2008 Woodie Awards
Women's Basketball Homeroom, 1/29
Kris Knowlton
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: Sports
1. Baylor (18-1 overall, 6-0 Big 12 Conference)
The Lady Bears lead the conference in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, and it showed last week when they held both Missouri and Nebraska under 57 points. Baylor should be the only remaining undefeated team in Big 12 play after it faces Kansas State this weekend.
2. Oklahoma (13-4, 3-2)
The Sooners showed their strength in a 78-39 thrashing of Texas Tech last week and in a win over a good Georgia team on national television. Oklahoma should win its next four against Big 12 opponents before the big showdown against Baylor on Feb. 17.
3. Kansas State (14-5, 6-0)
The Wildcats could cement themselves as the best team in the conference with wins over Nebraska and Baylor this week. That's a pretty tall task. Kansas State's run thus far has been impressive, but don't be surprised if two of the best teams in the conference knock it back down this week.
4. Oklahoma State (16-3, 4-2)
The Cowgirls dropped all the way from No. 2 in the rankings because they lost their first two conference games of the year last week to Kansas State and Texas, but it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. Oklahoma State should rebound against a struggling Colorado team this week, but next week's match-up against Baylor isn't very promising.
5. Nebraska (15-5, 4-2)
The Cornhuskers did what they needed to do to remain at this spot by winning one of two last week against Texas A&M. Nebraska will face Kansas State and the lowly Missouri Tigers this week. NU should feel pretty good about hosting the over-achieving Wildcats on Wednesday and might even be able to crack the top three next week if a few upsets around the Big 12 fall its way.
6. Texas (15-5, 3-3)
The Longhorns really needed that big victory over Oklahoma State last week to give them confidence moving forward. However, confidence alone won't be able to save Texas from dropping back-to-back games against Baylor and Oklahoma this week.
7. Texas Tech (14-6, 2-4)
Losing to Oklahoma isn't that bad, but only scoring 39 points in a loss to Oklahoma is. Texas Tech has the only player in the conference who can even think about contesting Oklahoma's Courtney Paris on their roster. Still, the Red Raiders beat Colorado handily after that loss and just might be the best of the rest in this conference.
8. Colorado (13-6, 2-4)
Colorado has dug itself in a pretty formidable hole for a team that was once ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Buffaloes must beat Iowa State this week and then at least split their next two against Oklahoma State and Nebraska to stay in the hunt. Why? Because Colorado will almost surely lose to Baylor in their next game after those match-ups against the Cowgirls and Cornhuskers.
9. Texas A&M (14-6, 2-4)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once ranked as high as 12th in the country, the Aggies are falling apart in conference play. There's no doubt they have talent in Takia Starks and Danielle Gant, but if they don't win against Texas Tech this Saturday, the Aggies may never rise back up.
10. Iowa State (12-6, 1-4)
The Cyclones played Nebraska pretty tough in a loss last week, but an embarrassing 31-point loss to Kansas State really hurts them here. However, Iowa State is not as bad as this ranking would suggest and don't be surprised if they go 2-0 this week against Colorado and Kansas.
11. Kansas (12-7, 1-5)
The Jayhawks desperately need a signature win to avoid battling Missouri for the "Worst Team in the Conference" award at the end of the year. Don't expect that big win to come this week against Oklahoma, but it's still an important week for Kansas because they need every "W" they can get.
12. Missouri (8-11, 1-5)
Nothing looks very promising for the Tigers at this point. They lost by 20 points to Baylor and 30 to Texas last week. The desperate Aggies and the stingy Cornhuskers that Mizzou is slated to face this week probably won't show any sympathy either.
- Compiled by staff writer Kris Knowlton
The Lady Bears lead the conference in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, and it showed last week when they held both Missouri and Nebraska under 57 points. Baylor should be the only remaining undefeated team in Big 12 play after it faces Kansas State this weekend.
2. Oklahoma (13-4, 3-2)
The Sooners showed their strength in a 78-39 thrashing of Texas Tech last week and in a win over a good Georgia team on national television. Oklahoma should win its next four against Big 12 opponents before the big showdown against Baylor on Feb. 17.
3. Kansas State (14-5, 6-0)
The Wildcats could cement themselves as the best team in the conference with wins over Nebraska and Baylor this week. That's a pretty tall task. Kansas State's run thus far has been impressive, but don't be surprised if two of the best teams in the conference knock it back down this week.
4. Oklahoma State (16-3, 4-2)
The Cowgirls dropped all the way from No. 2 in the rankings because they lost their first two conference games of the year last week to Kansas State and Texas, but it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. Oklahoma State should rebound against a struggling Colorado team this week, but next week's match-up against Baylor isn't very promising.
5. Nebraska (15-5, 4-2)
The Cornhuskers did what they needed to do to remain at this spot by winning one of two last week against Texas A&M. Nebraska will face Kansas State and the lowly Missouri Tigers this week. NU should feel pretty good about hosting the over-achieving Wildcats on Wednesday and might even be able to crack the top three next week if a few upsets around the Big 12 fall its way.
6. Texas (15-5, 3-3)
The Longhorns really needed that big victory over Oklahoma State last week to give them confidence moving forward. However, confidence alone won't be able to save Texas from dropping back-to-back games against Baylor and Oklahoma this week.
7. Texas Tech (14-6, 2-4)
Losing to Oklahoma isn't that bad, but only scoring 39 points in a loss to Oklahoma is. Texas Tech has the only player in the conference who can even think about contesting Oklahoma's Courtney Paris on their roster. Still, the Red Raiders beat Colorado handily after that loss and just might be the best of the rest in this conference.
8. Colorado (13-6, 2-4)
Colorado has dug itself in a pretty formidable hole for a team that was once ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Buffaloes must beat Iowa State this week and then at least split their next two against Oklahoma State and Nebraska to stay in the hunt. Why? Because Colorado will almost surely lose to Baylor in their next game after those match-ups against the Cowgirls and Cornhuskers.
9. Texas A&M (14-6, 2-4)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Once ranked as high as 12th in the country, the Aggies are falling apart in conference play. There's no doubt they have talent in Takia Starks and Danielle Gant, but if they don't win against Texas Tech this Saturday, the Aggies may never rise back up.
10. Iowa State (12-6, 1-4)
The Cyclones played Nebraska pretty tough in a loss last week, but an embarrassing 31-point loss to Kansas State really hurts them here. However, Iowa State is not as bad as this ranking would suggest and don't be surprised if they go 2-0 this week against Colorado and Kansas.
11. Kansas (12-7, 1-5)
The Jayhawks desperately need a signature win to avoid battling Missouri for the "Worst Team in the Conference" award at the end of the year. Don't expect that big win to come this week against Oklahoma, but it's still an important week for Kansas because they need every "W" they can get.
12. Missouri (8-11, 1-5)
Nothing looks very promising for the Tigers at this point. They lost by 20 points to Baylor and 30 to Texas last week. The desperate Aggies and the stingy Cornhuskers that Mizzou is slated to face this week probably won't show any sympathy either.
- Compiled by staff writer Kris Knowlton
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