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  • Gophers women’s basketball miss chance to reclaim spot in AP Top-25. – The Minnesota Daily


    Gophers women’s basketball squandered their opportunity to regain a top-25 ranking after falling 69-82 to No. 4 University of Southern California (USC) on Thursday. 

    Riding the best season start in program history and earning their first AP Top-25 ranking since 2019, the Gophers briefly held the No. 23 spot before falling out of the rankings after last week’s 65-70 loss to the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines.

    The Gophers struggled to match and combat the offensive energy of the Trojans early into the game, entering the second quarter with a 10-point deficit. Trojans sophomore guard JuJu Watkins scored 18 of her 20 points in the second half of the game. 

    “(We) showed some toughness and resiliency, but, you know, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in the end,” Gophers head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “We learned through that experience that we’ve got to probably start a lot better.” 

    Another offensive hurdle for the Gophers was USC forward Kiki Iriafen. She racked up 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Trojans, going 81.8% in the paint and 2-2 from the 3-point line.

    Plitzuweit cited Minnesota’s early turnovers and missed opportunities at the rim as key factors in their early scoring deficit. 

    “They are loaded with offensive firepower in a lot of different ways,” Plitzuweit said. “We felt different players stepping up and hitting arc shots and that made it really, really tough for us.”

    Gophers senior center Sophie Hart said she tried to be the strong offensive powerhouse Minnesota needed to combat USC’s strong post presence. 

    Hart led the team in scoring and was one of three Gophers to reach double figures, finishing with 18 points and grabbing five offensive rebounds.

    The Gophers held their ground defensively, holding the Trojans to a 7-0 run in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter and forcing two turnovers.

    Despite the loss being hard to swallow, Hart said the Gophers’ fight in the fourth quarter gave them a boost of confidence in their playing style.

    “I don’t know if two years ago, we would have had that same kind of dog in us to battle back like that,” Hart said. “That speaks a lot about our team.” 

    The Gophers could not keep their early quarter momentum going, struggling to match Watkins’ offensive domination. Watkins’ performance led to her fourth double-double of the season. 

    The Gophers remain in California for their upcoming match against No. 1 UCLA on Sunday.



    The Gophers women’s basketball team had a tough loss this past weekend as they missed their chance to reclaim a spot in the AP Top-25 rankings. Despite a strong effort, the team fell short in a close game, leaving them just outside the coveted rankings.

    It was a disappointing outcome for the Gophers, who have been playing well this season and were hoping to make a statement with a win over a tough opponent. However, they will have to regroup and refocus as they continue to push for a spot among the nation’s top teams.

    This setback serves as a reminder that the road to success is never easy, and the Gophers will need to stay determined and hungry as they strive to reach their goals. With hard work and perseverance, there is no doubt that this team has the potential to make a strong push for a spot in the AP Top-25 and beyond. Let’s continue to support our Gophers women’s basketball team as they work towards achieving their goals and making us proud.

    Tags:

    1. Gophers women’s basketball
    2. AP Top-25
    3. Minnesota Daily
    4. College basketball
    5. Women’s sports
    6. NCAA basketball rankings
    7. Minnesota Gophers
    8. College athletics
    9. AP rankings
    10. Basketball news

    #Gophers #womens #basketball #chance #reclaim #spot #Top25 #Minnesota #Daily

  • No. 22 Men’s Basketball Hosts No. 16 Ole Miss in Top-25 Showdown


    A top-25 battle is set for Mizzou Arena on Saturday night as No 22/24 University of Missouri men’s basketball hosts No. 16/16 Ole Miss at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on SEC Network.

    PROMOTIONS

    • Mizzou is celebrating Coach Norm Stewart’s 90th birthday on Saturday with the first 2,000 fans receiving a Stormin’ Norman t-shirt.

    ABOUT THE TIGERS

    • Mizzou enters the weekend with a 15-4 overall record and a 4-2 mark in SEC play.

    • MU is ranked No. 22 in the AP poll, while placing No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches poll.

    • The Tigers had their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday, falling at Texas, 61-53.

    • Junior Mark Mitchell leads the Tigers with 13.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

    • Overall, four Tigers score in double figures with Tamar Bates (12.8), Caleb Grill (12.1) and Anthony Robinson II (10.3) following Mitchell’s lead.

