Women’s Basketball or The Top 363 for Week 11

Welcome back, sports fans. First, an apology. The intention was for us to post today’s FBS Championship game preview, but the LA/Chicago overtime playoff game during a snowstorm was too much fun to watch. The game is tonight, so the preview will come before kickoff.

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But this morning, being Monday, is about Women’s Basketball. We are mostly in conference play mode, but the odd OOC game still pops up. One cost the South Carolina Gamecocks (19-1/6) three spots in this week’s GCR. Sitting at number 3 after avenging an earlier loss to Texas (19-2/3), they had a Sunday game in Baltimore at Coppin St (4-16/328) which was part of a home and home with the HBCU school. Despite winning 90-48, SCAR’s strength of schedule (SOS) took a major hit resulting in the drop. Texas lost two games and only dropped from 2nd to 3rd because those losses were on the road to SCAR and LSU (17-2/26) improving their SOS which pretty much offset their performance score dip.

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We’ve talked about SOS and the risk of playing a relatively easy first-half schedule. Two examples to drive home the point. First, the Big 12’s Iowa St (14-5/67). They had a bottom 25 SOS (according to the GCR) while starting the season 10-0. Following an impressive home 5-point win over Iowa (16-2/7), they continued the streak by beating N Iowa (9-8/166) by 28 and conference foe Kansas (11-8/63) by 3 – both at home. They played just their second road game of the year on December 31st and beat Houston (6-12/232) 80-62 to go 14-0 and 2-0 in the conference. At the time, their GCR SOS was 315th in the country. They lost the next 5 games, 4 of which were on the road, and have dropped to 14-5 and 2-5. As of today’s ranking, their GCR rank and their RPI rank are equal. That should indicate they are about where they should be – not the threat that at one point awarded them an AP top 10 ranking.

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The opposite is Duke (13-6/23) who has the #1 SOS in the country. In November they lost to West Virginia (15-4/22), South Carolina (19-1/6), and UCLA (17-1/2) in 13 days after opening the season with a loss against Baylor (17-3/8). In December, they lost to LSU (17-2/26) before beating Virginia Tech (14-5/64) and Syracuse (16-3/20) in conference play. They started the season 3-6 with the toughest schedule before winning 10 straight and going 8-0 in the ACC. We would not be surprised if they were ranked in the next AP poll or two. Certainly, there are teams in the middle, but these extremes are not that uncommon, especially in the women’s game. If we were coaching, we would rather have Iowa St on our schedule right now that Duke for sure, even though the Cyclones are still in the AP top 25. The Blue Devils are a scarier team. But, JoJo and G, Duke lost to all of the non-ACC Power teams they played? Yes, but in November and December. Our bet is that those losses were seen as educational opportunities that, at least so far, have paid off in the conference. Just as South Carolina beating Coppin St did little more for the Gamecocks that allow the bench to play some extra minutes, early schedules packed with similar games just to put some wins on the board (hoping for a tournament bid most likely), don’t really help the team grow. If one wants to be a good ping-pong player, one does not play someone who is not as good at the game. Instead, one plays someone who can beat them 21-3 so that they can improve. Then, when they do win, it means a lot more. Hats off to Duke for finding the opponents who helped them improve – they could be a scary team come March.

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As a reminder, we can use the Score column in the table below to predict upcoming games. Just add 4.5 to the home team and compare. We are still working on an RPI-based prediction and hope to have that next week. Here are a few games to watch this week. Starting today, Brown will try to stay perfect in the Ivy at Columbia, Michigan and Vanderbilt meet in New Jersey along with Ohio St and TCU in the Coretta Scott King Classic doubleheader. This afternoon, UCONN will try to stay undefeated as Notre Dame comes to town. The best game on Tuesday is an American Conference game between Rice and Tulsa. Davidson and Rhode Island, of the Atlantic 10, will fight it out on Wednesday accompanied by an important MAC game as UMASS invades Ball St. Thursday brings us South Carolina at Oklahoma, Iowa and Maryland, Miami FL at Notre Dame, Kentucky at Tennessee, and UC Davis at UC San Diego as key matchups. The most interesting game on Friday involves 0-19 Valparaiso at Bradley looking for the first victory. There are a ton of games on Saturday with Illinois at Nebraska and Texas Tech at Utah being the top draws. Sunday brings us Ohio St at Iowa (combined 32-4 record) which is a co-game of the week with Vanderbilt at South Carolina (combined 37-1 record). If you haven’t watched any women’s games recently, we strongly recommend that you do. They are athletic, entertaining, and full of great plays.

