Top 25 hopes for Lady Griz

[Grizbacker1]

I am not sure that Ali Hurley is really considering Montana very much if at all. She has many larger schools interested, and as of right now her favorite has the initials UofA.

She may or may not. Arizona has a very good coach, but they haven't really done much on a National level. Bonvicini holds a 266-182 (.594) record which is very good, but nothing earth shattering. I would think Hurley could go a lot of places and play. If she goes out of state, I hope she is very successful. I don't think it is anywhere close to certain that Tinkle will play at Montana either, but I sure hope she does.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Back on subject of this thread, Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Back on subject of this thread, Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

Tinkle or Hurley becoming future LG would have a definite impact on Top 25 possibilitites, which is why they are included in the thread.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Back on subject of this thread, Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

The LG are 31st in the AP Poll.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Back on subject of this thread, Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

The LG are 31st in the AP Poll.

Yeah, 31st, but the spread is kind of huge, and AP sportswriters tend to shy away faster from a team after it loses more than the coaches do. Likely because coaches may know more about the 1 bad game factor.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Back on subject of this thread, Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

Tinkle or Hurley becoming future LG would have a definite impact on Top 25 possibilitites, which is why they are included in the thread.

I realize that.

But Mandy is the big reason Lady Griz are this close to top 25.

By time Hurley and Tinkle come to UM (if they do), mandy will be gone. Lauren Beck will likely be the player at point replacing Mandy. But Beck either won't have the strength to do the things Mandy did, or will really need to hit the weight room to gain the strength so she can do some of the things Mandy can do.
Shooting, passing, defense, Beck can or will match Mandy. But creating fouls because of her strength is not one of one those unless she can do it in the weight room.

Or, hopefully, some of the 9 scholarships available in next two years go to a player with similar athletic traits as Mandy. One of the traits Lady Griz lack when compared to teams like Ohio State is how much more physical and strong they were.

How Selvig uses those 9 scholarships in next two years, is very important in the future of Lady Griz. Heck, even more important is the four next year.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.

The LG are 31st in the AP Poll.

And as 'Grizbacker1" has noticed, #31 in the AP Poll.

Should be in better position by tournament time for post-season play if we go and win our next nine games. Heard that the WNIT has expanded to 48 teams this year. If we don't go NCAA then we'd have to go and win the WNIT just to make it worth our while.

 

[Grizbacker1]

Lady Griz now ranked #26 in coaches poll, just 6 votes short of top 25.

Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.

The LG are 31st in the AP Poll.

And as 'Grizbacker1" has noticed, #31 in the AP Poll.

Should be in better position by tournament time for post-season play if we go and win our next nine games. Heard that the WNIT has expanded to 48 teams this year. If we don't go NCAA then we'd have to go and win the WNIT just to make it worth our while.

I don't know if you saw the article in the Missoulian, but Selvig said the LG would likely have to win all the rest of their league games, then if the ost in the BSC Tournament, they MIGHT get an at large, but he wouldn't count on it. That tells you what his experience has been. As for the WNIT, I know Rob isn't a big fan of it, I think the LG may have skipped it one year when it actually was a losing proposition financially to go. Bottom line, the LG need to win the tourney, may as well start out winning the BSC and hosting in front of one of the best crowds in the country.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

.....
Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.....

Nope, Ranked number 26 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll for week #13. If there is another coaches poll, I haven't found it.

 

[Grizbacker1]

.....
Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.....

Nope, Ranked number 26 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll for week #13. If there is another coaches poll, I haven't found it.

If you didn't see the AP Poll where the LG are #31 then go to ESPN.com and women's college basketball rankings, it is plain as day :thumb:

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

.....
Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.....

Nope, Ranked number 26 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll for week #13. If there is another coaches poll, I haven't found it.

If you didn't see the AP Poll where the LG are #31 then go to ESPN.com and women's college basketball rankings, it is plain as day :thumb:

I have seen the AP/sportswriters poll earlier today. That is where I got the USATODAY/Coaches poll. which are listed side by side on ESPN. REALLY HARD TO MISS BOTH. Just because I didn't mention it, doesn't mean I didn't see it.