    • Robinson is also first on the team with 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

    • Mizzou is 24th nationally with a scoring offense of 83.2 and 16th with a scoring margin of +14.5.

    ABOUT THE REBELS

    • Ole Miss matches the Tigers with a 15-4 overall record and a 4-2 conference mark.

    • The Rebels are currently ranked No. 16 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls.

    • Sean Pedulla is first on the team with 14.3 points – one of four Rebels scoring in double figures.

    • Jaylen Murray is second on Ole Miss with 11.8 points to go with a team-best 4.1 assists.

    • Malik Dia has collected a team-best 6.1 boards.

    • The Rebels are scoring 77.9 points per game with a scoring defense of 65.5.

    SERIES HISTORY

    • Ole Miss holds a 17-8 edge over Mizzou with all meetings coming since the Tigers joined the conference in 2012.

    • Last season, the Rebels earned a pair of close victories against Mizzou, winning by a combined nine points in the two games.

    • Prior to last season, MU had won five-straight in the series, sweeping Ole Miss each of the previous two seasons.

    • Overall, the Tigers are 4-7 all-time against the Rebels inside Mizzou Arena.

    MIZZOU THROUGH SIX SEC GAMES

    • The Tigers are currently tied for third in the SEC standings with a 4-2 conference record.

    • The 4-2 start to league plays is tied for Mizzou’s best-ever start through six SEC games.

    • MU, who also began the 2012-13 and 2020-21 league slates with a 4-2 mark, is aiming for its first 5-2 start to SEC play since joining the league.

    • In addition, the Tigers’ 15-4 overall start is the team’s best since 2013-14 (also starting 15-4).

    WHAT’S NEXT

    • Competing in the challenging SEC, Mizzou has a difficult upcoming schedule as it looks to improve its standing in the conference.

    • Saturday’s game against No. 16 Ole Miss is the first of four-straight contests against ranked teams – No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 13 Texas A&M are to follow.

    • It marks the first time since 1957-58 that MU is playing four-straight games against ranked foes.

    HOME SWEET HOME

    • The good news for the Tigers is their four-game stretch against ranked opponents opens at home, where MU is unbeaten on the year.

    • Mizzou is currently on a 14-game home-court winning streak – the team’s longest since a 26-game run from 2012 to 2014.

    • The 14-game run is also the longest active streak in the SEC and fifth longest in the nation.

    • The 14-game run, which includes three over SEC foes and a win over No. 1, has come in dominating fashion, leading for 476:58 of 560 minutes.

    THREE POINTS OF IMPORTANCE

    • Hitting their shots from beyond the arc has been a key to success for the Tigers this season.

    • In the team’s 15 wins, Mizzou has made 39.4 percent of its 3-point attempts and 9.5 per game.

    • In its four defeats, however, MU has made just 25.6 percent of its triples and 5.3 per game.

    • Overall, the Tigers are 11-0 this season with eight or more triples in a game but just 4-4 with seven and fewer.

    LET HIM GRILL

    • The most important player for the Tigers to get going is senior Caleb Grill.

    • Playing in 14 games this season, Grill is averaging 12.1 points per game, leading Mizzou with 38 made triples and a 3-point clip of 47.5 percent.

    • Grill has played his best in the team’s wins this season – leading MU with 14.5 points in victories but just 3.3 in defeats. 

    • The good news for Mizzou is Grill has been strong in his last five games – averaging 13.6 points and shooting 46.9 percent from 3-point range.



    Get ready for an epic showdown on the hardwood as the No. 22 Men’s Basketball team takes on the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels in a highly anticipated Top-25 matchup. The game is set to take place at our home court, and we need all of our fans to come out and show their support for our team!

    Both teams are coming into this game with impressive records and looking to make a statement in the national rankings. Our players have been working hard in practice and are ready to give it their all on the court. With our home court advantage and the energy of our fans behind us, we are confident that we can come out on top in this exciting matchup.

