Quite a lot of deserved consideration has gone to Big Ten newcomers UCLA and USC this season. But league stalwart Ohio State is trying like the most effective groups within the nation.
The Buckeyes be part of UCLA, USC and Maryland within the high 10 of ESPN’s girls’s faculty basketball Power Rankings this week at No. 9. Ohio State has its highest rating to date this season and is one among three unbeaten groups left, together with UCLA and LSU.
The Buckeyes’ largest assessments are nonetheless forward: They’ve but to face the Bruins, Trojans or Terps. They will play Maryland twice (Jan. 23 and March 2), and journey to Los Angeles for his or her UCLA and USC matchups Feb. 5-8. Ohio State has defeated simply two ranked groups, neither of that are on this week’s Top 25 ballot.
Still, Ohio State is 16-0 total and 5-0 within the league. The Buckeyes have gained or shared the Big Ten regular-season title 17 instances and hope to be within the combine once more this season.
Ohio State is doing it with some acquainted names for Buckeyes followers: junior ahead Cotie McMahon (team-high 16.4 PPG), senior guard/ahead Taylor Thierry (10.8 PPG) and reserve guard Madison Greene (4.8 PPG) are Ohio natives who’ve performed their complete careers at Ohio State. Forward Eboni Walker is in her third season in Columbus after starting her profession at Arizona State.
And a bunch of newcomers — transfers and freshmen — have jelled rapidly to assist the Buckeyes regulate to dropping three starters. Leading the best way are two dynamic guards: junior Chance Gray and freshman Jaloni Cambridge. Gray returned to her house state of Ohio after taking part in her first two seasons at Oregon and is the Buckeyes’ second-leading scorer at 15.4 PPG. Cambridge, one of many high freshmen within the nation, is averaging 14.5 factors, 4.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists.
Ohio State nonetheless has rather a lot to show because the schedule will get more durable, however the Buckeyes’ begin is nearly as good as they may have hoped for this season.
Previous rating: 1
With the horrific wildfires in Los Angeles, Northwestern opted to not journey there for its video games towards UCLA and USC, initially scheduled for Jan. 12-15. The Bruins haven’t performed since Jan. 7. Penn State did journey to Los Angeles and can face UCLA on Wednesday in Long Beach. That is about 35 miles from the Bruins’ campus, which isn’t removed from the Pacific Palisades hearth. Next Monday, UCLA performs a nonconference recreation vs. Baylor within the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic.
Next seven days: vs. Penn State (Jan. 15), vs. Baylor in Newark, New Jersey (Jan. 20)
Previous rating: 2
The lack of junior ahead Ashlyn Watkins (ACL) is tough, however it did not present in how properly the Gamecocks performed in dominant victories over Texas A&M and Texas. The 67-50 win over the Longhorns did not play out like a top-5 matchup: South Carolina managed it all through. Post gamers Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards and Sania Feagin mixed for 29 factors and 17 rebounds, whereas serving to maintain Texas to 27.8% taking pictures.
Next seven days: @ Alabama (Jan. 16), vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 3
The Irish beat Wake Forest and Clemson; the win over the Tigers got here with out star guard Hannah Hidalgo, who was sitting out for precautionary causes with an ankle harm. Notre Dame missed its main scorer, tying its season low with 67 factors towards Clemson. But ahead Liatu King, the most effective transfers within the nation this season, led the best way with 23 factors and 11 rebounds. It shall be attention-grabbing to see the Irish’s upcoming matchup with Georgia Tech, which fell out of the Power Rankings this week after its first two losses of the season.
Next seven days: vs. Georgia Tech (Jan. 16), vs. SMU (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 4
On Jan. 8, the Trojans received their largest win since beating UConn in December: they defeated Maryland on the highway 79-74. That was adopted by a house victory over Penn State, 95-73, led by JuJu Watkins‘ 35 factors and 11 rebounds. USC’s scheduled recreation with Northwestern on Wednesday has been postponed because the Wildcats prevented journey to Los Angeles due to the wildfires.
Next seven days: @ Indiana (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 8
The Tigers have been examined by Tennessee and at Vanderbilt however gained each video games by a mixed eight factors. Attribute their skill to shut out video games properly partly to the variety of superb get-to-the-rim gamers LSU has, which makes the Tigers exhausting to protect for all 40 minutes. Plus the sheer expertise of Aneesah Morrow, who had a mixed 46 factors and 36 rebounds within the two video games.