 

[Grizbacker1]

.....
Isn't it #26 in the USA Today Week #13 Poll?...and #28 in the Coaches Poll.....

Nope, Ranked number 26 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll for week #13. If there is another coaches poll, I haven't found it.

If you didn't see the AP Poll where the LG are #31 then go to ESPN.com and women's college basketball rankings, it is plain as day :thumb:

I have seen the AP/sportswriters poll earlier today. That is where I got the USATODAY/Coaches poll. which are listed side by side on ESPN. REALLY HARD TO MISS BOTH. Just because I didn't mention it, doesn't mean I didn't see it.

I posted what I did based on YOUR post. :dance:

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

would have a definite impact on Top 25 possibilitites,

I'd feel a lot more comfortable about breaking into the Top 25 if we were signing players of this caliber:

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=209&p=8&c=1&nid=1980031

...#1 prospect in the nation for the Class of 2008 (junior this year), five-star rated listed as a 'guard,' standing anywheres from 6' 3" to 6' 5," getting offers already from Connecticut, Duke, Maryland, Tennessee, etc.
Them top twenty teams are 'packed' with four and five star type players. To contend with those types of teams requires plenty of disciplined team work and above average shooting (including free throws no less) when on offense by the lower tier type teams. Though some of those mid-majors are recently doing pretty well, recruiting some players that could play at a higher level but wherein there may not be any room on the bench for, it's to remain to be seen, even someone like Creighton recently signed one of the best players out of South Dakota, Jill Young, that averaged thirty-three points a game.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

Nope, Ranked number 26 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll for week #13. If there is another coaches poll, I haven't found it.

If you didn't see the AP Poll where the LG are #31 then go to ESPN.com and women's college basketball rankings, it is plain as day :thumb:

I have seen the AP/sportswriters poll earlier today. That is where I got the USATODAY/Coaches poll. which are listed side by side on ESPN. REALLY HARD TO MISS BOTH. Just because I didn't mention it, doesn't mean I didn't see it.

I posted what I did based on YOUR post. :dance:

I thought so, but the AP is a sporstwriter poll, not a coaches poll. WyomingGriz refered to a coaches poll ranking Lady Griz #28. The AP has them at 31, USATODAY has them at 26. So what poll has them at #28? It's not found on ESPN. Although, I think I just thought of it. Lady Griz were ranked #28 in the USATODAY/Coaches poll last week.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

I believe it's on http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/polls

...that I found the AP Poll and Coaches Poll that I had posted earlier. LG ranked #31 and #28 respectively.

 

[GrizBBIsKing]

I believe it's on http://msn.foxsports.com/wcbk/polls

...that I found the AP Poll and Coaches Poll that I had posted earlier. LG ranked #31 and #28 respectively.

That is the same coaches poll that is on EPSN, but it is the previous week's coaches poll for week covering Jan. 22 to 28th. If you compare the poll in your link, and the one in this link which the poll for week 12:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/rankingsindex?week=12&year=2007

They are the same. msn.Foxsports.com hasn't updated their site with the latest coaches poll as they have week 12. EPSN.com has week 13 (the latest covering Jan 29th to feb. 4th), and has Lady Griz #26, gaining 6 more votes. Here is the link for week 13:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/rankingsindex

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

I've had trouble recently accessing the 'Ranking Index' on ESPN, all I draw is a blank page, for some reason or another.

If what you say is true, for the week #13 having the LG @ #26, then I'am all for it. Hope there's a steady climb for the rest of the season into the post-season tournaments.

Here's one player that i'd like to watch play no matter for which college she's going to:

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=209&p=8&c=1&nid=2659526

 

[Grizfan-24]

A few things to remember...

As far as womens teams go, our Womens team is a Mid-Major. We aren't the Gonzaga of womens basketball, but could be if we get the right combination of players. Outside of Montana though, how many girls are dreaming of becoming a "Lady Griz" versus a Blue Devil, Volunteer. I know that is polyanna to believe that many kids dream of becoming a Griz that are top flight atheletes. Now someone like Morales could give us National vision again that our program had 10 or so years ago. Remember we constantly stole players from the University of Washington, Oregon and others.

