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    • Which team enters as number 1?
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    Which team enters as number 1?

    Harry Posted on

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    Big 12 It enters the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season as one of the busiest conferences in the country. It boasts strong running back programs like Kansas State and Iowa State, but newcomers like Colorado and Utah are also looking to make some noise.

    With the season starting on Monday, it’s time to bring back the power rankings. Here are the first rankings:

    More: USA Today Sports Network preseason All-Big 12 women’s basketball, 2024-25 awards

    This week: vs. Green Bay (Monday); vs. Belmont (Thursday)

    What you need to know: The star of the show is 6-foot-10 graduate center Ayoka Lee, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year who dominates on both ends of the court. Kansas State returns four of its top five scorers, as well as Tulsa transfer forward Temira Poindexter, who earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors last season when she averaged 21 points per game. Kansas State doesn’t have many holes to poke in its game, making it the team to beat in the Big 12.

    This week: etc. Chicago State (Monday); vs. Indiana State (Thursday); vs South (Sunday)

    What you need to know: Audi Crooks is a bruising center who rose to stardom as a freshman in last season’s NCAA Tournament. hurricanes They’ll bottom feed her often, but they also have some shots with Marquette transfer Mackenzie Hare and Oregon State transfer Lily Hansford currently in the mix. Expectations are high for Iowa State.

    This week: Against the Incarnate Word (Thursday); in Oregon (Sunday)

    What you need to know: The loss of leading scorer Dre’Una Edwards is big, but Baylor returns double-digit scorers in Sarah Andrews and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs. Some forward presence was also added with the Colorado transfer of 6-3 center Aaronette Vonleh, who averaged 14 points and 5.1 rebounds last season. Kansas State and Iowa State may be the Big 12 frontrunners, but Baylor isn’t far behind.

    This week: vs. Towson (Tuesday); vs. Niagara (Saturday)

    What you need to know: The Mountaineers will once again be elite on defense with the returning guard duo of JJ Quinerly and Jordan Harrison, who led the Big 12 in steals per game (2.9) last season. They then added Long Beach State transfer guard Sydney Woodley, who ranked fifth nationally in steals per game (3.4) last season. So don’t dribble against West Virginia.

    This week: vs. Houston Christian (Tuesday); vs. New Orleans (Sunday)

    What you need to know: Senior center Sedona Prince and senior guard Madison Conner return after combining for 28.9 points per game last season. They will be joined by guard Hailey Van Lith, who was named the top transfer player by ESPN after averaging 11.6 points and 3.6 assists at LSU last season. This is a daunting Big Three and will look to lead TCU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.

    More: USA TODAY Sports Network Preseason All-Big 12 basketball team, coach and player of the year

    This week: at Wyoming (Monday); vs. Northern Colorado (Thursday); at Boise State (Sunday)

    What you need to know: Colorado lost three of its top four scorers, but senior guard Frida Formann returns after averaging 12.5 points on 42.1% shooting from last season. The team also had success in the transfer portal, adding veteran players such as Oklahoma State transfer guard Lior Garzon, Washington State transfer guard Johanna Teder and Iowa State transfer forward Nyamer Diew. buffaloes He should do well in the Big 12 right away.

    This week: vs. Southern Utah (Monday); vs. Weber State (Thursday)

    What you need to know: Alissa Pili led Utah in points (21.4) and rebounds (6.6) per game last season, but is now in the WNBA. Fortunately, Gianna Kneepkens and Kennady McQueen are two successful guards who joined us again. Rhode Island transfer forward Maye Toure and Michigan transfer forward Chyra Evans should also help on the boards.

    This week: vs. Lindenwood (Wednesday)

    What you need to know: Although Kansas lost All-Big 12 first-team center Taiyanna Jackson, it returned the other first-team All-Big 12 honoree in S’Mya Nichols. She will have a new scoring partner in North Dakota State transfer guard Elle Evans, who averaged 15.5 points on 45.7% shooting from deep last season. Still, the Jayhawks may be in a tough spot with Jackson and Holly Kersgieter no longer on the roster.

    This week: vs. UT Arlington (Monday); vs. Tarleton State (Thursday); at UC San Diego (Sunday)

    What you need to know: Arizona lost five of its top six scorers this summer. He later added Florida International transfer guard Ajae Yoakum, but suffered a left knee injury in July that will sideline him indefinitely. This is a tough time for the Wildcats, who will have to rely on two returning sophomores in Jada Williams and Breya Cunningham.

    This week: Against the Incarnate Word (Monday); vs. Houston Christian (Thursday)

    What you need to know: Texas Tech returns the junior guard duo of Jasmine Shavers and Bailey Maupin, who combined for 29.5 points per game last season. It also has the needed size with the addition of 6-6 Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer center Maya Peat, who averaged 10.5 points and 6.4 rebounds last season. That should help a Texas Tech team that ranks 10th in the Big 12 in points per game (64.9).

    This week: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Monday); etc. Oral Roberts (Thursday)

    What you need to know: OSU took a step back last season, but returns a promising sophomore guard in Stailee Heard and a dangerous three-point shooter in senior guard Anna Gret Asi. Also added is Seton Hall transfer guard Micah Gray, who averaged 11.9 points last season. Size is a concern with starting center Hannah Gusters leaving for UCF, but 6-6 Rhode Island transfer Tenin Magassa should help fill that void.

    This week: vs. Jacksonville State (Monday); vs. Arkansas State (Friday)

    What you need to know: Tyi Skinner averaged 19.3 points in the 2022-23 season after missing all of last season due to a knee injury. He now returns to join junior guard Jalyn Brown, who averaged a team-high 17.3 points last season. Arizona State also added a number of receivers through the portal, so I’m expecting a nice bounce-back season for Arizona State.

    This week: vs. Iona (Tuesday); vs. Marquette (Thursday)

    What you need to know: All-Big 12 second-team guard Kaitlin Peterson returns after averaging a conference-high 20.7 points last season. UCF also added a downward push when it landed Gusters from OSU. Despite finishing last season in last place in the Big 12, the Knights have reason to be optimistic this time around.

    This week: etc. Idaho (Wednesday); vs. Wyoming (Saturday)

    What you need to know: BYU is without All-Big 12 forward Lauren Gustin, who graduated after averaging 16.7 points and 15.3 rebounds last season. Kailey Woolston also had a 13.3 grade point average as a freshman but is leaving to serve an 18-month assignment. The offense will be led by sophomore guard Amari Whiting and senior forward Emma Calvert.

    This week: at UIC (Tuesday); etc. State of Delaware (Sunday)

    What you need to know: Cincinnati returns three of its top four scorers. That includes senior forward Jillian Hayes, who earned All-Big 12 honorable mention last season after averaging 12.9 points and 8.4 rebounds. Still, there’s a lot of work to be done after the Bearcats sit last in the conference in points per game (62.4).

    This week: vs. UTRGV (Tuesday); in Georgia (Friday)

    What you need to know: Houston returns senior guard Laila Blair, who earned All-Big 12 honorable mention last season after averaging 15.9 points. But a team that finished 13th in the conference standings didn’t hit the portal hard enough to earn a higher spot on this list. Of course, this situation may change with a good start to the season.

    Harry
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