Women's Hoops Guru

By Mel Greenberg

President Obama promised changed when campaigning for office, but he didn't indicate that movement in The Associated Press women's poll would be part of the package.

While Connecticut continues to be fillibuster proof from any challenge to the Huskies' NCAA title agenda, here's an intriguing look at the AP Poll of exactly a year ago compared to where those teams are now.

Obviously, movement like this has to be needed stimulus to draw more interest in the sport.

Here we go with last year's list first.

1. Connecticut -- Still in power at No. 1
2. Tennessee -- Plunged to No. 12 with another dip ahead.
3. North Carolina -- Fell to a tie for No.8
4. Maryland -- Dipped down to No. 13 but had been higher
5. Baylor -- Has been higher but fell to No. 8 with the Tar Heels
6. Stanford -- In same neighborhood at No. 7.
7. Rutgers -- Unranked and likely to stay that way for now.
8. LSU -- Dropped out after preseason poll.
9. Calkifornia -- Shot up to all-time high at No. 3. (But are the Bears a No. 1 seed).
10. Oklahoma -- Rocketed to No. 2 but Sherri Coale's WBCA presidency is not a factor.

Time out sub-total -- Two gone altogether and two more with major dips.

11. Duke -- Currently fourth and made it to third. (Don't ask about the Blue Devils and Coaches Poll).
12. West Virginia -- Unranked
13. Old Dominion -- Unranked and fallen to the pack in the CAA.
14. George Washington -- Where have you gone Joe McKeown. -- He's unranked, too.
15. Pittsburgh -- Now at 21 but could rise again.
16. Notre Dame -- Holding at No. 17
17. Oklahoma State -- Had been ranked but not now
18. Kansas State -- No bailout needed, still at No. 18
19. Ohio State -- Up at No. 15 but those postseason rapids are on the horizon.
20. Utah -- Unranked
21. Texas A&M -- Shot up to No. 10 but had been even higher off of last year's Elite Eight
22. Wyoming -- Unranked
23. Syracuse -- Unranked and tripped up. (A little UConn media humor).
24. Georgia -- Uranked but chance to join the Summitt's spoiler club Thursday night in Knoxville.
25. DePaul -- Still at No. 25 after recent return.

That means nine teams missing overall from comprable poll and two more had major shifts.

Now, here's a look at the replacement club.

Lousville -- Unranked to No. 5. An all-time, though Jeff Walz has been there before as a Maryland assistant.
Auburn -- Unranked to No. 7 with the return of Nell Fortner to coaching success. Had equal high rankings as a player at Texas and equal Q ratings as a studio host at ESPN.
Florida -- Unranked to No. 11. The Butler, er Amanda Butler, is doing it to opponents.
Texas -- Unranked to No. 16 but had been higher.
Virginia -- Unranked to No. 17 but Cavaliers a year ago soon returned to the rankings.
Iowa State -- Unranked to No. 21 as part of the Big 12 fiesta.
Xavier -- Unranked to No. 23 is taking GWU's Atlantic Ten spot.
South Dakota State -- Uranked to No. 24 as Division I rookie program of the year.

And in the spirt of change, did you know that 10 teams in this week's poll had made less than 130 appearances in the 33-year, 169-week history.

Here's the breakdown.

The (successful) amateurs

Florida 126
DePaul 102
Iowa State 98
Texas A&M 79
California 59
Louisville 34
Xavier 23
Pittsburgh 22
Florida State 18
South Dakota State 5

Next Four

Notre Dame 172
Oklahoma 170
Kansas State 152
Baylor 141

More Veteran

Duke 282
Ohio State 228

Gold Standard

Stanford 354
Connecticut 323
Maryland 314
Auburn 313
Virginia 308
Vanderbilt 308
North Carolina 302

Head Of The Class

Tennessee 555
Texas 420

Mock Bracket Alert
Preview Coming Later Wednesday Whether We Punch Plane Ticket or Not.

WNBA: Economic Realities

Although deep into the collegiate scene, the Guru keeps getting asked about the economic health of the WNBA in consideration of the current climate.

Well, on the upside, the new ESPN rights-fee contract kicks in but it is still unclear what teams, individually, are getting out of the deal. The Guru has heard it both ways.

But there have been signs of a pinch.

The fabled Houston Comets went the way of other comets, but may return some day to make Texas a two-team state again instead of San Antonio being Lone Stars.

Then we noticed something missing from this week's announcement of the WNBA draft being held again at NBA Entertainment Headquarters in Seacaucus, N.J.

The last three seasons, the event had been held at the Final Four, but it had to cost a few bucks to sert up shop in a remote location. We're not complaining as long as the WNBA party at the finals is still on. (A friend asked the Guru to say that.)

And there's time to hold it a week later because the season is starting later.

But it is much cheaper with everything in place in Jersey and the 3 p.m. start even allows morning flights for draftees to arrive at nearby Newark thus saving hotel costs.

It will be fine as long as the wind or unexpected cold air could be kept out of the media tent.

Rosters cut from 13 to 11: Well, those two spots were phantom positions at places, anyway.

The All-Star game returns to the Mohegan Sun.

Again, no complaints here. Many thought the event in casinoland was one of the best ever when last held there.

But again, look at the reality not counting the Mohegans' own economic dealings.

When the WNBA decided dead bodies were no longer needed to step over for Connecticut to get a franchise, the Mohegans practically invented stimulus in working with the WNBA folks.

Mucho infrastructure costs for the event will be absorbed.

That said, maybe the Guru can now go home and find a parking place on a street that has a way of looking more like the North Pole than the rest of the neighborhood when a few flakes hit the ground.

The Guru returns with the Mock Bracket preview in a few hours, well, maybe a few hours plus.

-- Mel