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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
Because of Kentucky‘s magical run by the SEC event, we finish the 2021-22 ladies’s school basketball Energy Rankings with a brand new No. 1.
That does not imply South Carolina, which had been within the high spot from the primary week, has misplaced any floor in NCAA event seeding. The Gamecocks already had the general No. 1 seed wrapped up in Charlie Creme’s Bracketology projection, so Sunday’s 64-62 loss to the Wildcats within the SEC ultimate solely value South Carolina one other championship trophy. The Gamecocks now will go after the most important one with maybe some further motivation.
4 of the Energy 5 conferences have their champions and automated NCAA bids determined, whereas the Massive 12 event is that this week in Kansas Metropolis. Baylor has dominated that occasion, successful 9 of the previous 10. A title this yr may even propel the Bears into the final No. 1 seed, after Louisville misplaced within the ACC quarterfinals.
The Massive 12 at present has six groups within the NCAA discipline, none of that are at risk of falling out whatever the league event outcomes. Oklahoma is attempting to remain among the many NCAA’s high 16 seeds, which host first- and second-round video games. So the Sooners, who ended the common season with a loss to Kansas (giving the Jayhawks insurance coverage to make their first NCAA look since 2013), hope to get not less than one win in Ok.C.
Here is one ultimate version of the Energy Rankings earlier than you fill out your NCAA bracket.
0:20
Baylor’s Ja’Mee Asberry fires a no-look move to NaLyssa Smith in transition.
The Bears wanted two wins this previous week to safe the Massive 12 regular-season title for the 12th yr in a row. They obtained them behind Smith, who went 24-of-36 from the sector and 14-of-15 from the road for 63 factors, with 32 rebounds, within the two video games.
Crew of the Week: Kentucky Wildcats
There are a number of Kentucky groups that appeared to have a very good probability to win the SEC event prior to now decade-plus, however they did not do it. A number of weeks in the past, this yr’s Wildcats weren’t thought to even be within the working for that title. However their 10-game successful streak circled their season and gave them a trophy this system had not received in 40 years.
Dayton was the Atlantic 10 regular-season champion, however UMass received its first A-10 event title on Sunday. It’s the program’s first NCAA event bid since 1998, and third general.
Coach of the Week: Kyra Elzy, Kentucky Wildcats
In her second season because the Wildcats’ head coach, Elzy had to make use of powerful love and motivational ways to get her workforce out of the funk it was nonetheless coping with in February. And it labored. She additionally instructed them that protection needed to be an all-in proposition in the event that they had been going to have an opportunity of constructing the NCAA discipline. That labored, too, and now they do not have to attend for an at-large bid. They claimed the SEC’s automated berth with their dramatic win over South Carolina on Sunday.
Energy Rankings
1. Stanford Cardinal (28-3)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: No video games
The defending nationwide champions had some shut calls on the finish of the common season however cruised by the Pac-12 event in Las Vegas with wins over Oregon State, Colorado and Utah. Haley Jones was the event’s most excellent participant, and — together with the remainder of the Cardinal — is wanting robust going into the NCAA event.
0:21
NC State finishes the primary half on a 10-Zero run, with Raina Perez draining a Three earlier than the buzzer.
2. NC State Wolfpack (29-3)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: No video games
The Wolfpack have become the boss of the ACC event, having received it three years in a row now. Miami had a terrific run to achieve the ultimate, however there was no stopping NC State, which received its three event video games by a mean of 19.Three factors. Senior middle Elissa Cunane, who grew up close to Greensboro, has made essentially the most of her hometown event, successful her second MVP Sunday.
3. South Carolina Gamecocks (29-2)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: No video games
They drop within the Energy Rankings, however as we mentioned, nothing actually adjustments for the Gamecocks going into the NCAA event. Besides they may have a renewed sense of urgency in observe. Some defensive lapses and missed free throws value South Carolina in its SEC ultimate loss, however that is nonetheless the identical powerhouse workforce that has Minneapolis in its sights.
4. Baylor Bears (25-5)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: Massive 12 event quarterfinals vs. TBD (Friday)
The Bears completed robust with blowout victories over Iowa State and Texas Tech to win the Massive 12 regular-season title for the 12th yr in a row. NaLyssa Smith mixed for 63 factors and 32 rebounds in these two video games as Baylor heads into Kansas Metropolis with a full head of steam.
5. UConn Huskies (24-5)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: Massive East event ultimate vs. Villanova (Monday)
Villanova ended UConn’s nine-year conference-game successful streak on Feb. 9, however Paige Bueckers, Caroline Ducharme and Olivia Nelson-Ododa did not play for the Huskies in that 72-69 loss. The present model of UConn is the significantly scary model for opponents.
2:03
Iowa defeats Indiana to win the Massive Ten event championship due to massive video games from Caitlin Clark and Monika Czinano.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (23-7)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: No video games
The Hawkeyes proceed to soar, transferring up seven spots within the Energy Rankings after successful the Massive Ten event. No, they did not must beat Ohio State, Maryland or Michigan to do it, they usually misplaced to all of these groups within the common season (and likewise beat the Wolverines as soon as). However they held Massive Ten event foes Northwestern, Nebraska and Indiana all under 38% capturing and confirmed some defensive prowess to associate with their offense.
