My Birthday and this week was on my kind…

USA TODAY/ESPN preseason coaches poll: UConn starts at No. 1 (Nov. 3rd, 2010)



The USA TODAY/ESPN women's preseason coaches poll with first-place votes in parentheses. Total points are based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

2010 USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Women's Coaches Poll

Outlooks by USA TODAY's Andy Gardiner. 2009-10 record in parenthesis.

1. Connecticut (39-0)

Points: 765 (27 first-place votes). Previous ranking: 1. Outlook: Two-time defending champion carries a 78-game winning streak and returns national player of the year F Maya Moore. But career scoring leader C Tina Charles graduated and is in the WNBA, and G Caroline Doty was lost for the season to knee surgery. Opens: Nov. 14 vs. Holy Cross.

2. (tie) Baylor (27-10)

Points: 724 (2). Previous ranking: 4. Outlook: Lady Bears return four starters, 86% of their scoring and 88% of their rebounding from a Final Four team. C Brittney Griner set an NCAA Division I record for blocked shots as a freshman. A rugged non-conference schedule will be a challenge. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Florida International in World Vision Invitatiional.

2. (tie) Stanford (36-2)

Points: 724 (1). Previous ranking: 2. Outlook: Cardinal's losses last year came against UConn. All-America F Nnemkadi Ogwumike returns and is joined by freshman sister Chiney, the USA TODAY 2010 high school player of the year. Veteran F Kayla Pedersen provides inside power. Opens: Nov. 14 vs. Rutgers.

4. Tennessee (32-3)

Points: 674 (1). Previous ranking: 8. Outlook: The backcourt of Shekinna Stricklen and Angie Bjorklund can match up with anyone. Kelley Cain is a proven post presence and is among nine players who averaged at least 11 minutes a game last year. F Glory Johnson is a productive reserve. Opens: Nov. 12 at Louisville.

5. Duke (30-6)

Points: 619. Previous ranking: 6. Outlook: G Jasmine Thomas, C Krystal Thomas and F Karima Christmas are three accomplished scorers, but the bench is thin. A highly ranked freshman class led by G Chelsea Gray will be asked to contribute quickly. Opens: Nov. 13 vs. Brigham Young.

6. Xavier (30-4)

Points: 602. Previous ranking: 5. Outlook: After reaching the Elite Eight for the first time, the Musketeers return 6-5 F Amber Harris and 6-6 C Ta'Shia Phillips, who teamed to average 30 points and 20 rebounds a year ago. G Katie Rutan hit 85 three-pointers as a freshman. Opens: Nov. 12 at South Carolina.

7. Ohio State (31-5)

Points: 522. Previous ranking: 15. Outlook: Senior C Jantel Lavender, three-time Big Ten player of the year, anchors an offense that was eighth in scoring last season (78-point average). G Samantha Prahalis was second nationally in assists and keyed an offense that shot 40.2% from three-point range. Opens: Nov. 12 at Temple.

8. Texas A&M (26-8)

Points: 512. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: Four-year captain Sydney Colson returns at point to lead a team upset by Gonzaga in the second round of last year's NCAA tournament. Senior F-C Danielle Adams averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds and is joined by 6-5 freshman Karla Gilbert. Opens: Nov. 16 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock.

9. Oklahoma (27-11)

Points: 506. Previous ranking: 3. Outlook: G Danielle Robinson is the foundation for a team that will rely on freshmen G Aaryn Ellenberg and C Nicole Griffin along with junior college transfer F Jelena Cerina. G Whitney Hand is out at least until January after microfracture knee surgery. Opens: Nov. 13 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

10. Kentucky (28-8)

Points: 497. Previous ranking: 9 (Tie). Outlook: F Victoria Dunlap earned preseason SEC player of the year honors after averaging 18.1 points and 8.4 rebounds as the Wildcats reached the Elite Eight and set a school record for wins. G A'dia Mathies (13.6 ppg) was the league's top freshman last year. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Morehead State.

11. West Virginia (29-6)

Points: 454. Previous ranking: 16. Outlook: G Liz Repella and F Korinne Campbell teamed to average 25 points as juniors and lead a team fourth nationally in scoring defense (51.9 ppg). WVU welcomes three transfers and look to continue their home court dominance (17-0 a year ago). Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Loyola (Md.).

