Despite a weekend stacked with women’s college basketball action, the outcomes did not dramatically alter the AP Top 25 poll. The top of the poll, in particular, was only solidified due to No. 1 UConn and No. 2 UCLA cruising to dominant wins over ranked opponents.
Significant movement was scare. The biggest faller, No. 22 Maryland, dropped six slots, while No. 19 Tennessee and No. 23 Princeton experienced four-spot falls. No. 13 Ole Miss was the biggest riser, elevating four spots to within shouting distance of the top 10.
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Here’s a look the top 25, with first-place votes denoted in parentheses, movement from last week’s poll tracked in brackets and teams entering (or re-entering) the poll identified with an asterisk:
And here’s a closer examination of three teams that are a crossroads, with the week ahead determining if they can salvage potentially teetering seasons:
No. 7 Vanderbilt Commodores
From 20-straight wins to two-straight losses, and then No. 7 Vanderbilt trailed Florida at halftime on Sunday. A home loss to one of the SEC’s lesser lights would have confirmed that the Commodores are not, and maybe never were, true contender material.
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A huge third quarter, captained by Mikayla Blakes, however, rescued Vanderbilt from an uncomfortable reality. Blakes scored 14 points in the period on perfect 7-for-7 shooting. The electric effort ignited the Commodore rout, as Blakes would finish the afternoon with 30 points.
But, Vandy will have to prove themselves again and again. That’s life for an aspiring contender in the SEC. On Thursday, the test comes at No. 16 Kentucky against Wildcat team that seems to have escaped their recent wobbles due to the return of Teonni Key. After three-straight losses, Kentucky lit up Arkansas, with Key, absent since Jan. 4, providing a 15-point and 10-rebound double-double in 32 minutes.
The Commodores’ trip to Lexington is followed by even more rigorous challenges, as No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 4 Texas will visit Nashville the following week.
No. 19 Tennessee Lady Vols
After 20 minutes in Hartford on Sunday afternoon, things looked so good for No. 19 Tennessee. At that point, it felt like a respectable defeat to No. 1 UConn would have mostly erased their disappointing home loss to Mississippi State last Thursday.
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Instead, the Lady Vols were lapped by the Huskies in the second half, suffering the worst loss ever in the storied UConn-Tennessee rivalry.
With two SEC road games on schedule for this week, Tennessee can stabilize their season, or enter a deeper spiral. A trip to Athens to face now-unranked Georgia will not be easy, especially as a win over the Lady Vols could push the Dawgs back into the top 25.
Next Sunday, it’s another showcase game. This time, it’s No. 3 South Carolina across the way. If the Vols don’t find a way to play 40 minutes of disciplined basketball, their trip to Columbia could resemble their visit to Hartford: an ugly reminder of how far Tennessee is from the top of the sport.
No. 22 Maryland Terrapins
Despite a four-game slide, recently detailed by our Terp-in-chief Zack Ward, No. 22 Maryland maintains a spot in the top 25.
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In the week ahead, Maryland can begin their climb back towards the top 15, and with it the likely right to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, or risk slipping outside the top 25.
Upsetting No. 12 Michigan State, eager for a win after their overtime rivalry game loss to Michigan, will be quite the challenge. As Zack recently explained, inconsistent 3-point shooting is a problem for the Terrapins, while the Spartans are a high-volume and sharpshooting squad. The same is true of Nebraska, as the Terps next will face the high-octane Huskers, a team that has floated in and out of the top 25 for much of the season.
By Sunday, Maryland could have collected two quality wins that salvage their sinking season—or they could be nearly sunk.