7. Texas Longhorns (23-6)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: Massive 12 quarterfinals vs. Kansas State (Friday)
Texas completed the common season with victories over Kansas and Oklahoma State and has now received eight in a row. The No. Three seed within the Massive 12 event, the Longhorns will face a Wildcats workforce they’ve crushed twice already by double digits. Texas has received the Massive 12 event title simply as soon as: in 2003, when the Longhorns final went to the Ultimate 4.
8. Kentucky Wildcats (19-11)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: No video games
It is uncommon {that a} workforce might vault from unranked to the highest 10, however the Wildcats did one thing uncommon. Unprecedented, actually: They beat the Nos. 1, 2 and three seeds to win the SEC event. Whereas “physique of labor” will preserve them out of the highest 16 within the NCAA event, they’re taking part in like a top-16 seed.
1:10
Dre’una Edwards hits the go-ahead 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining as Kentucky defeats South Carolina 64-62 to win the SEC championship.
9. Louisville Cardinals (25-4)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: No video games
Louisville received the 2018 ACC title and misplaced within the ultimate in 2019 and 2021. This yr, the Cardinals let a giant lead slip away and had been shocked by Miami on a buzzer-beater within the quarterfinals. Contemplating their previous ACC event success and the truth that they got here into Greensboro wanting good, getting outscored by the Hurricanes 23-7 within the fourth quarter was a giant disappointment. However as with South Carolina, Louisville ought to be motivated for the NCAA event.
10. LSU Tigers (25-5)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: No video games)
Coach Kim Mulkey mentioned getting into that the SEC event wasn’t a precedence for the Tigers, since little would change with their NCAA seed they usually needed to relaxation guard Alexis Morris. She suffered an MCL sprain on Feb. 24 however is predicted to play within the NCAA event. The Tigers fell within the SEC quarterfinals to Kentucky; contemplating the Wildcats went on to win the title, the loss would not damage LSU in any respect.
11. Iowa State Cyclones (25-5)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: Massive 12 event quarterfinals vs. TBD (Friday)
After a disappointing 25-point loss to Baylor final Monday, the Cyclones completed the common season on a excessive word Saturday with a 74-57 win at West Virginia during which guard Emily Ryan had a career-high 29 factors. The Cyclones obtained a program-record 14 Massive 12 wins and have the No. 2 seed within the league event, which they final received in 2001.
12. Indiana Hoosiers (19-7)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: No video games
The Hoosiers fell out of the Energy Rankings final week after dropping 4 of their final 5 video games within the common season. However their run to the Massive Ten ultimate — beating Rutgers, Maryland and Ohio State — earlier than falling 74-67 to Iowa confirmed that Indiana seems to be prepared for the NCAA event. The Hoosiers reached the Elite Eight final season.
13. Virginia Tech Hokies (21-8)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: No video games
The Hokies misplaced by simply two factors to league champion NC State of their regular-season finale on Feb. 27, after which made the semifinals of the ACC event earlier than falling to the Wolfpack once more. ACC Participant of the Yr Elizabeth Kitley, who suffered a shoulder harm within the quarterfinal win over North Carolina, did not play within the semis. Coach Kenny Brooks mentioned that was precautionary, so she ought to be prepared for the NCAA event. Similar for guard Cayla King, who sprained her ankle within the Hokies’ ACC opener in opposition to Clemson.
14. Michigan Wolverines (22-6)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: No video games
It has been a troublesome previous week for Michigan: lacking out on sharing the Massive Ten regular-season title after which being upset 76-73 by Nebraska within the league event quarterfinals. The Wolverines began the season 20-2, however have now misplaced 4 of their final six. They search for a confidence reset going into the NCAA event.
15. Ohio State Buckeyes (23-6)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: No video games
The Buckeyes had been the No. 1 seed within the Massive Ten event and in search of their sixth title, however suffered their second lack of the season to Indiana within the semifinals. Nonetheless, they head into the NCAA event having received eight of their final 10.
16. Maryland Terrapins (21-8)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: No video games
The Terps entered Indianapolis in search of their sixth Massive Ten event title since becoming a member of the league in 2014-15. However they left after a 62-51 quarterfinal loss to Indiana, and it is arduous to make sure which model of Maryland we are going to see within the NCAA event. For a workforce with so many weapons, the Terps have had some surprisingly unhealthy offensive performances, together with scoring under 60 factors in two of their final three video games, each losses.
Within the ready room
Oklahoma Sooners (23-7): The Sooners fell to Kansas to shut the common season however have an opportunity to avenge that loss rapidly because the groups meet once more Friday within the Massive 12 event quarterfinals.
North Carolina Tar Heels (23-6): The Tar Heels had received seven of their final eight video games going into the ACC event however misplaced 87-80 in extra time to Virginia Tech within the quarterfinals.
BYU Cougars (25-2): The highest seed within the West Coast Convention event, they face No. Four seed Portland in Monday’s semifinals.
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