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[ChipperF1]

How about our own preseason poll for what should be a very competitive season.

[TTU79]

I agree with the coaches--Baylor

[ChiBears]

Believe it or not, I really didn't want to say Baylor because that feels like some sort of jinx or at the least, a wearing of the green and gold colored glasses, but as I sat here trying to figure out which team I ought to pick, I just kept hearing Baylor, Baylor in my head. I really do think Baylor has a very good shot to win it all.

Am a little surprised that BU was top in coaches' pick, however. Though . . . looking at how close the voting was, I think it's really up in the air in most of their minds, too. Could make for a very exciting season.

Leaving Houston at noon tomorrow to head up to Waco for the first practice. I honest to gosh feel like I did as a young child on Christmas Eve!!!

[74Bear]

1) A&M
2) UT
3) BU
4) OU
5) Kansas (altho higher with the predominant north schedule is very possible 6) ISU....then it is a true crap shoot.

[ChipperF1]

What the Big 12 coaches said.
1. Baylor (5) 109
2. Kansas (3) 106
Texas (3) 106
4. Texas A&M (1) 87
5. Oklahoma 86
6. Nebraska 80
7. Iowa State 59
8. Kansas State 44
9. Oklahoma State 41
10. Texas Tech 38
11. Colorado 22
12. Missouri 15

What Chipper says

1. Oklahoma
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. Texas A&M
5. Iowa State
6. Texas
7. Oklahoma State
8. Nebraska
9. Kansas State
10. Texas Tech
11. Missouri
12. Colorado

[mred]

What Chipper says

1. Oklahoma
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. Texas A&M
5. Iowa State
6. Texas
7. Oklahoma State
8. Nebraska
9. Kansas State
10. Texas Tech
11. Missouri
12. Colorado

I think this is pretty reasonable. One more north team will probably get into the top 7 and I might flip #1 and #2, but this is pretty close to my thoughts.

[LadyBuff]

1. Oklahoma
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. Texas A&M
5. Iowa State
6. Texas
7. Oklahoma State
8. Nebraska
9. Kansas State
10. Texas Tech
11. Missouri
12. Colorado

Pretty close to the way I see it. I really, really hope that I am wrong about CU.

[YCN]

Oddly enough, I tend to agree more with Chipper's placement of OU (which still may be too high) than with his placement of Nebraska.

I really believe that of all the conference teams Nebraska is the one that is ranked too low. Third or fourth sounds more like what the Huskers should do, but I wouldn't be shocked with a better performance than even that. When you lose only one reserve and return a two-time all-conference player from injury, then you should have significantly better expectations than the previous year's results.

Also, this may be the year that Colorado makes a significant jump up in the standings. They have no major losses this year, add Chucky Jeffery and the Malcom-Peck twins, and return underrated forward Brittany Spears from injury.

Seems like the time is right for a jump in their standing.

[ChipperF1]

Oklahoma's being underestimated a great deal because of losing Courtney and Ashley, and I think the loss is substantial, but it doesn't drop them as far because of the good core group returning. Danielle Robinson saw how good she can be. Whitney Hand gives you a solid 2-3 threat. Amanda Thompson and Nyeshia Stevenson are built for the BillyBall that Sherri Coale wants to play next year.
You also have to factor the experience that core group has in comparison to the teams in the league. Baylor has perhaps greater talent, but these OU kids are battle tested, most of the people Coach Mulkey will be leaning on in that super recruiting class have yet to play a single minute of college ball. Texas has the talent, but lacks the cohesion. Texas A&M lacks the cohension and basketball savvy as well. Kansas has the talent, but can they consistently play at a championship level and beat championship level teams? They have yet to show that.

If Abi Olajuwon steps into the breach and a bench develops, you may end up as good as last year or better, but the Sooners aren't out of the running by any stretch.

As for my lasses in red, there is a lot of potential. Kelsey Griffin is back and healthy. Vonnie Turner is healthy again. Cory Montgomery comes off a breakout season and the Huskers have a lot of players with experience.

