FanPost

WBB: State Up to 8th in Recent ESPN Women's Basketball Post

Diamond on Offense

Alexa Philippou and Mechelle Voepel took their shot at ESPN Women's Basketball "Women's college basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2022-23". Charlie Creme has written this post in the past. In Charlie's May 3 post, State was ranked 12th behind ACC members Louisville, Notre Dame and UNC.

With the addition of Saniya Rivers, Mimi Collins and River Baldwin, State is ranked 8th by Voepel and Philippou. Here is what the post points out about State, who now trails only Louisville in the rankings:

The Wolfpack rose in our rankings following the addition of Wilmington, North Carolina, native Saniya Rivers, one of the top recruits from the class of 2021. That came on the heels of commitments of Mimi Collins from Maryland and River Baldwin from Florida State. Replacing Elissa Cunane won't be easy, but Wes Moore has a track record of successfully incorporating transfers into what he's doing in Raleigh. How well his newcomers acclimate, and how much returners such as Diamond Johnson, Jakia Brown-Turner and Camille Hobby step up with more responsibility on their shoulders, will determine NC State's ceiling in an increasingly competitive ACC. -- Philippou

I still think this is too low for State. I see State as a top five team with the addition of Rivers.

Interestingly Philippou failed to mention Jada Boyd who I think will be the best player on State's 22/23 team. GoPack has updated the roster for women's basketball and I see only 11 players which is small considering that a team can carry 13 scholarship players. The good news is Hart, Hayes, James and Timmons are still on the roster along with the players previously mentioned.

Which teams from the ACC are ranked in the aforementioned poll: Louisville 7th, Notre Dame 9th, VaTech 11th and UNC 13th. VaTech definitely moved up with the addition of Ashley Owusu and Taylor Soule.

Go Pack!