Historic Milestone in Women’s College Basketball
In a historic moment for women’s college basketball, Geno Auriemma surpassed Tara VanDerveer for the most total appearances as a coach in the AP women’s basketball Top 25 rankings on Monday. The UConn Huskies received unanimous recognition as the nation’s top team, securing their position on all 31 ballots from a national panel of media experts. Currently boasting an unblemished record of 29-0, UConn has extended its winning streak to 45 games, dating back to last season’s success.
Top Rankings Overview
The top positions in this week’s rankings saw no alterations, with UCLA, South Carolina, Texas, and Vanderbilt occupying the subsequent spots following the Huskies. However, significant shifts occurred within the remainder of the top 10: with Michigan, Louisville, Duke, and Ohio State all suffering defeats in the past week. LSU made a slight advancement to the sixth slot, while Oklahoma improved their standing by four positions to take seventh. Conversely, Michigan fell two places to rank eighth after their loss to Iowa, who rose four spots to ninth after claiming victory over the Wolverines on Sunday. Louisville rounded out the top 10.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers’ Struggles
On the flip side, the Tennessee Lady Volunteers faced a dramatic decline, exiting the rankings for the first time this season following losses to Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. This week marks a historic challenge for the program, as they have now lost seven of their last nine games. Coach Kim Caldwell addressed the adversity after the defeat to Oklahoma, emphasizing the importance of honesty with her team during this tough period. The Lady Vols’ schedule remains daunting, featuring upcoming matchups against strong teams like LSU and Vanderbilt.
Princeton’s Comeback
Princeton made a notable comeback, re-entering the rankings at No. 25 following their absence last week. The Tigers, who have a record of 21-3, had lost to Columbia but had previously been notable adversaries in earlier contests this season, including two defeats against Columbia and one to ranked opponent No. 14 Maryland.
Conference Dominance
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) continues to dominate the landscape, holding nine spots in the rankings, while the Big Ten closely follows with seven. The Big 12 contributes four teams, the Atlantic Coast Conference has three, and the Ivy League alongside the Big East each has one representative.
Upcoming Games
Looking ahead, two significant games in the coming week include a clash between No. 8 Michigan and No. 13 Ohio State on Wednesday, where both teams will vie for crucial positioning in the Big Ten Conference. Additionally, No. 12 Duke will face off against No. 21 North Carolina on Sunday, seeking to secure their hold on the ACC title after previously defeating the Tar Heels earlier this month.
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