The final overall Top 25 women?s basketball coaches poll, with team?s records through Tuesday, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, ranking in the final regular-season poll (March 14) and first-place votes received: ***EDITOR'S NOTE: One coach could not be reached to provide a ballot. ** Outlooks by USA TODAY's Andy Gardiner. | | 1. Texas A&M (33-5) | | Points: 748 (29 first-place votes). Previous ranking: 8. Outlook: After landing first national title, Aggies must find talent to take over from senior stalwarts Sydney Colson and Danielle Adams. Returns of Tyra White and Sydney Carter will help, and coach Gary Blair welcomes transfer C Kelsey Bone, SEC newcomer of year in 2009-10 at South Carolina. NCAA results:Beat McNeese State 87-47, beat Rutgers 70-48, beat then-unranked Georgia 79-38, beat then-No. 3 Baylor 58-46, beat then-No. 2 Stanford 63-62, beat then-No. 7 Notre Dame 76-70. | | | | Points: 714. Previous ranking: 7. Outlook: The good news for coach Muffet McGraw is return of first-team all-Big East performers Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel. Better news is expected return of senior starters Devereaux Peters and Brittany Mallory, both of whom received medical redshirts. Development of all-Big East freshman Natalie Achonwa is key. Top recruit Madison Cable should help quickly. NCAA results: Beat Utah 67-54, beat Temple 77-64, beat then-No. 20 Oklahoma 78-53, beat then-No. 4 Tennessee 73-59, beat then-No. 1 Connecticut 72-63, lost to then-No. 8 Texas A&M 76-70. | | 3. Connecticut (36-2) | | Points: 682 (1). Previous ranking: 1. Outlook: Huskies faithful must accept life after Maya, as three-time national player of the year Maya Moore moves on to WNBA. Tiffany Hayes had an uneven junior year, but returns with Gs Bria Hartley and Kelly Faris, and C Stefanie Dolson. G Caroline Doty (knee) should return after missing this season. Top recruits Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Brianna Banks could help quickly. NCAA results: Beat Hartford 75-39, beat Purdue 64-40, beat then-No. 21 Georgetown 68-63, beat then-No. 6 Duke 75-40, lost to then-No. 7 Notre Dame 72-63. | | 4. Stanford (33-3) | | Points: 672. Previous ranking: 2. Outlook: Cardinal lose point guard and Pac-10 player of year Jeanette Pohlen and veteran Kayla Pedersen from front line, but have All-America talent returning in sisters Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike. Key will be how quickly coach Tara VanDerveer is able to bring along recruits Amber Orrange, Taylor Greenfield and Alex Green.NCAA results: Beat UC-Davis 86-59, beat St. John's 75-49, beat then-No. 14 North Carolina 72-65, beat then-No. 19 Gonzaga 83-60, lost to then-No. 8 Texas A&M 63-62. | | 5. Baylor (34-3) | | Points: 626. Previous ranking: 3. Outlook: Lady Bears lose senior leader Melissa Jones but little else from team that fell just short of the Final Four. All-America C Brittney Griner should continue to dominate during her junior season and will be joined by point guard Odyssey Sims, Jordan Madden and Kimetria Hayden. Shanay Washington (knee) expected back after missing most of this season. NCAA results: Beat Prairie View 66-30, beat then-No. 25 West Virginia 82-68, beat then-No. 11 Wisconsin-Green Bay 86-76, lost to then-No. 8 Texas A&M 58-46. | | 6. Tennessee (34-3) | | Points: 599. Previous ranking: 4. Outlook: Failing to make Final Four in back-to-back seasons should fuel team that returns SEC player of year Shekinna Stricklen and loses only top perimeter threat Angie Bjorklund. Freshman recruit Ariel Massengale should take over at point guard, shifting Meighan Simmons to shooting guard. Frontcourt of Glory Johnson, Taber Spani and Alyssia Brewer returns. NCAA results: Beat Stetson 99-34, beat then-No. 23 Marquette 79-70, beat then-No. 22 Ohio State 85-75, lost to