There’s nothing like a textbook UConn demolition of a Top 10 opponent to strike the familiar pangs of inevitability at the start of a new season.
All five Huskies starters scored in double figures in a 100-56 win at seventh-ranked Ohio State on Monday. But some other results around the country more than hinted at a season that may have plenty more surprises in store.
Florida overcame a 15-point deficit to topple No. 6 Florida State 82-72. The Seminoles may have lost much more than that, however, as All-American guard candidate Leticia Romero went out late in the game with a high ankle sprain.
Later Monday, new North Texas coach Jalie Mitchell celebrated her first win in upsetting fashion, as the Mean Green knocked off No. 17 Oklahoma 61-57 in Norman.
And in an all-New Jersey battle on Monday, Seton Hall crushed Rutgers 77-49 in their first regular season meeting since both teams were in the old Big East.
Over the weekend, North Carolina went down twice at home, losing its opener on a last-second shot to Gardner-Webb, then falling to Oregon 79-77. The Tar Heels, who had been ranked No. 22, have been reeling since the spring, when Stephanie Mavunga, Allisha Gray and Jessica Washington transferred, and an investigation into allegations of academic fraud cut close to the women’s program.
Another ACC team stumbled at home, as eighth-ranked Louisville lost to California 75-71. Duke, ranked 14th, had to dig out a 57-50 win at Penn to start the season.
It’s hard to see to UConn getting ensared in any of those scenarios. In fact, the Huskies were impressive even by their own high standards, playing like rounding-into-March form with some withering defense. Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State’s star guard who led the nation in scoring last year as a freshmen, picked up two early fouls and was never a factor.
She scored only eight points, missing double figures for the first time in her college career. Mitchell’s high-scoring backcourt mate, Ameryst Alston, was limited to seven points.
But give Ohio State, which opened the season with a close loss at No. 2 South Carolina, credit for its early schedule. Coach Kevin McGuff got some good news before the UConn game when 6-4 post Tori McCoy of St. Thomas More HS in Champaign, Ill., the No. 7 Blue Star Report senior, announced she was signing with the Buckeyes.
Likewise, Florida State added another stellar recruit to its strong class on Monday when 6-3 forward Jasmine Walker of Montgomery, Ala., Jeff Davis HS (No. 41), signed with the Seminoles.
Maryland heads 2016 Blue Star Report Recruit List
As the November signing period has illustrated, recruiting parity continues in the women’s game, as it has for a good dozen years or so. The talent is being spread out among more and more elite schools. Several Pac 12 teams did well for themselves, especially Oregon, where Kelly Graves has the fourth-best class in the nation. The Ducks also are competing with Cal for Sabrina Ionescu, Blue Star’s No. 4 senior, the top remaining unsigned player.
Programs like Dayton, South Florida, Seton Hall, George Washington, Chattanooga, Florida Gulf Coast and James Madison, among others, are demonstrating staying power with Power 5 conferences.
Everybody’s getting used to a bevy of rules changes that coaches have been eagerly anticipating. Louisville coach Jeff Walz said after the opening loss to Cal that those changes might have been a factor with a very young team he’s breaking in.
But he’s been one of the most enthusiastic coaches embracing the changes. I was skeptical of the move to four quarters, but that’s just my usual grousing at what I think is change for the sake of change.
I’m not sure switching to quarters will speed up the game for everybody, and I really don’t like the advance the ball rule in the final minute.
It’s hard to get a feel for this now after only a few games, but I was interested to see Jay Bilas Tweeting approval for some of the changes during the UConn-Ohio State game: “Men’s hoop still clings to two halves like Moses carried it down from Mt. Sinai.”
There are plenty in the men’s game who may be watching a lot more of “women’s hoop” this season, anticipating some of these rules might carry over to their side of the aisle soon.
I was even more interested in the rules changes that Geno Auriemma got approval for in a Huskies exhibition game that included a wider (16-foot) lane, 24-second shot clock, 8-second timeline, the FIBA 3-point distance (22 feet instead of the 20-foot, nine-inch NCAA women’s distance) and the larger men’s ball, among other things.
This isn’t just about streamlining rules with the rest of the world. Auriemma’s been crowing about international rules for a while, since before becoming Team USA head coach, and for much more than just lowering the rims, a suggestion for which he received a tremendous amount of undeserved flak.
He’s not talking about rims now, but about a willingness to experiment, to see what can work to improve the game, and the level of competition. Since the Val Ackerman white paper was released two years ago, I’m starting to believe there’s a critical mass developing among coaches to do more than keep an open mind about a good number of issues, but also to take serious constructive action.
The latest rules changes may seem incremental and they may not affect the seeming inevitability of another UConn title for a while.
But in a sport that didn’t have a 10-second line until a couple of years ago, it’s a welcome sign to see so many coaches supporting these changes and the entertainment value they hope will result.
