WON'T THESE FOUR ESPN SPORTSWRITERS BE SURPRISED WHEN NONE OF THEIR FAVORITE EASTERN TEAMS MAKE IT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAIN IN 2022!! (REMEMBER IN 2021 TWO PAC12 TEAMS WERE THE LAST TWO TEAMS STANDING IN SAN ANTONIO.)

I'm glad I didn't put money on which of her five choices Kiki Rice would settle on last week at her signing ceremony. Her final list was Arizona, UConn, Stanford, Duke, and UCLA. Turns out, she chose UCLA who just leapfrogged over Oregon from the number two to the number one recruiting class in America for 2022. 

So, what do you think she saw in Westwood that closed the sale? I was betting she would choose Stanford. When I heard her remarks after her announcement, I got the impression she wants to be seen as the primary reason her team reaches the Final Four - and not the point guard on a team of great players (like she would have been at Stanford). 

Last year I spent a weekend touring four schools who were recruiting my grandson, Luke, who is a 6'-9" volleyball star. We toured UCSB, UCLA, Pepperdine, and UC Irvine. After the tour, his dad (my son), Luke, and I ranked the four schools and UCLA came in fourth on Luke's list - which was the only list that really counted.

He ended up signing with Stanford for the 2022 recruiting class last month (after they reinstated the sport which was one of the eleven they deleted earlier this year).

Four of the women's basketball sportswriters at ESPN gave everyone the benefit of their parochial thinking this week by predicting the Final Four teams they think will fight it out in Minneapolis next April.

This link is the article I'm referring to:

https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-women/2021-11-07/womens-ncaa-tournament-field-64-predicted-opening-night

Katie Burns: UConn, Maryland, South Carolina, and Stanford. 

Charlie Creme: UConn, Maryland, South Carolina, and Stanford

Mechelle Voepel: UConn, N.C. State, South Carolina, and Stanford

Sean Hurd: UConn, N.C. State, Maryland, and South Carolina

And which teams would battle for the National Championship:

Katie Burns: South Carolina defeats UConn

Charlie Creme: UConn defeats South Carolina

Mechelle Voepel: South Carolina defeats UConn

Sean Hurd: South Carolina defeats Maryland

They also chose the National Player of the Year:                

Katie Burns: Haley Jones

Charlie Creme: NaLyssa Smith

Mechelle Voepel: Aliyah Boston

Sean Hurd: Aliyah Boston

After we win our fourth National Championship in April 2022, do you figure the AP and ESPN predictions for the 2023 Final Four, the Championship game, and the National Champion will be more respectful of the defending champ's chances? I doubt it. But eventually, over the next decade as the PAC12 becomes the obvious powerhouse conference for women's basketball, they'll be forced to overcome their myopia.  

Katie Burns' choice of Haley Jones for Player of the Year in 2022 is surprising in that she didn't figure we would make it past the semi-finals. Anyway, we should be grateful for her recognition of one of our star players. 

Also, three of the four "experts" thought Stanford would make it to the Final Four. I think our players are absolutely determined to win the championship next April - and shock more than just these four  "experts." I stand by my prior prediction that the last game we win next April will be against the Oregon Ducks, not one of ESPN's standard choices from the Eastern Time Zone. Won't those four ESPNers be surprised - all over again. 

Looks like Oregon will play South Carolina in the Battle 4 Atlantis down in Bermuda on November 21. Oregon may need December, January, and February before they'll be ready to beat the Gamecocks in the Final Four.         

GO CARDINAL!! LET'S WIN THE WHOLE THING IN '22!!