    So mark your calendars and make sure to be there to witness all the action as our No. 22 Men’s Basketball team battles it out against the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels. Let’s show everyone why we are a force to be reckoned with in college basketball! #GoTeamGo #Top25Showdown #BasketballShowdown

    Tags:

    1. College basketball
    2. Top-25 showdown
    3. Men’s basketball
    4. No. 22 vs No. 16
    5. Ole Miss basketball
    6. NCAA basketball
    7. College sports
    8. Basketball game
    9. Top college teams
    10. March Madness prep

    #Mens #Basketball #Hosts #Ole #Top25 #Showdown

  • Where did BYU football appear in way-too-early top-25 rankings? – Deseret News


    The ink is barely dry on those celebratory newspaper editions honoring Ohio State’s national football championship, and yet it’s already time to take a look ahead to the 2025 season.

    Such is the modern-day news cycle — there’s a little time to celebrate, then it’s on to looking toward the future.

    For BYU fans, that is a promising proposition.

    Special Collector’s Issue: “1984: The Year BYU was Second to None”

    Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football’s 1984 National Championship season.

    The Cougars finished the 2024 season ranked No. 13 in the final Associated Press Top 25 rankings released Tuesday, and with a bevy of returning talent — plus some important transfer portal additions already — BYU is being mentioned as a team to watch next season.

    That is reflected in way-too-early top-25 rankings being released by several national publications.

    Where are the Cougars landing in these rankings?

    Here’s a look at 12 perspectives, in order of where BYU ended up ranked.

    ESPN

    BYU’s ranking: No. 9 (first among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 11 Iowa State, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 16 Kansas State

    What Mark Schlabach said about BYU: “If the 2024 season was any indication, you could probably pick any of four teams (or more) to win a Big 12 title. Arizona State, BYU and Colorado were unlikely contenders this past season, and the Cougars are bringing back top playmakers (Jake) Retzlaff, (LJ) Martin, (Chase) Roberts and (Keelan) Marion. There are a couple of starters who will have to be replaced on the offensive line, but reinforcements from the transfer portal should help. On defense, four of the top five tacklers should return, although BYU will have to reload up front. Kalani Sitake has built a solid program that should contend in the Big 12 each season. The Cougars won’t play Arizona State or Kansas State during the regular season, and road games at Iowa State and Colorado might be tricky.”

    The Athletic

    BYU’s ranking: No. 10 (second among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 9 Arizona State, No. 19 Baylor, No. 23 Kansas State

    What Stewart Mandel said about BYU: “BYU spent most of the season in CFP contention, and there’s no reason the Cougars can’t break through and win the Big 12 in 2025. The conference schedule is challenging, with trips to Colorado, Iowa State and Texas Tech. BYU will enjoy continuity on offense, beginning with Retzlaff — who became a cult hero in his first season in Provo — whereas the defense loses much of its leadership. Special teams could be a strength.”

    CBS Sports

    BYU’s ranking: No. 13 (first among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 16 Arizona State, No. 19 Iowa State, No. 24 Texas Tech

    What Dennis Dodd said about BYU: “The Cougars should emerge as the Big 12 favorite after an 11-win season. The league’s best defense remains largely intact. Jake Retzlaff returns after tying for most interceptions in the Big 12 (12).”

    Yahoo! Sports

    BYU’s ranking: No. 15 (second among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 14 Arizona State, No. 18 Kansas State

    What Nick Bromberg said about BYU: “The Cougars were one of the surprises of college football in 2024 as they started 9-0. QB Jake Retzlaff is back and so is leading rusher LJ Martin. WR Chase Roberts is back too; he had 52 catches for 854 yards. The defense, however, is in a much bigger state of flux. But the Big 12 should still be wide open and chaotic in 2025.”

    Pro Football Focus

    BYU’s ranking: No. 16 (second among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 13 Arizona State, No. 21 Kansas State, No. 23 Iowa State

    What Max Chadwick said about BYU: “BYU surprised many this past season with an 11-2 record after failing to make a bowl game last year. The Cougars bring back many key players from that roster, including linebacker Isaiah Glasker, wide receiver Chase Roberts and quarterback Jake Retzlaff. In what should once again be a wide-open Big 12 conference, BYU should be one of the top contenders.”

