You don’t have to say anything. I can feel your frustration at me through the computer screen for not doing Week 3 of the power rankings and I’m right with you. I’m mad at myself, too. I apologize and, hopefully, you continue to tune in for my witty remarks and statistical fun facts for each Western Athletic Conference team as I look to rank them. With all that being said, I extend an open hand and wave the white flag in asking for forgiveness and, hopefully, we can start anew here in a version 4.0 of the women’s basketball power rankings.
Please Keep In Mind:
- Without saying but for the people in the back, although this list is subjective, I will rank teams based on stats, schedules, gameplay and storylines. Ultimately, this is done in good spirit because who doesn’t like ranking things from best to worst.
- Team records are not a determining factor for ranking a team higher or lower.
- Nearly every aspect of a team will be looked at in the rankings, such as injuries, COVID-19 (although I hope these remain at a minimum throughout conference play), opponents and how a game played out.
- For example, Team B beat Team A and Team C beat Team B, so Team C is better than Team A is not a valid argument for ranking.
- California Baptist University Lancers (Last Week: No.1) 14-0, 6-0:
Until I see this team lose back-to-back games or fall by 20-plus, this team will not fall from first and I can give you two reason why they remain at the top:
- Beat Chicago State
- Are 16-0
- Grand Canyon University Antelopes (Last Week: No. 2) 9-2, 1-1:
I was feeling dangerous coming into the week thinking I could pull a fast one on you and move the ’Lopes to the No.1 spot if they swept New Mexico State, but alas, they split the series 1-1 with a 61-53 loss and a 61-52 victory and stand where they’ve stood all season.
This weekend will be very telling for this squad as it has three games in five days, including a matchup against the Big Sky Conference No.1 seed the Idaho State Bengals–full disclosure, I didn’t even know this team existed, so I’m just as confused as you–and a Tarleton State team that has the speed and talent to run with this squad and is hungry for more victories against DI opponents.
- Utah Valley University Wolverines (Last Week: No. 3) 4-3, 2-2:
Why did I put Utah Valley at the No. 3 spot if it won’t have a game this weekend? Good question and it is simple: I’m going to have to drop this team a couple of spots next week and the week after that if they aren’t able to play, so I wanted to make Wolverine fans happy before I pissed them off.
Yes, it is unfortunate that the team has entered quarantine and I send my thoughts and prayers to the program. However, I cannot keep on banking on potential and I have to see this team play and, at the moment, this team’s next matchup is on Feb. 9 versus Park University out of the NAIA and its next conference double-header is on Feb. 19 against New Mexico State.
- New Mexico State University Aggies (Last Week No. 4) 3-6, 1-1:
As much as I sports-hate New Mexico State for its greatness and how it always ends up at the mountaintop with the title of WAC Champions every season, I hate even more that COVID-19 has prevented them getting back onto the court for these past two weeks.
Yes, New Mexico State is a pain in the side of many in the WAC, but it is a well-coached team and tremendously fun to watch play. I just want to see them back out on the court safe and sound.
Dear New Mexico State, from your sports reporter from Vaquero Radio, please get well soon. I miss you. Thoughts and prayers, Luis Rubio.
- Seattle University Redhawks (Last Week: No. 6) 6-7, 2-2:
This Redhawks team is the one that I simply cannot put my finger on a week-to-week basis for where they should be ranked, and I’m worried it’ll be that way the rest of the season.
This team has a very talented backcourt, comprised of professional bucket-getter McKenzi Williams and playmaker, defensive specialist and giving-me-Scottie-Pippen-vibes Bree Calhoun, and a young frontcourt court that is the perfect complement to their guards but also can get you great looks at the rim.
On the flipside, they went 4-5 in non-conference and have swept Tarleton State and been swept in conference play by Utah Valley. In other words, they have beaten the team they should beat and lost to the team they should’ve lost to.
This week, they face Chicago State and bearing a loss on the road–it could happen, the 2020-21 season has been one for firsts–I don’t think I’ll be able to pinpoint where this team matches up with the rest of the conference.
- UTRGV Vaqueros (Last Week: No. 5) 4-5, 0-0:
As the kids say, no cap, I was ready to put this team as high as No.4 for this week’s power rankings but I had to check myself after its 16-point loss to Tarleton on Wednesday.
I haven’t been able to play basketball with my friends since the pandemic started 11 months ago. I’ve focused on other areas of my life, such as school and work and left basketball to the side as there were just not enough hours in the day. But this week, I had the bright idea to challenge my younger brother to a game of 21 in our driveway. The game began and in a scene straight out of SpongeBob with the narrator saying, “10 minutes later,” I was hunched over trying to catch my breath, not to throw up and stop the world from spinning. Point is, I was out of game shape and my younger brother thrashed me 21-6 and I woke up sore the next day.
My point in telling you this embarrassing story is to tell you that the Vaqueros loss didn’t shake my confidence in this team and I still believe they have the talent to make noise come tournament time, but it did remind me of the golden rule of the season: continuity. In a season that has seen programs have to stop and start, the team that plays the most games consecutively is going to come out on top not only because it would have developed chemistry on the court but will also be in game shape. This UTRGV team just needs to get back to playing games on a consistent basis and they’ll have to wait until Feb. 5 and 6 against Grand Canyon on the road.
- Tarleton State University Texans (Last Week: No. 7) 4-10, 0-4:
Congratulations to the Texans for earning their first true DI victory of the season against a rival Texas school. Emily Cunningham was spectacular with a 20-point performance and Iyana Dorsey was the best point guard on the floor with 16 points and nine assists, which is impressive considering Amara Graham was on the other side.
I’m going to be called a homer for not moving Tarleton up after they beat UTRGV 79-63 on the road, but I just want to hold off one more week before I move them up.
The victory over UTRGV was impressive and well deserved, but they beat a Vaqueros team that has not been able to practice due to quarantine and has only played two games in the entire month of January. All I’m saying is I want to see them beat another WAC team and then I’ll be ready to move them up.
- Chicago State University Cougars (Last Week: No. 8) 0-5, 0-2:
Poor Chicago State, after a month of not playing due to cancellations and postponements, it returns and faces the best team in the conference. It wasn’t a pretty game, but I’d bet if you are first-year Head Coach Tiffany Sardin, you are just happy to have your team play again.
