As Connecticut aims to win its seventh national title, its rivals share a common goal -- beat the Huskies.
UConn capped an undefeated 39-0 season with its sixth national championship, and no team even came close to threatening that perfection as every victory came by double digits. The top-ranked Huskies had two previous unbeaten seasons, 1995 and 2002.
"It's a new season, and no one can take away what we did last year," said coach Geno Auriemma, who is four wins short of 700 for his career. "Yes, the guys we have coming back are really good, but we don't see it as the pressure of defending a title but more as a chance to win a new one."
With four starters returning, including player of the year Maya Moore, UConn is in a good position to repeat as champions and cut down the nets in April in San Antonio. They might even challenge their own record 70-game winning streak.
The Huskies' biggest test during the regular season will come Dec. 23 against No. 2 Stanford. UConn eliminated the Cardinal in the national semifinals last season, avenging a defeat the year before in the Final Four.
Stanford also returns most of its team from last season, including preseason All-America center Jayne Appel.
"It's just one game on the calendar, and we have a lot of basketball to play before and after that game," Appel said.
Auriemma isn't the only coach who should reach the 700-win plateau this season. Virginia's Debbie Ryan stands one victory away, and Ohio State's Jim Foster is 15 short. Auriemma was an assistant coach for both.
Although those three coaches made their impact from the sideline, Baylor freshman Brittney Griner will definitely make hers on the court for Baylor. The 6-foot-8 phenom who became a YouTube sensation with her dunks already has people saying she'll change the game the same way Wilt Chamberlain or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did on the men's side years ago. Baylor drew more than 6,000 fans for their first exhibition game.
"If she works hard, keeps the same attitude she's got, she's going to have an impact on the NCAA level, she's going to have an impact on the WNBA, she's going to have an impact on the Olympics," Louisiana State University coach Van Chancellor said. "In my opinion, she's going to win a lot of gold medals."
Griner will be a force on the defensive end, too, with her 71/2-foot wingspan.
"I hope that she has the impact that we all think that she will, but we're not going to talk about that," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. "She does have skills and athleticism like none I've ever coached. Yet she is quick to tell you she can't do it by herself, and she has players around her that she will make better. I hope that all those predictions come true."
Griner will get her first chance to become the seventh woman to dunk in a college game when the Bears open up at Tennessee on Nov. 15. The Lady Vols are coming off one of their worst seasons under Pat Summitt. Tennessee lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history.
The Lady Vols were one of the youngest the Hall of Fame coach had ever instructed, and this year's squad has three freshmen, six sophomores and three juniors -- but no seniors.
"I'm not going to lower my standards because of that, not at all. My thought is we have to raise the bar," she said.
Tennessee will be missing sophomore Amber Gray, who is recovering from a brain aneurysm that doctors found while performing shoulder surgery on her in July.
She isn't the only player missing the season. North Carolina is unsure whether senior Jessica Breland will play this year as she has been sidelined with Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has gone into remission. California lost star freshman Tierra Rogers, who was diagnosed with a rare heart condition after collapsing after a preseason workout. Rutgers won't have star Epiphanny Prince, who decided to forgo her senior season to play overseas.
TOP NEWCOMERS
- Kelsey Bone , 6-foot-5, South Carolina: Dawn Staley's first big-time recruit for the Gamecocks, Bone could be an immediate impact player. The John Wooden national high school player of the year spurned some of the top programs in the country to join Staley.
- China Crosby , 5-5, Virginia: The New York City native is going to make big contributions for the Cavaliers right away. A talented point guard who can also score, Crosby will take some pressure off All-America guard Monica Wright.
- Elena Delle Donne , 6-5, Delaware: After a year away from basketball this former national high school player of the year is playing again for the Blue Hens. She will be tough to guard with her size and ability to shoot.
- Skylar Diggins , 5-9, Notre Dame: The Big East preseason rookie of the year, Diggins will fit right in with a very talented Notre Dame roster. She has the versatility to play several positions, and coach Muffet McGraw already has called Diggins the best player she's ever recruited.
- Kelly Faris , 5-11, Connecticut: The Huskies have had a lot of success over the past few years with freshmen. Faris, the lone true first-year player on the team, already has impressed coach Geno Auriemma with her basketball knowledge and leadership.
NOV. 15
Baylor-Tennessee:
Phenom freshman Brittney Griner will introduce herself to the nation. Baylor drew 6,000 fans for its opening exhibition game, all wanting to see the YouTube sensation throw one down. What better place for a debut than at the most storied program in women's basketball.
DEC. 3
Ohio State-Duke: The highlight of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Buckeyes return preseason All-America center Jantel Lavender and star guard Samantha Prahalis. Duke coach Joanne P. McCallie is excited about her team and its tough schedule. The Blue Devils will play Ohio State, Stanford and Connecticut.
DEC. 19-20
Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic: Although it doesn't get the attention of some of the other contests, this one features Arizona State, Baylor, Texas A&M and Gonzaga. A victory or two could go a long way toward garnering attention for the Zags and star player Courtney Vandersloot.
DEC. 23
Stanford-Connecticut: The East-West matchup between the top two teams in women's college basketball will take place in Storrs right before the holidays. Although the Cardinal will be the Huskies' first real test, Stanford already will have played big games against Duke and Tennessee.
FEB. 8, FEB. 28
North Carolina-Duke: No matter how good or bad these two squads are, it's always a battle between the Tobacco Road rivals. Sylvia Hatchell calls this her most athletic team ever at North Carolina, and Duke will continue to try controlling the tempo and pace of the game.
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