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The schedule for this week since we missed last night’s planned post. Tonight, we will preview Miami FL and Indiana prior to the 7:30 Eastern kickoff. Tomorrow, we will have the final Top 265 for college football. Wednesday, it’s the Men’s Top 365. Thursday, we will have the final football conference comparison and commentary – our final football post for the 2025-26 season. Friday, we will have some additional basketball deep dive, though we haven’t landed on the final topic yet. We will take Saturday and Sunday off so that we can be back on Monday for Women’s Basketball again.

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Thank you for reading and, especially, for sharing with others – it’s how we grow. Please keep the questions and comments coming in – it’s how we get better. With no further ado, we are proud to present the Women’s Basketball Top 363 from UCONN to Valparaiso, JoJo and G.

RANKTeamRecordSOSScoreRPIRank
1UCONN18-016100.000.6992
2UCLA17-1799.490.7001
3Texas19-21990.940.6654
4Vanderbilt18-09290.920.6548
5TCU18-14190.520.6577
6South Carolina19-14890.430.6655
7Iowa16-21390.040.6673
8Baylor17-31785.660.64910
9Louisville18-32784.880.64811
10Arizona St17-26783.430.63714
11Tennessee13-31183.160.6539
12Alabama17-33183.090.6586
13Texas Tech19-117682.170.63317
14Michigan15-26682.160.64013
15Princeton15-18781.010.63616
16Kentucky17-36080.280.62918
17Michigan St17-214778.860.62419
18Mississippi16-43278.220.62022
19Maryland17-311077.330.61725
20Syracuse16-39976.950.61724
21Villanova15-44576.130.62121
22West Virginia15-45075.670.62320
23Duke13-6175.260.64112
24Nebraska14-43975.110.61823
25Ohio St16-221974.900.61329
26LSU17-223874.560.60630
27NC St13-6474.350.63615
28Utah14-52574.030.60033
29Stanford15-53872.940.61528
30Rhode Island16-217972.920.57649
31Washington14-48472.260.60531
32Mississippi St15-56271.230.60232
33Oregon14-62071.090.61527
34Oklahoma14-411670.530.59934
35Illinois15-414470.170.59835
36Murray St16-224469.910.56068
37Richmond16-410069.760.59039
38Troy15-315269.760.56164
39Oklahoma St16-418469.620.56855
40North Carolina15-511768.210.59436
41Georgia16-327668.110.58244
42BYU14-418567.560.58641
43Montana St12-45667.380.52993
44Southern Cal11-7367.280.61626
45North Dakota St16-228966.950.523100
46Auburn13-65465.810.59237
47Seton Hall13-512365.430.58940
48Colorado12-71565.250.59238
49San Diego St14-323765.240.54778
50South Dakota St14-59164.970.58145
51Gonzaga14-64964.410.57946
52Rice15-327064.280.56954
53S Indiana13-415564.190.490145
54Virginia13-516563.880.57451
55Santa Clara16-517363.620.52596
56Charleston14-326863.480.503126
57High Point16-232263.470.502128
58Arkansas St16-424763.420.54082
59Minnesota12-67463.020.58442
60Davidson14-67162.860.57353
61McNeese14-421762.810.510116
62Oregon St14-67562.710.52895
63Kansas11-81061.450.56458
64Virginia Tech14-525161.250.56165
65Notre Dame12-519561.240.57352
66Missouri13-83661.120.57748
67Iowa St14-525961.060.56167
68W Illinois15-234460.990.467177
69Vermont15-521560.960.507120
70Clemson13-616160.960.56261
71Green Bay15-522460.670.52992
72Colorado St15-427960.640.52894
