USF with a very strong showing yesterday at the Women’s Battle for Atlantis.

The 23rd ranked Bulls (?) came back from a 13-point first half deficit before eventually falling to #2 UConn 60-53.

USF clawed back twice to take their first lead of the game late in the 3rd quarter. It was tied at the end of the quarter, and stayed close until a UConn three pointer gave the Huskies a 9-point lead with 4 1/2 left.

Tough to lose but very respectable showing against a perennially elite team. Could move USF up a couple notches in the rankings.

USF drops to 3-2, with the only other loss a tight one at #16 Tennessee.

Next up: #9 Oregon this afternoon on ESPNU (2:30 tip USF time, 11:30 for those Ducks fans on the west coast)

Only a couple of short USF mentions in this ESPN article that power ranks the top 16 and change. But tonight’s Atlantis championship matches 1. South Carolina vs 2. UConn.

I didn’t realize that SC matchup was on the line with yesterday’s game !!!!

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-bask...ncaa-title

UT-Arlington 61, #13 USF 56 Final.

UCF 52, Arkansas 51, Final

@North Texas 84, SMU 58 (wow)

Houston only lost by 10 @Alabama
(Tied early in 2Q before an 0-11 run. Bama then led by 25 in 4Q before garbage time)

@Charlotte had no trouble with Gardner Webb and won by 20.

UT Arlington is now 4-0 against current/future AAC teams with an 8-point win at home against Rice last night.

OT wins in November vs Houston and @UNT alongside knocking off ranked USF earlier this week puts them one game away from the sweep.

Should they be ranked? At 5-2, their only losses were #7 Baylor (by 27) and to Kansas City in a Vegas tournament.

They’re at SMU in a couple weeks. Can they somehow be stopped???!!! Ponies, we’re counting on you!!!

New AP poll is out, USF(5-3) down four spots 13->17 after the UT-A loss.

Props to the USF SoS, they are the only 3-loss team in the top 25.
(2-2 against ranked teams I believe, including 3 top ten squads?!)

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-...tball-poll

No other AAC related teams ranked or receiving votes.

The rest of the league is struggling… current + new AAC went a combined 3-12 Saturday & Sunday. Nod to Memphis, Temple, and UAB for holding up the fort with the three wins with USF idle this weekend.

Bracketology has three AAC teams projected in the new 68-team format


https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/...rojections

USF as a projected 4-seed is no surprise.

They’ve got UCF at an 11 as one of the “last four in” benefiting from the expansion of the tourney from 64-68.

Then Tulsa at 13 as an upset AQ winning the conference tourney.

ESPN spinning the AAC as power even in WBB, now let’s see how it actually plays out…

This league should get at least three in.

(12-08-2021 05:45 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Bracketology has three AAC teams projected in the new 68-team format


https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/...rojections

USF as a projected 4-seed is no surprise.

They’ve got UCF at an 11 as one of the “last four in” benefiting from the expansion of the tourney from 64-68.

Then Tulsa at 13 as an upset AQ winning the conference tourney.

ESPN spinning the AAC as power even in WBB, now let’s see how it actually plays out…

The three best teams in conference are
USF,UCF and Tulane

Tulsa is undefeated but really hasn’t played anyone yet, so hard to tell.

(12-09-2021 10:14 AM)Cubanbull1 Wrote:  

(12-08-2021 05:45 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Bracketology has three AAC teams projected in the new 68-team format


https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/...rojections

USF as a projected 4-seed is no surprise.

They’ve got UCF at an 11 as one of the “last four in” benefiting from the expansion of the tourney from 64-68.

Then Tulsa at 13 as an upset AQ winning the conference tourney.

ESPN spinning the AAC as power even in WBB, now let’s see how it actually plays out…

The three best teams in conference are
USF,UCF and Tulane

Tulsa is undefeated but really hasn’t played anyone yet, so hard to tell.

I agree, the middle and bottom seem slightly stronger than previous years as well, so three or four bids seems very possible. Women's side is looking very good this year.

Massey ratings updated through yesterday’s … they actually had UCF above USF until this most recent update.

32 USF (+2)
34 UCF (-3)

81 Houston
91 Tulane
93 Tulsa
100 Wichita
113 Memphis
118 SMU
122 Temple

166 ECU
168 Cincinnati

Others of interest:
7 UConn (-3)
84 UT-Arlington (4-0 against current/future AAC with one more to go)
99 North Texas (top rated incoming school)
112 Charlotte (#2 incoming)

(12-08-2021 06:34 PM)Cubanbull1 Wrote:  This league should get at least three in.

If Massey is accurate* then somebody’s still got some work to do.
But USF has already proved (eyeball test) they’re better than a 32.

Also, don’t know why UCF dropped three spots. They’re on a 6-game winning streak and have been idle since beating 29-Arkansas 10 days ago.

SMU with a nice win this week at home (Tuesday) against 123-Delaware.
Let’s see how they fare in their last two games this month @31-Colorado (12/17) and hosting UT-A on 12/21.

It’s even worse in the NET rankings which are used for the picks
USF #30
UCF #40

Houston #77
Tulsa #84
WSU #95
Memphis #98

Tulane #105
ECU #147
Temple #158

Cincinnati #258

At this rate two will get in.
USF plays #48 VCU today on the road

Right now it’s the top two, the middle seven, and the bottom two.
(again, looking at Massey) the middle seven are clustered within 41 places of each other.
The gaps between those three tiers are more than 41 spots! (47&44 respectively)
Best case scenario for the league is that someone in the middle tier gets hot in conference play and separates to move up to the top tier. If someone currently like a Wichita can finish top three in league play and reach the AAC final then they’ve got an argument for an at-large (because the league itself is so strong top-to-bottom, ranked 6th overall currently by Massey)

(12-12-2021 09:37 AM)Cubanbull1 Wrote:  It’s even worse in the NET rankings which are used for the picks
USF #30
UCF #40

Houston #77
Tulsa #84
WSU #95
Memphis #98

Tulane #105
ECU #147
Temple #158

Cincinnati #258

At this rate two will get in.
USF plays #48 VCU today on the road

SMU is #117

(12-12-2021 11:40 AM)mustangxc Wrote:  

(12-12-2021 09:37 AM)Cubanbull1 Wrote:  It’s even worse in the NET rankings which are used for the picks
USF #30
UCF #40

Houston #77
Tulsa #84
WSU #95
Memphis #98

Tulane #105
ECU #147
Temple #158

Cincinnati #258

At this rate two will get in.
USF plays #48 VCU today on the road

SMU is #117

Thanks. Sorry I missed them.

Bulls getting curb stomped by VCU down 26-40

(12-12-2021 02:09 PM)Sellular1 Wrote:  Bulls getting curb stomped by VCU down 26-40

Yes team is not looking good last couple of games.

USF pulls it out, down 13 to start fourth quarter, outscore VCU by 20 and win 64-57.

Need to play more like that fourth quarter and less like the first three

(12-12-2021 03:39 PM)Cubanbull1 Wrote:  USF pulls it out, down 13 to start fourth quarter, outscore VCU by 20 and win 64-57.

Need to play more like that fourth quarter and less like the first three

Can’t believe that comeback. Amazing.