With Selection Sunday just slightly more than five weeks away, here's our prediction for which teams will be in Philadelphia for the Final Four (with records and RPI before Wednesday's games):
Connecticut Huskies
Overall record: 19-0. Record vs. Top 25: 9-0.
Rankings: No. 1 ESPN/USA Today; No. 1 AP.
WBCA/Summerville RPI: No. 1, 0.7265 RPI (based on 25 percent winning percentage, 50 percent schedule strength and 25 percent for opponents' winning percentage).
The Dish says: The last time the Huskies made it this deep into the season with an unbeaten record, they didn't lose until the Midwest Regional Final game. The time before that, in 1995, the Huskies ran the table, posting a perfect 35-0 record en route to the program's first national championship. That's the direction UConn seems headed in 2000. Not only are the Huskies unbeaten, they also are battle-tested, beating nine top-25 opponents along the way. Depth and balance are other keys; despite outscoring opponents by an average of 29.6 points, not a single Husky ranks among the nation's top 50 scorers. And here's a treat: The last team to beat both Tennessee and Louisiana Tech in the same season was Purdue, in 1999. Of course, the Boilermakers also went on to win the national title last season.
Georgia Lady Bulldogs
Overall record: 21-2. Record vs. Top 25: 5-2.
Rankings: No. 2 ESPN/USA Today; No. 3 AP.
WBCA/Summerville RPI: No. 3, 0.6959.
The Dish says: After finding a way to San Jose last March, and suffering no significant losses from that team, Andy Landers' crew seems destined for Philly. Kelly Miller continues to put up quality numbers, and last week moved up to the No. 10 and No. 5 positions on the Bulldogs' career scoring and assists leaders (passing players like Saudia Roundtree), respectively. The Bulldogs' inside game has been buffed up as well, as Deana Nolan showed us against Tennessee. Most impressive is Georgia's 17-1 record on the road or neutral sites. In January, Georgia went 21-2, a mark that included just five home games. The Bulldogs, who already won the Preseason WNIT title, last week also became the first team this season to post 20 wins.
Tennessee Lady Vols
Overall record: 16-3. Record vs. Top 25: 5-3.
Rankings: No. 4 ESPN/USA Today; No. 4 AP.
WBCA/Summerville RPI: No. 2, 0.7093.
The Dish says: Despite some recent struggles, particularly at the point guard position, Tennessee is Tennessee, meaning that the Lady Vols and coach Pat Summitt are the one team across the country you can't ever count out. After all, Summitt's the same coach that led the Lady Vols to the 1997 national title, despite a 23-10 record as Tennessee opened NCAA Tournament play. No team had ever won a national title coming in with more than six losses. And when it comes down to it, the Lady Vols still have two All-Americans on the team, and this Meek link is another reason Tennessee can't be overlooked -- or underestimated.
Penn State Lady Lions
Overall record: 18-4. Record vs. Top 25: 4-2.
Rankings: No. 6 ESPN/USA Today; No. 6 AP.
WBCA/Summerville RPI: No. 4, 0.6722.
The Dish says: After losing 87-74 to UConn on Dec. 5, the Lady Lions won 12 straight games, picking up wins over then-No. 6 Auburn, then-No. 12 Purdue and then-No. 12 Illinois along the way. And although unranked Michigan State stopped the streak last week, Penn State looked impressive on the journey. Four players are averaging at least 10 points, the Lions are outscoring foes by an average of 18 points and shooting 44.6 percent from the field as a team. And with seniors like Andrea Garner and Helen Darling leading the way -- not to mention coach Rene Portland -- the Lions have what it takes to give their coach a trip back "home" (Portland helped lead Immaculata, located just outside of Philly, to three straight AIAW national titles in the 1970s).
