Despite another Top-10 win on Sunday over No. 8 Michigan, the UCLA Bruins stayed at No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll. The Bruins remain behind the No. 1 UConn Huskies, who are fresh off of an NCAA title last year and are a perfect 25-0 this season.
It’s becoming apparent that UCLA won’t pass UConn unless the Huskies lose a game. UCLA has nine ranked wins, while UConn has five. UConn is also competing in the less competitive Big East Conference, where UConn is the only ranked team.
The Big Ten Conference has six ranked teams, and even with the increased level of play in the Big Ten, UCLA is still a perfect 13-0 in conference play. The Michigan Wolverines went up in the rankings after their 69-66 home loss to UCLA last week, moving Michigan up to No. 7. Right behind them is the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, whom UCLA beat 82-75.
Iowa moved down to No. 12, with the Bruins beating the Hawkeyes 88-65 earlier this month. UCLA’s next opponent, the Michigan State Spartans, find themselves at No. 13. No. 17 Maryland is the final Big Ten team in the Coaches Poll, with the Terrapins falling to UCLA 97-67 last month.
With how UConn dismantled UCLA in the Final Four last season, it’s clear to see why the Coaches Poll is hesitant to put the Bruins in the No. 1 spot, but this season UCLA has persevered through a much more challenging schedule. The schedule isn’t weighing heavily on the voters though, with the Huskies receiving all 31 of the first place votes.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA WBB stays No. 2 in Coaches Poll, Michigan moves up after loss
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
