PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The announcement of the Associated Press Women’s Basketball Top 25 poll will be delayed by a day so voters can gauge Monday afternoon’s showdown between No.1 South Carolina and No.2 Connecticut.
The championship game of the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis for women will take place at the same time as AP Top 25 is released every Monday. The AP decided to hold the poll on a date so it would reflect the results – only the second time since the poll began in 1976 it has been delayed.
“Due to the timing of this 1-vs-2 game, it’s a good idea to hold this week’s poll,” said Barry Bedlan, AP’s Global Director of Text Products and New Markets.
The only other time also involved UConn. The second-placed Huskies competed at No. 1 in Tennessee on January 16, 1995 – in the first meeting of the rivalry. The Huskies got an upset victory and rose to No. 1 in school history for the first time when the poll was also held until the next day.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma recalls the poll that was held years ago and understands why it took place.
“It’s been fun for the fans, the players, everyone,” he said.
This will be the 61st meeting between the top two teams in the poll and the sixth in November. Team 1 holds a 37-23 lead in the half. The last meeting of the top two teams was between these teams in February. UConn was also the No. 2 team in that game and won 63-59 in extra time.
UConn has been in 25 of the 1-on-2 games and has won 22-3 in those games, winning the last nine.