73Sam Houston11-59360.600.481159
74Ga Southern13-517160.360.53488
75South Florida12-72960.280.57847
76Marshall15-523460.240.512112
77Miami FL11-74260.020.57550
78Abilene Chr14-521459.950.480161
79St Johns15-529659.590.54974
80Florida13-86459.500.56459
81LA Tech11-511959.360.500132
82Marquette11-75259.260.54380
83Columbia11-512658.960.56262
84Army14-332558.890.510115
85Old Dominion12-74358.810.53983
86UC Irvine16-235658.740.53487
87E Kentucky15-430458.730.487150
88Boise St14-524858.590.522101
89James Madison13-77658.510.56263
90Wisconsin12-711258.460.56460
91Longwood13-522658.310.467179
92Lindenwood13-615658.010.499133
93Fairfield14-333957.660.54281
94St Josephs12-612457.540.505121
95UC Davis12-612757.430.491144
96George Mason12-613057.350.55472
97UMASS13-333557.260.53486
98Indiana11-84457.140.56856
99Monmouth12-522956.980.460203
100Kansas St10-9956.700.58243
101N Colorado14-528456.660.465187
102Santa Barbara13-334356.420.503127
103Binghamton12-616356.400.495140
104Ball St14-431956.230.509117
105Miami OH14-432655.830.488148
106Arizona10-78655.550.54776
107Texas A&M8-65555.470.56657
108Purdue10-84055.070.55869
109San Francisco11-77955.010.52399
110Belmont11-83454.860.55770
111Fair Dickins15-434654.800.471170
112Jacksonville11-616754.600.483157
113Austin Peay11-525854.150.472168
114Georgetown11-719053.860.53685
115Arkansas11-95953.540.54973
116North Texas10-83053.130.499134
117Penn10-615953.130.482158
118Idaho St11-621053.090.494141
119Chattanooga11-527853.090.467176
120Fla Gulf Coast9-81452.760.504124
121Albany11-713552.720.520102
122South Dakota14-533252.610.441234
123Rutgers9-91852.310.55671
124Steph F Austin13-532352.260.463194
125UNLV12-626952.250.53291
126Youngstown St13-629851.800.466184
127California11-910351.740.54875
128Harvard9-76351.690.54777
129Howard13-726251.570.519103
130Brown11-434151.410.483156
131Oral Roberts11-811351.250.460199
132Idaho13-533851.150.463191
133Furman11-811551.100.434251
134Bowling Green10-713450.930.423264
135C Michigan10-622550.920.497138
136NJ Tech13-631350.510.498136
137Missouri St12-629950.470.516107
138Greensboro12-725350.390.421272
139West Georgia12-533650.090.456211
140East Carolina13-631850.000.508119
141Cleveland St15-535749.960.453215
142Wake Forest12-828049.440.514110
143UCF10-818849.430.52498
144S Utah11-724549.310.437245
145Holy Cross10-719149.310.517105
146Stetson10-719949.120.462197
147Southern Miss11-725448.840.464189
148Xavier10-821148.670.518104
149Ohio11-534048.640.476164
150Mid Tenn10-813148.440.52497
151FIU10-628548.440.475165
152Bryant14-535948.200.448222
153Quinnipiac13-436248.180.498137
154Portland11-821248.020.473167
155Campbell11-822147.800.455212
156UT Martin9-89747.590.439239
157UC San Diego12-535447.470.466183
158UTSA9-718747.430.499135
159Pepperdine11-823147.430.463192
160C Arkansas10-818247.110.463193
161LMU11-729247.060.480162
162CA Baptist11-824646.950.500130
163New Mexico12-731246.910.504122
164Navy10-630946.750.470174
165Morehead St10-912246.530.489147
166N Iowa9-812846.490.515109
167Mercer12-634746.470.437246
168Tulsa12-535846.450.496139
169Fort Wayne11-826046.330.477163
170Incarnate Word8-86846.210.462195