In order to have a great chance of getting Hurley, Tinkle and others, being in the top 25 over the next two or three years wouldn't hurt. As competitive as Montana was for girls talent 15 years ago, it isn't nearly as much anymore. Both Hurley and Tinkle are National talents, not only Montana talents. Getting them would be great, but I also understand that the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford have an alure on the national stage and I wouldn't blame either or both of them if they made that choice.

 

[Grizbacker1]

A few things to remember...

As far as womens teams go, our Womens team is a Mid-Major. We aren't the Gonzaga of womens basketball, but could be if we get the right combination of players. Outside of Montana though, how many girls are dreaming of becoming a "Lady Griz" versus a Blue Devil, Volunteer. I know that is polyanna to believe that many kids dream of becoming a Griz that are top flight atheletes. Now someone like Morales could give us National vision again that our program had 10 or so years ago. Remember we constantly stole players from the University of Washington, Oregon and others.

In order to have a great chance of getting Hurley, Tinkle and others, being in the top 25 over the next two or three years wouldn't hurt. As competitive as Montana was for girls talent 15 years ago, it isn't nearly as much anymore. Both Hurley and Tinkle are National talents, not only Montana talents. Getting them would be great, but I also understand that the University of Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford have an alure on the national stage and I wouldn't blame either or both of them if they made that choice.

I don't agree with that assessment as far as Montana being a Mid-Major in Women's Basketball because there is no Mid Major Division, except Swimming I believe. Perhaps you don't mean Mid Major on a literal basis.

When we got players that might have gone to UW, Oregon, or OSU, those programs were not national caliber either. In fact, UW didn't make much improvement until former Boise State Coach June Daugherty and her hubby took over that program. Former msu Coach Spoelstra headed to Corvallis to take over the OSU program. Daugherty landed the big girl out of Bozeman that had an outstanding career at UW.

The Lady Griz have more than held their own against many of the schools you may consider Majors, ie, the following:

Utah has been a top 25 team many years. Lady Griz record against them: 12 wins 9 losses

Washington 8 wins 11 losses

Washington State 19 wins 9 losses

Wyoming 5 wins 2 losses

Stanford 2 wins 2 losses

Syracuse 2 wins 0 losses

Nevada 14 wins 1 loss

UNLV 1 win 0 losses

Nebraska 2 wins 2 losses

Gonzaga 16 wins 7 losses

Iowa State 2 wins 0 losses

Colorado State 3 wins 3 losses

Iowa 1 win 1 loss

BYU 8 wins 3 losses

Florida State 1 win 1 loss

Tennessee 0 wins 2 losses ( 1 of the losses was only 6 points in a year the Vols went to the Final Four)

 

[Grizfan-24]

I wasn't being literal, and I am not oblivious to Lady Griz history either. This year is the first time since the early 90's that a national ranking has come into the equation. I made the allusion to Gonzaga, because certainly with the right turn events, the lady griz while even in the woeful BSC, could again return to a national level. Now, are they going to be title contenders? Probably not, but with the right recruiting we could return to the sweet 16 for the first time in ages.

While Oregon, Washington weren't on the national stage then, they certainly are now to a certain degree. Womens basketball certainly is more like the mens, where power conferences get the lions share of talent.

I remember the game against L-Tech a few years ago, in which the Lady Griz were so very close at pulling that game off. For most D-1 teams, I don't think the LG are the far away from beating a lot of teams. However they are light years from beating Maryland, Duke, Ohio State or N carolina.

I like the Gonzaga case the most, because with two players they were able to forever transform their program into a national one. Now is ali hurley and joscelyn tinkle those two? I don't know, but I am quite sure Morales is. In fact I am pretty sure, barring some major injury, Morales will have bigger impact on the LG program that Rodney Stuckey will at EWU.

But anyway, GB your point is well taken and I think we both recognize what the LG program was twenty years ago and what it could be w/ the right combination of players and success at the national level.