Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - National champs UConn still No. 1

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Wednesday, November 15, 2000

National champs UConn still No. 1
Returning starters have Huskies eyeing another run to the top
By Matt Young
Caller-Times
Just to stick with tradition, newspapers across the country will still be printing the standard women's college basketball top 25 polls every week. Some habits, no matter how futile, are hard to break.
   If pollsters were to be honest, this season's polls would be limited to the top 2. And some may go as far as to say there's only one team capable of winning the national championship, but we hate to completely ruin the season in November.
   So, here it is. The No. 1 team in all the land is Connecticut. Tennessee is clearly No. 2. After that, it shouldn't really matter.
   Connecticut and Tennessee, by far last season's top two teams, both return all five starters. That's just not fair to the other 23 supposed contenders in the poll.
   Uconn: a cut above
   Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma has already gone on record as saying this year's Huskies squad has "the potential to be the best women's college basketball squad ever assembled."
   Sounds like strong words - until you examine his team more closely.
   The top eight players return from the team that ripped Tennessee by 19 points in last year's championship game. The roll call includes All-Americans Svetlana Abrosimova and Shea Ralph, point guard Sue Bird, forwards Swin Cash, Asjha Jones and Tamika Williams and center Kelly Schumacher, who blocked nine shots in last season's championship game. Just because he loves excess, Auriemma also landed the No. 1 recruit in the nation in guard Diana Taurasi.
   Lady Vols: a possibility
   Is there anyone that can compete with that? Well, honestly, probably not. But just for fun, we'll throw Tennessee into the mix.
   Sure, the Lady Vols return their starting five, but it's still the same team that was embarrassed by Connecticut in the championship.
   However, there is reason for optimism in Knoxville, Tenn.
   As freshmen, Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen Clement helped Tennessee to a 39-0 season and the 1998 national title. Now, those three players are seniors hungry for another championship.
   So, Tennessee will likely reach 30 wins this season and probably make it to its fifth Final Four in six years. From there, the Lady Vols will probably have to avenge its embarrassment to the Huskies in last year's championship game. Even with Catchings wearing Tennessee orange, that's probably too much to ask.
   Hey, there's nothing wrong with finishing second.


Staff writer Matt Young can be reached at 886-3702 or by e-mail at youngm@caller.com

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