then-No. 7 Notre Dame 73-59. | | 7. Duke (32-4) | | Points: 548. Previous ranking: 6. Outlook: Blue Devils fell in regional final for second consecutive season and lose senior leader Jasmine Thomas along with frontcourt veterans Karima Christmas and Krystal Thomas. Freshman G Chelsea Gray will become team's go-to player. Recruit Elizabeth Williams, a 6-3 center, could help right away. NCAA results: Beat Tennessee-Martin 90-45, beat then-No. 17 Marist 71-66, beat then-No. 12 DePaul 70-63, lost to then-No. 1 Connecticut 75-40. | | 8. Gonzaga (31-5) | | Points: 479. Previous ranking: 19. Outlook: Bulldogs will have to fill huge hole when all-everything point guard Courtney Vandersloot graduates after leading them to three consecutive NCAAs. G Katelan Redmon and F Kayla Standish will have to pick up slack for team that led nation in scoring. NCAA results: Beat Iowa 92-86, beat then-No. 9 UCLA 89-75, beat then-unranked Louisville 76-69, lost to then-No. 2 Stanford 83-60. | | 9. Wisconsin-Green Bay (34-2) | | Points: 434. Previous ranking: 11. Outlook: Phoenix lose co-conference players of year Celeste Hoeswich and Kayla Tetschlag from first Sweet 16 team. F Julie Wojta and G Hannah Schilling will pace defense that ranked ninth nationally this season. NCAA results: Beat Arkansas-Little Rock 59-55, beat then-No. 13 Michigan State 65-56, lost to then-No. 3 Baylor 86-76. | | 10. DePaul (29-7) | | Points: 411. Previous ranking: 12. Outlook: Blue Demons reached Elite Eight and now must replace seniors Sam Quigley and Felicia Chester. All-Big East F Keisha Hampton will be back along with point guard Anna Martin and F Katherine Harry.NCAA results: Beat Navy 56-43, beat Penn State 75-73, lost to then-No. 6 Duke 70-63. | | 11. Xavier (29-3) | | Points: 394. Previous ranking: 5. Outlook: No team will have to rebuild more than Musketeers, who lose four starters, including frontcourt mainstays Amber Harris and Ta'shia Phillips, who teamed to average 34 points and 22 rebounds. Coach Kevin McGuff also left for Washington. NCAA results: Beat South Dakota State 72-56, lost to then-unranked Louisville 85-75. | | 12. North Carolina (28-9) | | Points: 381. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: Strong finish ended in regional semifinals. Three seniors will leave, including leading scorers Italee Lucas and Jessica Breland. F Chay Shegog will be top returning offensive threat. NCAA results: Beat Fresno State 82-68, beat then-No. 16 Kentucky 86-74, lost to then-No. 2 Stanford 72-65. | | 13. UCLA (28-5) | | Points: 364. Previous ranking: 9. Outlook: Bruins could challenge Stanford's Pac-10 supremacy next year with returning starters Jasmine Dixon, Markel Walker and Atonye Nyingifa. In addition to replacing Gs Darxia Morris and Doreena Campbell, UCLA must find new coach after Nikki Caldwell left for LSU. NCAA results: Beat Montana 55-47, lost to then-No. 19 Gonzaga 89-75. | | 14. Georgetown (24-11) | | Points: 349. Previous ranking: 21. Outlook: G Monica McNutt only loss for team that put scare in Connecticut in regional semifinals. Gs Sugar Rodgers and Rubylee Wright and F Tia Magee will be go-to scorers in 2011-12. NCAA results: Beat Princeton 65-49, beat then-No. 18 Maryland 79-57, lost to then-No. 1 Connecticut 68-63. | | 15. Oklahoma (23-12) | | Points: 312. Previous ranking: 20. Outlook: Sooners worked around lack of post presence to reach Sweet 16, but now lose all-everything Danielle Robinson and F Carlee Roethlisberger. Gs Aaryn Ellenberg and Whitney Hand now in line to be primary scorers. NCAA results: Beat James Madison 86-72, beat then-No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 88-83, lost to then-No. 7 Notre Dame 78-53. | | 16. Miami (Fla.) (28-5) | | Points: 282. Previous ranking: 10. Outlook: All five starters due to return for Hurricanes, who made first tournament