Week 8 Rankings and RQS Update

We have no new members of the 10 club this week, in a shocking turnaround. Come on judges, if you're going to make this the season of the 10, at least commit (to the G . . . ).

In the absence of new 10s, we'll go with the closest:

Do you think she's being hurt by not having a ton of name recognition from a previous elite career or previous standout seasons?

Danusia Francis's beam (1:47) is another nominee in the "next 10" debate:


Week 8 Rankings (Gyminfo)
1. LSU 197.605
Week 8: 198.050
Week 8 leaders: AA - Jordan 39.600; VT - Morrison, Jordan, Dickson 9.925; UB - Morrison, Courville 9.925; BB - Gnat, Hall 9.875; FX - Hall 9.975

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.875
Road Score 2: 197.650
Road Score 3: 197.625
Road/Home Score 1: 198.050
Road/Home Score 2: 197.650
Road/Home Score 3: 197.225

The Tigers faced a threat from Florida at the top of the rankings over the weekend but used a program-high 198.050 to fend them off and retain their coveted throne. I mentioned last week that LSU had work to do because Florida and Oklahoma had scored 198s while they did not, so I like to think that I had a little bit to do with this score at a meet where just three routines scored under 9.850 - one being Courville's beam mistake.

Another home meet is coming up for LSU this weekend, which means another opportunity to bump up that RQS with the team looking supremely likely to obliterate that 197.225 in any kind of a hit meet. Not that they need it, actually. With both Florida and Oklahoma at home this weekend, it's not  possible for LSU to be passed in the rankings this weekend. [EDIT: Lies! Sorry. Oklahoma can pass LSU in RQS this weekend with two big scores in their two meets.] 

2. Florida 197.515
Week 8: 197.400
Week 8 leaders: AA - Sloan 39.500; VT - Sloan 9.950; UB - Sloan 9.925; BB - Boyce, M Caquatto 9.925; FX - Sloan 9.925

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.400
Road Score 2: 197.175
Road Score 3: 197.075
Road/Home Score 1: 198.125
Road/Home Score 2: 198.050
Road/Home Score 3: 197.875

Turnabout was fair play for the Gators on Friday as it was their turn to keep pace with their opponent for three events on the road before losing the meet on beam, as a number of teams have done in Gainesville already this year. With the way Alabama was scoring at the end of the floor rotation, it was unlikely Florida would catch them anyway, but the fall from Spicer followed by the mistake from Sloan makes for the second tough beam rotation in three meets for the Gators. This is still one of the teams I trust the most on beam, but this mistake phenomenon is something to watch. 

Florida has just two road meets remaining, so that 197.400 will have to count, which puts them at a serious disadvantage in the road score department in the quest for regular season #1. With their final home meet of the season up next, the Gators don't have much room to improve RQS this weekend. Their max RQS after this weekend is a 197.565, so they'll just be trying to fend off Oklahoma. 

3. Oklahoma 197.415
Week 8: 197.250
Week 8 leaders: AA - None; VT - Scaman, Capps 9.925; UB - Scaman 9.900; BB - Capps 9.900; FX - Scaman 9.975

RQS:
Road Score 1: 198.175
Road Score 2: 197.575
Road Score 3: 197.225
Road/Home Score 1: 197.700
Road/Home Score 2: 197.325
Road/Home Score 3: 197.250

A second distinctly human score in a row for the Sooners has put them just a tick back of LSU and Florida in the race right now, but these things are very momentary. One week, a team looks to be falling off the pace, and the next week they are the cool choice to win again. The lack of Kmieciak and Wofford over the weekend didn't help as a couple backup performers had to come in and did not match the scoring. I still don't think there's very much if anything preventing Oklahoma getting a 198 this weekend, but it is a bit surprising how many 9.8s and how few 9.9s we've been seeing on bars and beam from the Sooners lately. Those are their events.

The Sooners have a two-meet weekend coming up, so they have a pretty significant opportunity to increase their RQS with a pair of big meets. Averaging around 197.6s between the two meets (or getting one 198) should be enough to move ahead of Florida regardless of what the Gators score. With Alabama unable to catch them this weekend, Oklahoma is sitting comfortably at #3 with a chance to pounce. 