12. Notre Dame (29-6)

Points: 419. Previous ranking: 11. Outlook: The Irish must replace three starters from the team that lost to Oklahoma in last year's NCAA regional semis. Sophomore G Skylar Diggins (13.8 ppg) and senior F Becca Bruszewski (9.1 ppg) are the top returning scorers. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. New Hampshire.

13. Georgetown (26-7)

Points: 380. Previous ranking: 17. Outlook: The Hoyas set a school record for victories before losing to Baylor in the NCAA regional semifinals. G Sugar Rodgers (17.6 ppg) was the Big East freshman of the year last season and is joined in the backcourt by Monica McNutt (11.2 ppg). Opens: Nov. 13 vs. Augusta (Ga.) State.

14. Florida State (29-6)

Points: 298. Previous ranking: 9 (tie). Outlook: The Seminoles lost their top two scorers and 40% of their offense from a team that lost to UConn in the NCAA regional semifinals. FSU will rely on its backcourt of Courtney Ward (10.9 ppg, 5.7 apg) and Alexa Deluzio (41% three-point shooting). Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Alabama State.

15. UCLA (25-9)

Points: 283. Previous ranking: 23. Outlook: After posting their best record in a decade the Bruins could be even better in coach Nikki Caldwell's third season. Four starters are back, including all-conference F Jasmine Dixon (15.3 ppg, 8 rpg) and G Doreena Campbell (9.8 ppg). Opens: Nov. 12 at San Diego State.

16. St. John's (25-7)

Points: 262. Previous ranking: 18. Outlook: The Red Storm return their top three scorers and four starters from a team that lost by a point to FSU in the NCAA second round. F Da'Shena Stevens (14.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and G Shenneika Smith (12.9 ppg) will carry the offense. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Marist in Wildcat Classic in Manhattan, Kan.

17. Iowa State (25-8)

Points: 226. Previous ranking: 13. Outlook: The Cyclones ranked eighth in scoring defense last year (53.5 ppg) and will follow senior G Kelsey Bolte (12.3 ppg with 84 three-pointers). C Anna Prins and F Chelsea Poppen teamed to average 18 points and 11 rebounds. Opens: Nov. 13 vs.Western Illinois.

18. North Carolina (19-12)

Points: 206. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: The Tar Heels look to rebound after finishing 6-8 in the ACC last year. Gs Italee Lucas and Cetera DeGraffenreid teamed to average 29 points last season and are joined by F Jessica Breland, back after battling cancer last season. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. North Florida.

19. Georgia (25-9)

Points: 196. Previous ranking: 19. Outlook: Three starters return from last season's Sweet 16 team, led by F Porsha Phillips (8.7 rpg) and Gs Jasmine James (11.5 ppg, 101 assists) and Meredith Mitchell (8.5 ppg). The Lady Bulldogs were seventh nationally last year in FG defense (34.6%). Opens: Nov. 14 vs. Georgia Southern.

20. Texas (22-11)

Points: 182. Previous ranking: 25 (tie). Outlook: The Longhorns lost leading scorer Brittainey Raven from a team bounced in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. They welcome five freshmen guards to join G Ashleigh Fontenette (10.3 ppg) and F Kathleen Nash (11.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Mississippi Valley State.

21. Vanderbilt (23-11)

Points: 151. Previous ranking: 24. Outlook: The Commodores were ousted by Xavier in the second round of last year's NCAA tournament and must replace leading scorer Meredith Marsh. Preseason all-conference G Jence Rhoads (13.8 ppg, 5 apg) and F Hannah Tuomi (10 ppg, 5.8 rpg) are keys. Opens: Nov. 14 vs. Howard.

22. Gonzaga (29-5)

Points: 106. Previous ranking: 12. Outlook: Senior G Courtney Vandersloot (14.1 ppg, 9.4 apg), two-time West Coast Conference player of the year, leads five of the Bulldogs' top eight scorers from last year's Sweet 16 team. They averaged 80 points while shooting 47.4% from the field a year ago. Opens: Nov. 12 at Southern California.

23. Nebraska (32-2)

Points: 95. Previous ranking: 7. Outlook: The Cornhuskers will try to approach last year's 30-game winning streak, first Big 12 title and first trip to the Sweet 16 without All-American Kelsey Griffin's 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds. F Dominique Kelley (12.6 ppg) is the key holdover. Opens: Nov. 13 vs. Vermont.

