National Women’s Preview : Despite Schedule, Tennessee Is Clear Favorite

The seasons of dynasties in women’s college basketball have given way to a list of perennial powers, which seems to grow by a new team each season.

This season, it’s No. 8 Stanford, which has cracked the top 10 for the first time.

Stanford and No. 2 Cal State Long Beach, which have not played each other since 1985, plan to meet next season, if not before in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. West Regionals.

Next to No. 1 Tennessee, Long Beach is the team to beat, and the 49ers hope to accomplish that when the two teams meet Dec. 3 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Here’s what the experts say about the top teams:

1. Tennessee: The Volunteers are everybody’s choice to win the national championship, even though they lost to defending champion Louisiana Tech in the Final Four semifinals. The Volunteers just may wear themselves out with one of the nation’s toughest schedules.

Besides playing highly ranked nonconference teams, the Volunteers will have plenty of competition in the Southeastern Conference--including Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana State and Vanderbilt.

The thought of it was so overwhelming, Coach Pat Summitt took her team to Hawaii for a Thanksgiving tournament.

The Volunteers return 3 top scorers, forward Bridgette Gordon, center Sheila Frost and guard Tonya Edwards. Six freshmen averaged 25 points or more in high school.

2. Cal State Long Beach: The season preview for the 49ers appears on this page.

3. Texas: The hopes of the Longhorns rest on the comeback of Clarissa Davis, who suffered a knee injury last season. Texas lost to Tennessee in the regionals.

If any team comes close to Long Beach’s style, it’s Texas, which plays an up-tempo pressure game.

4. Georgia: The Bulldogs return all 5 starters but still have a young team and a tough schedule, in and out of the SEC.

5. Iowa: The Hawkeyes spent 8 weeks in the No. 1 spot last season but may need help overcoming the loss of guard Michelle Edwards.

6. Louisiana Tech: The Lady Techsters lost 3 key players but still have a strong front line.

7. Auburn: The Tigers gave Louisiana Tech a run last season in the national championship game before losing by 2 points. The team returns 2 starters but lost 3 who accounted for almost half its offense. Vicki Orr, out with a knee injury, is expected back.

8. Stanford: If anybody has done a terrific job, it’s Cardinal Coach Tara VanDerveer. In just 4 years, she has turned a losing program into a Pacific 10 Conference and national contender.

Stanford, which started last season ranked No. 20 and finished No. 15, ended its most successful season with a loss to Texas in the NCAA regional semifinals. This season, all 5 starters return.

9. Mississippi: Ole Miss returns 2 key starters, Cynthia Autry and Kimsy O’Neil, but will have to endure competition in its own conference, the SEC.

10. Maryland: The Terrapins look promising with 2 returning starters and Vicky Bullett, who averaged 18 points and 9.5 rebounds.