UConn takes over the top spot in the Sport Tours International/Hoopfeed NCAA DI Top 25 Poll; Gonzaga enters at No. 24

By Cheryl Coward

UConn moves up to No. 1 while Gonzaga’s win over Stanford propels the Zags in the rankings

The Her Hoop Stats Breakdown || Voting panel

UConn’s win over Notre Dame (7-1) on Sunday resulted in a changing of the guard at the top of this week’s Sport Tours International/Hoopfeed Poll. The Huskies garnered all the first-place votes from the poll’s panel. The Fighting Irish slipped to No. 2, falling out of the top spot for the first time this season.

Freshman guard Christyn Williams led the charge for undefeated UConn (8-0), finishing with a career-high 28 points.

The remaining top ten: Oregon, Baylor, Louisville, Mississippi State, Maryland, Oregon State, Tennessee and NC State.

No. 11 Stanford (6-1) fell three spots to exit the top ten after suffering a loss to WCC juggernaut Gonzaga (8-1) in Spokane on Sunday. For their efforts the Zags entered the poll at No. 24. Gonzaga continues its series against Pac-12 squads when the team hosts Washington State on Dec. 9. The only loss for the Zags came against Notre Dame over the Thanksgiving holiday at the Vancouver Showcase.

Tennessee (6-0) entered the top ten at No. 9. The Lady Vols had a good week with a road victory at Oklahoma State handing the Cowgirls their first loss of the season.

Undefeated NC State (8-0) closes the top ten after a week in which the Wolfpack dominated Old Dominion 85-56 on Sunday.

Minnesota experienced the biggest leap in the rankings landing at No. 13. With former WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist Lindsay Whalen leading the Gophers, the team remains undefeated at 7-0 with an impressive outing against Syracuse Thursday night resulting in a 72-68 victory for Minnesota. The Gophers followed that up with a win over Air Force on Sunday.

DePaul (5-3) and South Carolina (4-4) were the biggest losers when it came to movement in the rankings. The Blue Demons fell to No. 21 from No. 16. UConn routed DePaul 99-63 on Wednesday night.

With four losses on the books, South Carolina dropped to No. 22 from No. 18. The Gamecocks lost at home to Baylor on Sunday, 94-69.

Miami (7-2) also stumbled four spots, ending up at No. 25. The Hurricanes lost to Purdue Thursday before recovering to defeat Colorado on Sunday.

• Teams receiving votes: Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Iowa State, South Florida, South Dakota, West Virginia, Utah, Southern California.
• Dropped out: Texas A&M, Iowa State.

Sport Tours International/Hoopfeed NCAA DI Top 25 Poll for Dec. 4, 2018

The STI/Hoopfeed Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of media members and other women’s basketball professionals. Total points are based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25^th.

This week’s AP Poll || USA Today Coaches Poll

The Her Hoop Stats Statistical Breakdown

The Her Hoop Stats staff provides some interesting statistical insight on teams in the top 25 and programs received votes in the poll.
Glossary

UConn  – Suffocating Defense

• 0.78 opponent points per scoring attempt is 7th in the country.
• 32.2% opponent field goal percentage is 9th in the country.
• 31.4 net points per game is 3rd in the country.

Mississippi State – Dominance

• 46.4 average margin of victory is 1st in the country
• 51.7% offensive rebounding rate is 1st in the country
• 8.0 blocks per game is 1st in the country

Louisville – Steady Offense

• 50.2% field goal percentage is 7th in the country.
• 1.21 points per scoring attempt is 5th in the country.

Notre Dame – Efficient Scoring

• 88.6 points per game is 5th in the country.
• 48.5% field goal percentage is 12th in the country.

Baylor – All Around Dominance

• 55.9% field goal percentage is 1st in the country.
• 76.5% defensive rebounding rate is 7th in the country.
• 18.2% block rate is 3rd in the country.

Oregon – No Free Points

• 1.90 assist to turnover ratio is 1st in the country.
• 8.9% opponent free throw rate is 2nd in the country.

Oregon State – Team Ball

• 19.9 assists per game is 10th in the country.
• 1.40 assist to turnover ratio is 10th in the country.

Maryland – Share The Wealth

• 19.1 assists per game is 14th in the country.
• Three players in double-digit scoring.
• Two players in top 10% for points per scoring attempt.

