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Woman's Basketball College Preview

A look at the teams in the the 2004-2005 the top 20 Division I nation heading into season.

COLLEGES

1 TEXAS

You'd think a 6'3'' athlete who can score, rebound and defend would be fairly famous, but Tiffany Jackson, like Seimone Augustus, stayed comfortably under the radar. Of course, she's only a sophomore and with the graduation of Stacy Stephens, she should take over the starring role for the 'Horns-who also have three other starters back (including fiery sharpshooter Jamie Carey). Texas stumbled in the Sweet 16 last year, but the Longhorns rightfully expect to go farther this time around. Much farther.

2 LSU

Seimone Augustus has never liked publicity-at least since she was featured in Sports Illustrated in eighth grade-but all that means is she very quietly has become the best player in the country. Since senior point guard Temeka Johnson is back and 6'5'' Sylvia Fowles is one of the top freshmen, LSU is dearly Final Four material. Pokey Chatman moves up from assistant to head coach, replacing the retired Sue Gunter, but the Tigers shouldn't miss a step.

3 CONNECTICUT

Geno Auriemma always seems to have the answers, but this year he's relying on a freshman point guard to guide the defending national champs-and that may be asking too much even of Mel Thomas, who led Mt. Notre Dame to a high school national title. Thomas, though, will have plenty of support. Barbara Turner, Ann Strother, Jessica Moore and Ashley Battle are all battle-tested veterans, so Diana or no Diana, the Huskies are going to be awfully tough again.

4 TENNESSEE

The Lady Vols took a hit even before the season started as 6'3'' Wunderkind Candace Parker will likely miss the season after a pair of knee surgeries. Parker rushed back from an ACL tear for the last half of her senior year in high school and then played this summer for the USA Junior National Team. It wound up being too much. That leaves only two freshmen All-Americans in Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood and Alexis Hornbuckle. Of course, they join an impressive stable of talent led by Shyra Ely and Shanna Zolman. So even without Parker, Tennessee is an elite team. But not quite as elite.

5 RUTGERS

Cappie Pondexter can do just about everything, and she has three freshmen playmates (Matee Ajavon, Essence Carson and Tudy Reed) who bring their own silverware to the table as well. If Shalicia Hums has a big year in the middle, the Scarlet Knights could be national title contenders. However, Pondexter recently announced she will miss the first half of the season (personal reasons).

6 STANFORD

Candice Wiggins is another of those super-freshmen who dot the women's basketball map. Plus, the Cardinal return a host of talent as well-though they did lose Nicole Powell to the WNBA. Still, Stanford has been the class of the West Coast since the late '80s, and there's no reason to expect that to change.

7 DUKE

Alana Beard and IcissTillis spent their summer in the WNBA and won't be returning to Durham, but don't cry for the Blue Devils. Monique Currie is a surefire WNBA lottery pick, Lindsey Hardinr; is an experienced point guard and Duke is loaded with bigs who can play. Expect a sixth straight ACC championship-at the least.

8 BAYLOR

With 6'7'' senior Steffanie Blackmon and 6'1'' junior Sophia Young, Kim MulkeyRobertson has the most athletic and skilled frontcourt in the nation. Now she has to dig up some guards to get them and shooter Emily Niemann the ball. If she does, watch out.

9 GEORGIA

Do you like guards? If so, then set up the TiVo and lock on to Georgia, which has juniors Sherrill Baker and Alex Kendrick and sophomore Janese Hardrick in the backcourt. All three would be solo stars anywhere else, but as a group, they combine to deliver pretty much unstoppable backcourt play, The Bulldogs are small, though, and will have to find an inside game to make it to Indianapolis.

10 Texas Tech

The backcourt is set with junior point Grin Grant and sophomore wing Alesha Robertson. If senior Cisti Greenwalt takes over in the paint, the Red Raiders may take over the Big 12.

11 NOTRE DAME

You like big? You'll love Notre Dame. It starts with 6'2'' senior Jacqueline Batteast and then moves to 6'3'' junior Courtney LaVere and 6'3'' senior Teresa Borton. Oh, and toss in 6'2'' Katy Flecky and 6'2'' Crystal Erwin. All this means that point Megan Duffy needs to hit some jumpers if opponents jam the middle.

12 NORTH CAROLINA

The Tar Heels are young (no seniors) and talented (Camille Little, Ivory Latta and LaTangela Atkinson are elite players), but Sylvia Hatchell needs to find a way to get all that talent to reach its potential. In recent years, it hasn't.

13 BOSTON COLLEGE

Another team that relies on size, the Eagles will be 'counting on 6'4'' sophomore Kathrin Ress and 6'4'' junior Lisa Macchia. Jessica Deveny and Claire Droesch are fine on the perimeter, though it would be helpful if a point guard would emerge.

14 MINNESOTA

Despite all the ink, Lindsay Whalen got no love from WNBA scouts and fans-until she led the consensus pick for last place, Connecticut, to a playoff berth. That means that the Gophers may miss her even more than they thought, though Janel McCarville should be enough for 20 wins all by herself. A return to the Final Four, though, seems tough.

15 MICHIGAN STATE

Yes, the Spartans lost eight times last year, but all five starters return and the Big Ten looks to be down just a little. So expect big things from Michigan State, even though there's not really a star in the lineup. The top 10 might be asking too much-but then again, it might not.

16 OHIO STATE

Sophomore Jessica Davenport (6'5'') played very 'well as a freshman, but Brandie Hoskins was expected to deliver a bit more. If both play well, they will open things up for deadeye Caity Matter and Ohio State could make a run for the Big Ten title.

17 VILLANOVA

Three starters return for the continually surprising Wildcats, so there's no reason to expect much drop-off from last year's 23 wins. In fact, improvement is likely.

18 VANDERBILT

Vandy always seems ready to fade away, but never really does. This year, however, it could happen, as Melanie Balcomb will be leaning heavily on some players who've yet to show they can get it done in the sec. Abi Ramsey and Ashley Earley are solid, but the Commodores need to mix in a little spectacular to equal last year's record.

19 UTAH

Have you heard of Kim Smith? She's a great player, one of the best in the nation. Have you heard of Elaine Elliott? She's a great coach, one of the best in the nation. They're why Utah always wins its 20-25 games and will do so again.

20 PENN STATE

Penn State will go as far as guards Tanisha Wright and Jess Strom can carry them-which may be pretty far. But if either of them goes down for any length of time, the Nittany Lions will sink right back to the Big Ten pack.