UCLA remains atop USA TODAY Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
Not only have the UCLA Bruins made history by being the longest consecutively-ranked No. 1 school in Big Ten Conference history; coaches around the nation have also taken notice. Once again the Bruins, in their first year in the Big Ten, have taken the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. UCLA grabbed 30 of 31 first place votes, with No. 2 South Carolina earning one vote despite the Gamecocks losing 77-62 when the two schools played in November.
UCLA began the season ranked sixth in the coaches poll. The Bruins remained in the six-spot until their win over South Carolina, which bumped the Bruins to No. 2 behind UConn. In early December, UCLA took the top spot in the poll and hasn't relinquished the position over the past nine polls.
You don't have to look too far down the poll to find UCLA's conference opponents, with USC sitting at No. 4 and Ohio State at No. 8. Maryland and Michigan State are the only other two Big Ten schools ranked in the poll. Minnesota, which the Bruins will face this Sunday, fell out of the rankings.
Before the season began it would have been hard to imagine UCLA's move to the Big Ten going quite as well as it has through the first 20 games, with the Bruins remaining unbeaten and staying atop almost every ranking. It won't be easy to stay there, though. After the Bruins' matchup with Minnesota, they'll face Ohio State on Wednesday at home for another top-10duel.
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