Next seven days: @ Florida (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 6
The Huskies clobbered Xavier 81-27 however had extra of recreation at Georgetown, profitable 73-55. Azzi Fudd‘s mixed 44 factors on 17-of-27 taking pictures was the perfect information within the victories. Fellow guard Paige Bueckers did not play as she is recovering from a knee sprain.
Next seven days: @ St. John’s (Jan. 15), vs. Seton Hall (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 5
The Longhorns skilled either side of what SEC play might be like. They did all the pieces proper in dominating then-No. 18 Alabama 84-40 at house. But then they did little proper in dropping 67-50 at South Carolina. Credit the Gamecocks’ protection, although, for holding Texas to 27.8% taking pictures and its lowest level complete of the season. Like UCLA and Baylor, the Longhorns will play within the upcoming Coretta Scott King Classic, towards Maryland.
Next seven days: @ Auburn (Jan. 16), vs. Maryland in Newark, New Jersey (Jan. 20)
Previous rating: 7
The Terps misplaced their first recreation of the season Jan. 8 to USC however bounced again with victories over Wisconsin and newly ranked Minnesota. Guard Bri McDaniel is a priority for Maryland; she suffered a knee harm in Tuesday’s victory towards the Gophers. Maryland is in a stretch of taking part in 4 ranked foes in a row, with Texas subsequent within the inaugural Coretta Scott King Classic.
Next seven days: vs. Texas in Newark, New Jersey (Jan. 20)
Previous rating: 10
As anticipated, the Buckeyes have been examined final week at Michigan, however gained 84-77 behind Jaloni Cambridge‘s 29 factors, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. They adopted that with a 69-60 win at house towards Oregon. Their hardest league foes are nonetheless forward, however they’re taking part in properly to date.
Next seven days: @ Wisconsin (Jan. 16), @ Penn State (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 11
TCU had a strong previous week, with victories at Kansas and Texas Tech and at house towards UCF. These aren’t big-time wins, however they present the Frogs are in groove. Center Sedona Prince averaged 25.7 factors and 10.3 rebounds within the victories.
Next seven days: vs. Utah (Jan. 17)
Previous rating: 13
Like TCU, the Wildcats proceed to excel in Big 12 play. They are coming off wins of their mountain highway journey to Utah and BYU. Okay-State senior guard Serena Sundell had 13 assists towards the Cougars, her sixth double-digit help recreation this season. Her 7.6 APG leads Division I.
Next seven days: vs. Arizona (Jan. 16), vs. Arizona State (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 15
The Wildcats received decisive victories at Florida and at house towards Auburn this previous week, with guard Georgia Amoore having a mixed 39 factors and 15 assists. Kentucky continues to construct confidence, which is nice preparation contemplating how robust its SEC slate is from Jan. 30 towards Alabama till the regular-season finale at South Carolina on March 2.
Next seven days: @ Georgia (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 9
The Sooners have form of the alternative schedule from Kentucky: They have already got performed two ranked SEC foes and could have confronted three extra by Feb. 2. That mentioned, even non-ranked SEC groups are harmful, which the Sooners skilled in an 81-77 loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 9. They rallied from that with a house win over Texas A&M on Sunday, however main scorer/rebounder Raegan Beers injured her shoulder in that recreation and her availability for this week shouldn’t be but recognized.
Next seven days: vs. Missouri (Jan. 16), @ South Carolina (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 14
The Tar Heels are again within the Power Rankings for the primary time since Dec. 11. They are coming off victories towards archrival Duke — admittedly a dreadful 53-46 extra time recreation by which each offenses struggled — and Boston College.
Next seven days: @ SMU (Jan. 16), @ Pittsburgh (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 16
Tennessee’s loss to LSU on Jan. 9 was its second in a row to a top-10 group. The brilliant aspect is these two losses — the opposite was to Oklahoma — have been by a mixed three factors. That is how shut the Lady Vols are to nonetheless having an ideal report. They bounced again with a 93-63 domination of Arkansas on Sunday.
Next seven days: vs. Mississippi State (Jan. 16), @ Vanderbilt (Jan. 19)
Previous rating: 14
The Blue Devils clung to their spot within the Power Rankings, however the drop of their offense is a priority. After the OT loss at North Carolina, they wanted a fourth-quarter rally to win 60-55 at Virginia. Duke shot a mixed 29.9% from the sphere within the two video games.
Next seven days: vs. California (Jan. 16), vs. Stanford (Jan. 19)
Fell out: Georgia Tech
