I am going to stick my neck out and predict the Lady Ramblers will finish the regular season in the Top 3, and reach the Championship game in the conference tourney.

Last season the Ramblers lost their two best players to injury in Simone Law and Taylor Johnson, and two other potential starters in Tiana Karopulos and Courtney Lindfors. They're all back, and I am hopefully assuming they're fully recovered and ready to go.

The Ramblers also return starters Molly Crosby, Bailey Farley, Becca Smith and 3 point specialist Katie Faught.

And they welcome a talented transfer from Purdue (where she was Big 10 freshman of the year) in 6'2" Taylor Manual, who will be eligible 2d semester, plus a highly touted freshman in Destiny Washington.

True, they did lose to graduation last year's MVP in Troy Hambric, but that's the only significant loss.

The Ramblers will be big, with 7 players 6' or taller. Both Lindfors and Manual are loads.

I respect Swoopes as a coach, and I think she did a good job last year competing with a short roster. I think she also should be credited with developing Hambric's game.

Bottom line is that the Lady Ramblers will be very competitive in the MVC, and will make some noise in the tournament.

I'm looking at the rosters of our MVC competitors just for kicks, and came across this:

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sport ... 31092.html

Thought it was a typo, but no.

On edit:

Upon further research, I discovered that 4'8" is her Program height; she's really 4'2".

Swella,

I like your optimistic prediction! I thought 7th was way too low. It shows me that LU has gained very little respect among the MVC athletic personnel.