FALL IS IN THE AIR! FOOTBALL IS HAPPENING! EVEN IN THE PAC12! AND THERE'S A LOT OF DRIBBLING GOING ON IN THE WINGS!!

The Stanford women's basketball coaching staff was recently advised by the NCAA that they could start regular practices on October 14th and their season on November 25th. All of this needs to work within the Santa Clara County Covid19 regulations - so the Stanford Athletic Department is working with them to get their blessing.

But isn't it exciting! Players going through drills and actually playing basketball -- this month!! 

The season is about a month shorter than usual, so the NCAA will allow 23 regular season games and one pre-season tournament with up to four games. They recommend that teams play four non-conference games. In previous seasons we've played a couple of exhibition games, ten or eleven non-conference games, and a pre-season tournament prior to the New Year.  

So you can imagine the flurry of activity as the wbb staff scrambles to arrange a schedule and all the logistics involved in a few weeks - that usually takes several months.  

ESPN's Charlie Creme has revised his pre-season rankings, but still puts Stanford behind the Gamecocks at # 2 in the nation. He wonders how much improvement we'll see from Ashten and Fran, and projects that if they blossom as expected, Stanford will be playing with a full house. The three of a kind would be our guards Kiana, Haley, and Lexie to go along with the above mentioned pair of bigs. 

As mentioned in another space in this FBC website, Maya Dodson has decided not to play this season. She will be missed.

His #3, #4, and #5 have changed. With the addition of DiJonai, Baylor moved up to #3. UConn is #4. And Louisville is #5. Mississippi State, which was #3 before Vic Schaefer moved to Texas, is now #6.

I think if Charlie spent the next month in Tucson he would put Arizona (#8) in the top five. UCLA (#9), Oregon (#10) and Oregon State (#15) would all move up in his rankings if he actually knew how powerful this conference will be this year. In his Bracketology update he increases the PAC12 to seven teams in the tournament for the first time. On the cusp he mentions Colorado as a possible eighth team. I think the Buffs will be tougher than ever this year.

The Final Four is in San Antonio next year - that's Kiana's hometown (and mine.) Wouldn't that be fun - havin it out in the shadow of the Alamo!! I'll be there! How about you?

GO CARDINAL!!