Despite UConn continuing its undefeated season by blowing out Villanova in the Big East Tournament Championship game, not everyone thinks the Huskies are the best team in the country.
In the latest USA TODAY Sports’ women’s basketball coaches poll, UConn is no longer the unanimous No. 1 team. One coach on the panel believes that UCLA is the best team in the country.
And there’s a legitimate argument to be made for the Bruins, after they comfortably beat Iowa by 51 points in the title game of the Big Ten Tournament on Sunday, March 8. UCLA has 18 Quad 1 wins – which is 10 more than UConn – and it is No. 1 in WAB (wins above bubble) while UConn is fourth. The Bruins are also first in strength-of-schedule based on the average NET rating of their opponents, while UConn is 58th.
Heading into Selection Sunday, UConn is first in the coaches poll, UCLA is second, Texas is third and South Carolina is fourth. And that’s likely how the No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament will shake out as well, according to the latest bracketology from USA TODAY Sports.
Elsewhere in the poll, Duke was the biggest riser, gaining four spots to check in at No. 10 after beating Louisville in the ACC Tournament Championship in Duluth, Georgia. Maryland and Baylor each fell three spots after suffering early exits in their conference tournaments.
Alabama fell out of the poll and Notre Dame jumped in at No. 25 after advancing to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. The Fighting Irish had been ranked as high as 13th this season, but hadn’t appeared in the poll since Jan. 13.
Rhode Island, Fairfield, Rice and South Dakota State were among the mid-major teams that also received votes.