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One of these five teams will cut the nets down in New Orleans

By Matt Ward

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 07: Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey cuts down the net with her daughter and grandson after winning the NCAA Division I Women's National Championship Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 07, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 07: Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey cuts down the net with her daughter and grandson after winning the NCAA Division I Women's National Championship Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 07, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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UConn Huskies players, from left, Megan Walker (3), Crystal Dangerfield (5) and Olivia Nelson-Ododa on Dec. 22, 2019 after winning their game against Oklahoma 97-53. (Brad Horrigan/The Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
UConn Huskies players, from left, Megan Walker (3), Crystal Dangerfield (5) and Olivia Nelson-Ododa on Dec. 22, 2019 after winning their game against Oklahoma 97-53. (Brad Horrigan/The Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) /

UConn

No surprise here, as Auriemma and the Huskies have spent the better part of the last 25 years being in the mix for a national championship. They almost missed this list though, which certainly would have come as a shock. The Huskies are currently ranked 49th in scoring defense. Two spots lower and they would be out, but hey, here they are.

If Oregon has the best starting five in the country, UConn might just have the second best. Christyn Williams, Crystal Dangerfield, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and Megan Walker are a lethal core four for UConn, with Walker leading the Huskies at 21.4 points per game. A few players have rotated into that fifth starter spot, but Anna Makurat has seemingly settled into it for the time being. There are two main questions that seem to be lingering for the No. 1 team in the country. How will they hold up against better competition? We will find out quickly, as they get set to host Baylor on January 9. They also have games against Tennessee, Oregon, and South Carolina on the horizon.

The second question is what happens when they go to their bench? Aubrey Griffin, while a bit inconsistent, has been solid off of the bench, but that depth may be tested as they head into both conference play and unlike most teams across the country, the most difficult part of their non-conference schedule as well. That said, Auriemma and the Huskies have been to 12-straight final fours and will be a popular pick to continue that streak in 2020.

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