Tennessee – Generating Extra Chances

• 14.2 steals per game is 2nd in the country.
• 47.0% offensive rebounding rate is 5th in the country.

Stanford – Paint Presence

• 33.3% opponent two-point shooting percentage is 4th in the country.
• 15.9% block rate is 6th in the country.
• 16.0% opponent offensive rebounding rate is 2nd in the country.

NC State – Protect The Ball

• 1.6 opponent blocks per game is 21st in the country.
• 1.13 assist to turnover ratio is top 10% in the country.

Syracuse – Solid Play, Tough Opponents

• Games against top teams like Oregon (L, 75-73), Texas A&M (W, 75-65),
  and Minnesota mean stats don’t look as impressive.
• Held Oregon to season low 75 points.

Drake – Everybody Eats

• 22.1 assists per game is 4th in the country.
• 77.0% assisted shot rate is 2nd in the country.
• Three players in top 8% in assists per game.

Minnesota – Easy Does It

• 71.1 possessions per 40 minutes is in bottom 60% of the country.
• 50.4 opponent points per game is 5th in the country.
• 14.7% points from three-point range is the 9th lowest in the country.

DePaul – Let It Fly

• 47.2% of points are from three which is 3rd most in the country.
• 49.9% of shots are from three which is 2nd in the country.

Iowa – High Scoring, But Deliberate

• 87.7 points per game is 3rd in the country.
• 72.7 possessions per 40 minutes is in the bottom 75 percent of the country.
• 54.9% field goal percentage is 2nd in the country.
• 1.27 points per scoring attempt is 2nd in the country.

Texas – Clean Defense

• 32.4% opponent field goal percentage is 11th in the country.
• 0.78 opponent points per scoring attempt is 6th in the country.
• 20.6% foul rate is in the top 9% in the country.

Missouri – Stifling Defense

• 7.1 opponent assists per game is 2nd in the country.
• 70.0% defensive rebounding rate is top 26% in the country.

Marquette – Clean Offense

• 14.8% turnover rate is 18th in the country.
• 1.48 assist to turnover ratio is 7th in the country.
• 5.5% opponent steal rate is 2nd in the country.

Arizona State – Role Players

• Scorer – Kianna Ibis is averaging 12.7 points per game, which is in the top 33% of the country.
• Passer – Reili Richardson is averaging 5.0 assists per game, which is in the top 10% of the country.
• Rebounder – Sophia Elenga is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, which is in the top 10% of the country.
• Facilitator – Jamie Ruden’s usage rate of 34.2% is in the top 10% of the country.
• Dead-Eye – Jamie Loera’s points per scoring attempt of 1.27 is in the top 10% in the country.

South Carolina – Limit Scoring Chances

• 11.2 steals per game is 35th in the country.
• 7.0 blocks per game is 4th in the country.

Kentucky – Turnover Margin Is Key

• 30.5% opponent turnover rate is 1st in the country.
• 18.3% steal rate is 2nd in the country.
• 14.6% turnover rate is 16th in the country.

California – Rebounding Power

• 41.7% offensive rebounding rate is top 50% in the country.
• 74.2% defensive rebounding rate is 21st in the country.

Texas A&M – Protect The Paint

• 12.9% block rate is 26th in the country.

Gonzaga – Win The Turnover Battle

• 13.5 turnovers per game is 35th in the country.
• 15.0% steal rate is 36th in the country.

West Virginia – Pick Your Poison

Four players averaging 13.0 or more points per game.

• Tynice Martin– 18.0 points per game.
• Kysre Gondrezick – 13.8 points per game.
• Naomi Davenport – 13.7 points per game.
• Katrina Pardee – 13.0 points per game.

Miami – Double-Double Machine

• Beatrice Mompremier is averaging 15.2 points per game and 11.2 points per game.
• Mompremier is in the top 6% in the country in both categories.

Voting Panel

• Mel Greenberg
• Joan Bonvicini
• Prentice Beverly
• Brenda VanLengen
• Charles Hallman
• Rhiannon Potkey
• Kristopher Gardner
• Jenn Hatfield (for Her Hoop Stats)
• Cindy Brunson
• Kevin Danna
• Jacob Rayburn
• Jasmine Baker
• Ben Parker
• Viet Nguyen
• Michael Roberson
• Lisa Bodine
• LaChina Robinson
• Ari Chambers
• Cheryl Coward