latest rankings. Sophomore ahead Toby Fournier (21.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG) continues to place the workforce on her again, however Duke (1-1) should enhance its effectivity from the ground after taking pictures an abysmal 29 p.c in opposition to Baylor.
The protection will preserve it in most video games, however with the No. 2 Gamecocks and No. 5 LSU on the Blue Devils’ nonconference schedule, the pictures want to start out falling.
Tennessee slides after sloppy opening week
The Woman Vols fell by a rating of 80-77 to NC State of their opener, giving them six straight losses in top-10 matchups and dropping them 4 spots to No. 12 within the ballot. Tennessee comfortably took down East Tennessee State in its second recreation, however struggled in opposition to UT Martin in a 72-61 win to get to 2-1.
Turnovers have been a problem for the Woman Vols, with 22 alone in Sunday’s slim win over UT Martin. The sloppiness should enhance earlier than Tennessee’s highway journey to tackle No. 3 UCLA on Nov. 30.
The Huskies have solely performed one recreation, a 90-43 rout over Seattle U, but it surely was sufficient to vault them into the rankings as the one newcomer this week. There’s not a lot to go off in opposition to a mid-major opponent, but when the new taking pictures (52.2 p.c) continues, Washington may stay within the rankings, particularly with a positive schedule arising.