171St Bonaventure12-732446.190.467178
172Bradley11-730546.180.473166
173Dartmouth9-723346.050.420277
174Towson10-728146.010.472169
175Providence10-1015145.890.517106
176Nwestern St9-815445.850.460202
177Liberty8-89045.490.466186
178Georgia Tech8-111245.400.54479
179Robert Morris12-635245.300.434250
180La Salle10-824245.240.481160
181Southern8-89645.220.470173
182Little Rock9-910145.120.465188
183Lamar10-633345.010.460200
184MD Eastern11-1017044.990.466181
185Rio Grande9-910644.950.459204
186TN Tech10-730344.720.438241
187Drexel9-727144.600.466185
188Hawaii8-95144.480.460201
189Northwestern8-112344.440.53984
190N Kentucky10-116544.390.508118
191UTEP9-820744.350.447225
192Tarleton9-822044.040.448223
193Radford11-926643.980.443229
194Jax St9-822743.840.416283
195Utah Valley9-823043.830.442230
196Stony Brook10-922243.770.429257
197NC A&T7-92443.760.413290
198Lehigh8-814343.750.504123
199St Louis10-1014543.730.484154
200Kennesaw St8-814943.650.422266
201Kent St8-103742.890.466182
202Penn St7-12242.820.56166
203App St8-99842.810.454213
204Coastal9-1010842.780.459206
205E Washington9-918942.650.448224
206Illinois St10-830142.620.490146
207Wofford9-919842.440.420274
208Iona11-734942.340.437242
209St Marys11-930242.240.447227
210Charlotte8-105841.960.514111
211Fullerton9-921641.890.435248
212Toledo8-729141.640.456210
213TX Southern8-107341.460.411300
214Maine9-1016041.400.492143
215Merrimack8-823641.350.453217
216SMU8-118241.320.515108
217Butler8-118941.050.511114
218ULM8-917240.840.494142
219Geo Wash10-1025540.700.466180
220William & Mary8-825640.680.456209
221Balt County8-918040.620.436247
222Georgia St8-115340.200.463190
223Fresno St10-931039.960.451220
224Alcorn St7-911139.900.423263
225Winthrop10-1027739.900.412297
226Cincinnati7-122139.690.500131
227Hampton8-921839.660.399318
228Sacramento St9-928739.540.425260
229E Michigan7-912539.340.459205
230South Alabama9-832839.160.468175
231Alabama A&M7-914138.930.413293
232Houston6-12638.830.53389
233Creighton7-117738.710.512113
234St Thomas9-1026138.610.407306
235North Alabama8-925238.570.424262
236Tulane8-1019638.220.484155
237Arlington8-1020138.170.486152
238Dayton9-931137.950.470172
239Denver7-114737.910.421271
240Temple7-1010537.880.500129
241Fordham9-931537.780.440235
242FAU8-1023537.220.453216
243Norfolk St8-1116437.170.393324
244Florida St6-13537.090.53390
245Cornell7-923236.890.440237
246New Mexico St7-119536.190.412294
247Air Force8-1027536.010.442232
248Pacific7-1110735.940.457207
249Long Island10-736335.860.383336
250Samford8-1214235.830.413289
251Elon7-1019435.810.442233
252SIUE8-1028335.700.388330
253Texas St7-1020635.540.420275
254UAB7-1112135.540.457208
255Loyola MD8-932135.440.452218
256Nicholls8-834835.370.419278
257East Texas7-928235.320.404311
258Loyola Chicago7-1113635.150.486153
259Alabama St5-102234.810.437243
260Memphis7-1117534.420.453214
261Grand Canyon6-122634.330.504125
262Nevada7-1118334.260.443228
263Delaware7-1026434.040.435249
264IU Indy7-1120333.820.415286
265Wagner7-1027233.800.404309
266E Tenn St7-1120933.690.417282
267Mt St Marys8-935133.340.440236
268Pittsburgh8-1230833.020.429256
269Duquesne7-1124332.900.409304