24. Michigan State (23-10)

Points: 91. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: The Spartans return F Lykendra Johnson (8.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and G Brittney Thomas (7.3 ppg, 104 assists) from a team that beat Xavier and Ohio State last season before losing to Kentucky in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Opens: Nov. 13 vs. Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne.

25. Iowa (20-14)

Points: 86. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Kachine Alexander (16 ppg), Jaime Printy (14.7) and Kamille Wahlin (14.2) give the Hawkeyes three productive backcourt scorers. F Kelly Krei and C Morgan Johnson teamed to average 17 points with 11 rebounds a year ago. Opens: Nov. 12 vs. Southern in Islander Tip-off in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Others receiving votes: TCU (22-9) 70; Maryland (21-13) 62; Wisconsin-Green Bay (28-5) 48; LSU (21-10) 46; Dayton (25-8) 38; DePaul (21-12) 33; Georgia Tech (23-10) 30; Virginia (21-10) 23; San Diego State (23-11) 22; Oklahoma State (24-11) 19; Hartford (27-5) 17; California (24-13) 16; James Madison (26-7) 10; Arkansas-Little Rock (27-7) 9; Auburn (15-16) 9; Mississippi State (21-13) 7; North Carolina State (20-14) 6; Temple (25-9) 5; Marist (26-8) 4; Rutgers (19-15) 4; Gardner-Webb (28-5) 3; Purdue (15-17) 3; Southern California (19-12) 3; Bowling Green (27-7) 2; Fresno State (27-7) 1; Liberty (27-6) 1; Louisville (14-18) 1; Michigan (21-14) 1; Princeton (26-3) 1; Western Kentucky (21-11) 1.

***

The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2010-11 season: Courtney Banghart, Princeton; Frank Bennett, Lipscomb; Rae Blair, Texas-San Antonio; Matt Bollant, Wisconsin-Green Bay; Nikki Caldwell, UCLA; Matt Corkery, American; Leslie Crane, Western Illinois; Tonya Edwards, Alcorn State; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Jim Flanery, Creighton; Nell Fortner, Auburn; Susan Robinson Fruchtl, St. Francis (Pa.); LeDawn Gibson, Florida A&M; Tom Hodges, Morehead State; Jim Jabir, Dayton; Joe Mathews, Towson; Lynn Milligan, Rider; Kelly Packard, Ball State, Raegan Pebley, Utah State; Mike Petersen, Wake Forest; Rick Pietri, South Alabama; Gordy Presnell, Boise State; Rick Reeves, Gardner-Webb; Phil Stern, Maryland-Baltimore County; Paul Thomas, Saint Mary's; Sharon Versyp, Purdue; Jaime White, Northern Colorado; Joi Williams, Central Florida; Nancy Wilson, College of Charleston; Jody Wynn, Long Beach State.

2010-11 NCAA Women's Basketball AP Poll

Updated: 10/29/2010 - 2:37 PM

RANK	NAME	W	L	PTS	FIRST PLACE VOTES	PREVIOUS
1	Connecticut Huskies	0	0	992	39	1
2	Baylor Lady Bears	0	0	934	1	14
3	Stanford Cardinal	0	0	922	0	2
4	Tennessee Lady Vols	0	0	886	0	3
5	Xavier Musketeers	0	0	818	0	5
6	Duke Blue Devils	0	0	802	0	6
7	Ohio St. Buckeyes	0	0	759	0	8
8	Texas A&M Aggies	0	0	664	0	9
9	Kentucky Wildcats	0	0	649	0	19
10	Oklahoma Sooners	0	0	595	0	12
11	West Virginia Mountaineers	0	0	579	0	10
12	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	0	0	560	0	7
13	Georgetown Hoyas	0	0	506	0	13
14	St. John's Red Storm	0	0	452	0	15
15	North Carolina Tar Heels	0	0	420	0	NR
16	UCLA Bruins	0	0	382	0	22
17	Texas Longhorns	0	0	274	0	17
18	Florida St. Seminoles	0	0	270	0	11
19	Georgia Lady Bulldogs	0	0	241	0	23
20	Iowa St. Cyclones	0	0	195	0	16
21	Maryland Terrapins	0	0	134	0	NR
22	Iowa Hawkeyes	0	0	121	0	NR
23	TCU Lady Frogs	0	0	117	0	NR
24	Vanderbilt Commodores	0	0	109	0	NR
25	Michigan St. Spartans	0	0	105	0	24