appearance as member of ACC. High-scoring Gs Riquna Williams and Shenise Johnson will again lead way. NCAA results:Beat Gardner-Webb 80-62, lost to then-No. 20 Oklahoma 88-83. | | 17. Ohio State (24-10) | | Points: 276. Previous ranking: 22. Outlook: Late-season surge carried Buckeyes to regional semifinals. But now All-America C Jantel Lavender and G Brittany Johnson are gone. Samantha Prahalis and Tayler Hill will be offensive spark plugs. NCAA results: Beat Central Florida 80-69, beat Georgia Tech 67-60, lost to then-No. 4 Tennessee 85-75. | | 18. Michigan State (27-6) | | Points: 230. Previous ranking: 13. Outlook: Big Ten champ loses three seniors who accounted for 30 points a game. F Lykendra Johnson and G Taylor Alton step into leading roles. NCAA results: Beat Northern Iowa 69-66, lost to then-No. 11 Wisconsin-Green Bay 65-56. | | 19. Louisville (22-13) | | Points: 229. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Uneven season ended on high note, reaching regional semifinals, knocking off second seed Xavier on its floor in the bargain. Freshman G Shoni Schimmel has emerged as rising star and all-conference F Monique Reid also returns, making Louisville a team to beat in Big East next season. NCAA results: Beat Vanderbilt 81-62, beat then-No. 5 Xavier 85-75, lost to then-No. 19 Gonzaga 76-69. | | 20. Florida State (24-8) | | Points: 225. Previous ranking: 15. Outlook: Strong season ended prematurely for Seminoles in regional semifinals. Two seniors move on, but leading scorer Cierra Bravard is back along with starters Alexa Deluzio and Natasha Howard. NCAA results: Beat Samford 76-46, lost to then-unranked Georgia 61-59. | | 21. Marist (31-3) | | Points: 200. Previous ranking: 17. Outlook: Point guard and MAAC player of year Erica Allenspach is gone. But three starters return, topped by Fs Kate Oliver and Brandy Gang. F Kristina Danella, a transfer from UMass, could help immediately. NCAA results: Beat Iowa State 74-64, lost to then-No. 6 Duke 71-66. | | 22. Kentucky (25-9) | | Points: 139. Previous ranking: 16. Outlook: Mainstay Victoria Dunlap moves on after leading Wildcats for four years. But everyone else is back, led by the backcourt of A'dia Mathies, Bernisha Pinkett and Keyla Snowden. NCAA results: Beat Hampton 66-62 OT, lost to then-No. 14 North Carolina 86-74. | | 23. Maryland (24-8) | | Points: 118. Previous ranking: 18. Outlook: Terrapins lost battle for regional supremacy to Georgetown this season but return ACC's top freshman in Alyssa Thomas and veteran C Lynetta Kizer along with Fs Tianna Hawkins and Diandra Tchatchouang. NCAA results: Beat St. Francis (Pa.) 70-48, lost to then-No. 21 Georgetown 79-57. | | 24. Georgia (23-11) | | Points: 104. Previous ranking: not ranked. Outlook: Four starters and five of top six scorers are scheduled to return with F Porsha Phillips the only senior among the starters. NCAA results: Beat Middle Tennessee 56-41, beat then-No. 15 Florida State 61-59, lost to then-No. 8 Texas A&M 79-38. | | 25. Marquette (24-9) | | Points: 94. Previous ranking: 23. Outlook: Golden Eagles pushed Tennessee hard in second round but must replace three seniors, led by all-Big East G Angel Robinson and F Paige Fiedorowicz. Fs Katherine Plouffe and Sarina Simmons will have to fill offensive holes. NCAA results: Beat Texas 68-65, lost to then-No. 4 Tennessee 79-70. |  | | Dropped out: No. 24 Houston, No. 25 West Virginia. | | | Others receiving votes: Penn State (25-10) 32; West Virginia (24-10) 29; Georgia Tech (24-11) 18; Rutgers (20-13) 13; Houston (26-6) 12; St. John's (22-11) 10; Temple (24-9) 8; Iowa State (22-11) 7; Northern Iowa (27-6) 4; Dayton (21-12) 3; Iowa (22-9) 2; Louisiana Tech (24-8) 1; Middle Tennessee (23-8) 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. |
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