270IL Chicago8-1034532.560.439240
271North Florida6-1113232.430.413291
272N Arizona7-1219232.420.418281
273UC Riverside6-1113732.350.418279
274Marist6-127032.290.471171
275Oakland6-127832.150.452219
276Utah St6-1116232.000.442231
277San Diego7-1313331.990.447226
278Queens7-1031731.590.388329
279Lipscomb6-1118131.590.412295
280Utah Tech6-1026331.470.421270
281Ark Pine Bluff6-1027431.160.418280
282Weber St6-135731.090.406307
283Northridge6-1122330.770.399319
284SEMO6-1122830.680.401313
285New Hampshire6-1214030.660.412296
286VCU6-138030.540.486151
287Kansas City6-138830.370.400316
288Houston Chr5-1110430.030.408305
289Sacred Heart7-1035029.640.397322
290Lafayette7-1035529.150.422268
291Asheville7-1231428.820.355353
292Northeastern6-1033128.720.425261
293Bakersfield6-1226528.240.413292
294SC Upstate6-1320528.180.375345
295Lowell6-1227328.070.362350
296Siena7-1036127.690.404310
297Colgate5-1214627.610.423265
298W Kentucky5-1214827.580.422267
299Boston Univ5-1216927.250.416284
300W Michigan5-1126726.850.409303
301Drake5-1219726.810.449221
302Wyoming5-1220226.710.420276
303Bucknell5-1223926.080.412298
304Chrls So5-148526.060.430255
305Indiana St6-1135325.670.410302
306Milwaukee6-1429324.830.381338
307Seattle5-1324024.710.387332
308Wright St6-1430024.670.379342
309Portland St5-1229424.640.392325
310Stonehill6-1136024.590.370348
311Wilmington5-1229724.570.390326
312Grambling5-1325024.520.362351
313Gardner Webb6-1333724.400.402312
314S Illinois5-1230624.280.371347
315Yale4-1215724.160.440238
316Jackson St4-1312023.390.422269
317SC St5-1425723.230.377343
318New Haven5-1234222.960.345357
319Mercyhurst4-1316822.730.427258
320Washington St4-17822.670.487149
321Manhattan4-1317422.640.433254
322Depaul4-166122.280.461198
323Boston College4-174621.710.462196
324MS Valley4-1324121.670.421273
325North Dakota4-1418621.390.380339
326Montana3-133321.360.434252
327Le Moyne5-1432921.150.376344
328Coppin St4-166920.970.433253
329Rider4-1329020.710.400314
330Florida A&M4-1232720.680.400315
331Detroit4-1424920.470.388328
332American4-1331619.870.398320
333Akron3-152819.510.437244
334Hofstra3-148119.290.414287
335Evansville4-1430719.220.400317
336NC Central3-1410918.910.405308
337Corpus Christi3-1320018.850.387331
338TN St3-1412918.580.427259
339Cal Poly3-1413918.470.380340
340St Peters3-1419317.920.387333
341W Carolina3-1515017.450.344359
342Wichita St3-168317.440.413288
343Bethune3-1516617.300.346356
344N Illinois3-1428616.670.389327
345Morgan St3-1711816.190.382337
346Delaware St3-1620416.110.341361
347E Illinois3-1620816.050.412299
348Chicago St3-1621316.000.398321
349Canisius3-1433415.500.379341
350Buffalo2-159414.340.416285
351SELA2-1417714.300.385334
352Long Beach2-1510214.240.393323
353Bellarmine2-173513.670.410301
354Prairie View2-1517813.550.354354
355Presbyterian2-1615313.080.350355
356St Francis2-1528812.460.344360
357San Jose St2-1715812.420.384335
358Omaha2-1911411.690.372346
359New Orleans1-161389.240.368349
360Louisiana1-17729.220.362352
361Niagara0-162954.330.345358
362C Connecticut0-173203.940.329363
363Valparaiso0-193303.520.332362

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