    Sporting News

    BYU’s ranking: No. 16 (second among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 15 Arizona State, No. 21 Kansas State, No. 24 Iowa State

    What Bill Bender said about BYU: “BYU returns the core from a team that finished strong under Kalani Sitake with a 36-14 victory against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff and running back LJ Martin and receiver Chase Roberts return. The Cougars have to replace three returning starters on the offensive line and there are holes on the defensive line, but linebackers Isaiah Glasker and Harrison Taggert return to what should be a strong defense. Utah and Stanford are marquee home games, and the road schedule features Colorado and Iowa State. The Cougars will compete for the Big 12 championship.”

    Athlon Sports

    BYU’s ranking: No. 16 (third among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 13 Arizona State, No. 15 Kansas State, No. 23 Iowa State

    What Steve Lassan said about BYU: “After an 11-win season, the next step for BYU under coach Kalani Sitake is to reach the Big 12 championship game in 2025. And with the bulk of the key contributors returning, a Big 12 title is a realistic goal for the Cougars. BYU’s defense led the Big 12 in fewest points and yards per play allowed in ‘24 and brings back one of the nation’s top linebacker units, while a couple of transfers arrive to restock the trenches. Jake Retzlaff returns as one of the Big 12’s top quarterbacks, with leading rusher LJ Martin (718 yards) back to power a ground game that averaged 4.6 yards a carry last season. In a scheduling quirk, BYU will not play Kansas State, Arizona State or Baylor next season.”

    USA Today

    BYU’s ranking: No. 17 (third among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 10 Arizona State, No. 15 Kansas State, No. 20 Iowa State,

    What Paul Myerberg and Erick Smith said about BYU: “If how you finish impacts how you start next season then the Cougars should again be in the playoff mix after blowing away Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Jake Retzlaff is back for his second full season starting at quarterback and will lead an offense that should be among the best in the Big 12 with quality depth at running back and receiver. The key area to address is the defensive line, which lost several key contributors. But there’s strength in the back of the unit to be good enough to push for double-digit wins again.”

    NCAA.com

    BYU’s ranking: No. 18 (third among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 14 Arizona State, No. 15 Kansas State, No. 22 Iowa State

    What Stan Becton said about BYU: “BYU comes in at No. 18 with quarterback Jake Retzlaff and running back LJ Martin returning. Last year’s top-scoring defense in the Big 12 should be good once again as linebackers Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker and more return to the unit.”

    Fox Sports

    BYU’s ranking: No. 22 (third among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 10 Arizona State, No. 19 Iowa State, No. 25 Colorado

    What RJ Young said about BYU: “It will be the Jake Retzlaff Show in Provo next season. He led the Cougars to their first 11-win season since 2009 and the program peaked at No. 6 in the CFP rankings with wins against SMU and Colorado while he threw for 2,947 yards with 26 total TDs and 12 INTs.”

    Bleacher Report

    BYU’s ranking: No. 22 (fourth among Big 12 teams)

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 14 Arizona State, No. 16 Kansas State, No. 19 Iowa State

    247 Sports

    BYU’s ranking: Unranked

    Other Big 12 rankings: No. 15 Arizona State, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 18 Iowa State, No. 22 Texas Tech

    Of note: BYU was among seven teams outside the top 25 who received votes in a survey of several 247 Sports writers for the rankings.



    BYU Football Ranked in Way-Too-Early Top-25 Rankings – Deseret News

    The BYU football team has made an appearance in the way-too-early top-25 rankings for the upcoming season. Despite facing a tough schedule, the Cougars have caught the attention of experts and analysts with their impressive performances in recent years.

    According to the rankings released by various sports outlets, BYU is projected to be in the top 20 or top 25 teams in the nation. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaching staff, who have consistently delivered strong performances on the field.

    With key players returning and a talented recruiting class coming in, BYU is poised to make a statement in the upcoming season. Fans can expect exciting games and thrilling moments as the Cougars look to build on their success from previous years.

    Stay tuned for more updates on BYU football and their journey towards a successful season. Go Cougars!

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    BYU football, top-25 rankings, early rankings, college football, BYU Cougars, Deseret News, sports news, NCAA football, Brigham Young University, rankings update

    #BYU #football #waytooearly #top25 #rankings #Deseret #News