But, my Huskers have a lot more questions than the teams above us do right now. Yes, Kelsey Griffin is healthy now, BUT can she stay healthy for an entire season? She has yet to play a full season at full strength since she was in high school. And should Griffin stay healthy, can Griffin actually take the next step up and really be one of the dominant players in this league this year? She has yet to really step forward and take leadership of this team in her career to the level that she can step up and take control of a game against the championship class of this league consistently.

Vonnie Turner two seasons ago was a money player. Last season, she was ineffective in too many games. She couldn't shoot the ball and she didn't defend well either. Her shoulder injury played into that, but even when she was healthy, her game wasn't there. Can she return to the form she showed two years ago? Has Turner improved offensively enough? Will her defensive effort be there? Does she have the confidence to be a difference-maker?

Cory Montgomery averaged 20 points a game last year, but she gives up that much on defense. Will her defense at least be passable? Can she make the play offensively without the license to sneak up on people?

Is Lindsey Moore ready to be the point guard on day one? There is nobody else who can do this job on this team at an NCAA tournament level. This is what Moore was recruited for. If she's not ready, this team is in trouble. If she is ready, I'm excited for the prospects.

Can Nebraska's bench give us something? Nikki Bober will be healthy by the early part of the season. If she can get back to where she was at the start of last season doing the dirty work inside, that helps.
Meghan Williams and Katya Leick are true freshmen and they will be called on in the SwingWing position and maybe in the 4 as well. Can they fit into the rotation? Are they ready to compete at this level?

Will Catheryn Williams' skills match her athleticism? Can any of the backcourt reserves (Neals, Kuhlmann, Burke, Reeves) give the squad something usable, or least hit more than one outside shot per half.

That's a lot more major questions to answer than you want from the top 4 team, but if we answer them we may reach the top end of the table. This squad can reach the NCAAs, but it will take a massive improvement on last year to do it.

[Daddo]

Tempted to go with the Agro-Americans, but really have to think there's just too damn much talent in Waco.

[PlayingTag]

Chipper, do you KNOW that Griffin is now healthy? I know, first hand, that as late as July she was still not even near healthy. At this point, I don't think you can judge Nebraska using Griffin as a factor. Until she proves she is healthy, on the court, Nebraska will just be a more mature version of what we had a year ago. And then there is the health of Turner? Moore, I would be shocked if she ready to go. She's a gamer, but she had difficulty in the club circuit the past couple of years when she went head to head against the elite points. Frankly, she's not quick enough. Maybe she can overcome some of this as she becomes accustomed to facing this level of speed game in and game out. But anyone who hopes she will be a successful Big 12 point from day one just hasn't watched her play.

Baylor has a great coach and a great freshman class, but I doubt that equates to a championship. They will be better late than early, but this is a brutal league and to expect more than a 3rd place is, IMO, too hopeful.

Why does everyone always overlook Iowa State? Interesting.


I see this:

1. Texas A&M
2. Iowa State
3. Oklahoma
4. Baylor
5. Kansas
6. Texas
7. Kansas State
8. Oklahoma State
9. Nebraska
10. Missouri
11. Texas Tech
12. Colorado

[sybarite]

There are too many unknowns this year. I have no idea. I don't think the coaches are correct, for many reasons.

If you can tell me how the unknowns and freshmen will play, I might make a projection.

[ChipperF1]

"Chipper, do you KNOW that Griffin is now healthy? I know, first hand, that as late as July she was still not even near healthy. At this point, I don't think you can judge Nebraska using Griffin as a factor.

As late as Halloween, she's been on the court and looking pretty good doing it. We'll see what we have in game conditions, but based on what I've heard she's looking pretty sound as is Lindsey Moore, whom Griffin has been really impressed with so far. I've seen Moore a few times in summer ball over the last couple of years and against some pretty tough competition, she has thrived and I'm very impressed in what I saw in her state championship game last year. This kid carried her team across the finish line on one leg, and she looked "quick enough" on that one leg. Moore's going to get some OJT in the next month or two and I think she'll pull through it. This team is in some trouble if she doesn't because we need a point guard and the vets we have are about at the rev limit.

All I'm looking for early on is cohesion and resiliency. Last year we had neither and that really hurt us more than a lack of talent did.