Hype Boulevard: Programs Rising, Programs Falling

Top 10 Programs on the Rise:

10. Xavier (Kevin McGuff benefitted from Kristy Curry's exit from Purdue when he snagged one of the top five players in the class of 2006 from the exodus that followed her leaving. Amber Harris is an impact player who will return the Musketeers to the NCAA's year after year.)

9. Bowling Green (Perhaps the new ODU, the new LaTech. A consistent mid-major program that can compete with the BCS schools? Curt Miller, if he sticks around, will welcome a great recruiting class and has three NCAA appearances in a row to keep the flywheel spinning with momentum.)

8. Wisconsin-Green Bay (The Phoenix are another mid-major making noise with top 25 appearances and a reputation for being a team no one wants to face in the NCAA's. Kevin Borseth, who almost left last year for Colorado, is a great coach who will keep them in contention.)

7. Kentucky (Mickie DeMoss is having a rough go this season after big expectations following an NCAA appearance last season. She is pulling in a top 20 recruiting class and will make Kentucky a contender in the SEC. After all, she did help Pat win all those national titles!)

6. Florida State (Sue Semrau brought in a top 25 recruiting class of six this year and they will make FSU a contender in the ACC and in the NCAA's. Speaking of which, the Seminoles will enjoy their third consecutive bid this year.)

5. Oklahoma State (Coach Budke kept LaTech relevant and most thought there was no way he could do it at OSU. Now, in just his second season in Stillwater, Budke has the Cowgirls at 18-9 overall and within striking distance of a .500 finish in the tough Big 12. In the coming years, the OSU vs. Oklahoma game will be a great rivalry in women's hoops.)

4. Georgia Tech (MaChelle Joseph is almost there. In her fourth season she has won nine games in the ACC, a school record, and she beat Maryland this season. She has a top 10 recruiting class coming in next season with a top 10 player. Watch out for them in the coming years. They should get an NCAA bid this season to start a trend.)

3. Middle Tennessee (What started with Stephany Smith, now at Alabama, is going to the next level with former high school coach, Rick Insell, who brought in a top 10 recruiting class at a school that no one knows a lot about. They are definitely the new LaTech or ODU. They are small, small school competing with national powers and it looks to become a trend. They have already proven themselves with a win on the road at Georgia and a near-upset of Maryland.)

2. California (Joanne Boyle benefitted from inheriting a great recruiting class, but next year she'll bring in her own top 20 recruits to keep the momentum going in Berkely. She is building a program that will be able to compete with Stanford and for long runs in the NCAA tournament. Look for their second straight NCAA appearance this season in just two years for Boyle.)

1. USC (Mark Trakh will bring in another blue chip class next season and will finally have all the peices of his 2006 recruiting class, including one of the top three players in Jackie Gemelos, who Geno wanted real bad. If they can finally get healthy, USC will be a top 10 team next season and into the future with the potential to contend not only for the Pac-10, but also for the final four and maybe even the national title. Yes, Gemelos is that good and so are the rest of players he is bringing in.)

Top 10 Programs Falling From Grace:

10. Arizona (Coach Bonvincini has allowed her once powerful Pac-10 program to fall apart.)

9. Colorodo State (This MWC program used to be a top 10 national power under now-Louisville coach Tom Cullen. Now, it's in the cellar.)

8. Alabama (Hopefully Stephany Smith can pull it together and she deserves time, but 'Bama used to do quite well under Rick Moody.)

7. Arkansas (Another SEC program that was powerful under now-A&M coach Gary Blair, but has since fallen and can't get up!)

6. Clemson (Coach McKinnon needs time, but Clemson has gone from the top of the food chain in the ACC to bottom feeders.)

5. Colorado (The legendary Ceal Barry left with a bad taste in her mouth and I am sure McConnell-Miller will turn it around, but this is a program that used to be one of women's college basketball's best.)

4. Penn State (Time to go, Rene...time to go!)

3. Virginia (Wow, how powerful they used to be, then they went to mediocre, now they don't even make the tourney.)

2. Old Dominion (Even Wendy Larry couldn't keep this program relevant. Yes, she dominates her league, but she can't contend with the national powers anylonger. It's sad to see ODU lose their commitment towards their nationally known women's basketball legacy.)

1. Louisiana Tech (Perhaps the most disappointing is LaTech, probably one of the top five women's programs of all time. Kurt Budke kept them in contention, but it hasn't been the same since Leon Barmore left and now they look like they will miss the NCAA tourney for the first time ever!)