4. Alabama 197.215
Week 8: 197.675
Week 8 leaders: AA - Jacob 39.125; VT - Beers 9.925; UB - Jacob, Jetter 9.925; BB - Clark 9.925; FX - Jacob, Milliner 9.950

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.500
Road Score 2: 197.100
Road Score 3: 196.825
Road/Home Score 1: 197.675
Road/Home Score 2: 197.500
Road/Home Score 3: 197.150 

A very big win over Florida over the weekend ushered Alabama back into the top conversation. We all know Alabama is perpetually a championship contender and never to be counted out, but they had been nibbling as the top team of the second tier for a few weeks. This win, even though it was at home (scoring was quite charitable on bars but relatively realistic elsewhere), makes it clear that they are part of the game - especially because they were able to do it with a bunch of mistakes, including three falls. (What is this Kim Jacob falling on beam business? I'm not about it.) That wasn't an ideal meet and there's room to improve, which is a good sign. 

The Tide look a fairly strong bet to remain constant in the rankings (with a possible threat from Utah), and that's probably likely to continue for the rest of the regular season. They have entrenched themselves in this position, and while there's a chance to increase their RQS by touches in the next couple weeks, they'll probably have to wait until SECs (when they can get rid of that 196.825 at fake-road Birmingham) to make an assault on the top. 

5. Georgia 197.020
Week 8: 197.650
Week 8 leaders: AA - Rogers 39.300; VT - Cheek 9.975; UB - Cheek, Rogers, Davis 9.950; BB - Cheek, Earls 9.950; FX - Box, Earls 9.900

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.875
Road Score 2: 196.825
Road Score 3: 196.700
Road/Home Score 1: 197.650
Road/Home Score 2: 197.400
Road/Home Score 3: 197.300

Georgia was able to sneak just ahead of Utah on the back of a season-high score and one of the top bars scores in team history. We all knew Lindsey Cheek was good, someone who could vault exceptionally and give you a respectable score on bars and beam, but she has emerged as the pleasant surprise of the season with just how impeccable she has been on her three events. She's a sinewy joy. The Gym Dogs are at home this weekend for the final time this season, so they will have trouble making too much improvement in RQS since they already have three consistent and usable home scores. The main focus will be the final two road meets and trying to make a dent on those 196s. It's unlikely that any of the top four will count any 196s, so remaining at #5 would be a solid final ranking for this team.

6. Utah 197.015
Week 8: 197.125
Week 8 leaders: AA - Wilson 39.025; VT - Delaney 9.925; UB - Damianova 9.925; BB - Lofgren 9.900; FX - Del Priore 9.950

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.200
Road Score 2: 196.875
Road Score 3: 196.300
Road/Home Score 1: 197.825
Road/Home Score 2: 197.575
Road/Home Score 3: 197.125

One of the "one step forward, one step back" teams of the 2014 season, Utah had a fairly slow start in its meet over the weekend, posting normal scores on bars and even vault (which should be flirting with 49.5 every week given that back three) and putting forth another tepid beam showing before saving the meet a bit with all the 9.9s on floor. Dabritz and Delaney were out of the beam lineup in favor of Hughes and Tutka this time, but it's a little bit of six of one, half a dozen of the other. The team has had a couple solid beam meets this year but has yet to find any consistent greatness and now has fallen to #6 in the rankings. The Utes were a bit unlucky to drop just behind Georgia but will have a prime opportunity to move up at least one, if not two, ranking spots with a strong meet this weekend. A 196.700 away at Michigan would guarantee Utah to jump back ahead of Georgia.  

7. Michigan 196.795
Week 8: 197.200
Week 8 leaders: AA - Artz 39.200; VT - Sheppard 9.975; UB - Gies 9.900; BB - Casanova 9.850; FX - Beilstein 9.950

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.800
Road Score 2: 196.650
Road Score 3: 196.525
Road/Home Score 1: 197.325
Road/Home Score 2: 197.200
Road/Home Score 3: 196.800

The Wolverines got back up into the 197s over the weekend for the first time since January thanks to some big vaults and some less conservative scoring in a few places than they had seen during a couple recent meets. Having Beilstein in form for 9.9s on vault and floor is a big boost, and the meet reflects much of what we knew we could expect from the team – big vault, big floor, enduring beam somehow. Bars has been interesting, and straggling a bit, as it seems like at least one of the potential 9.9s has an error every week. This team should be better than 8th on bars.

The 197.200 was good enough to move Michigan back up a spot in the rankings, and there's some room for more RQS improvement this weekend, though not enough to move up in the rankings. Getting a big, winning score this weekend against Utah and UCLA would, however, be quite the reputation victory and a good claim for Super Six relevancy.

8. UCLA 196.740
Week 8: 197.500
Week 8 leaders: AA - Courtney 39.500; VT - Courtney, Peszek 9.900; UB - DeJesus, Peszek 9.900; BB - Francis 9.950; FX - Sawa 9.950

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.500
Road Score 2: 196.675
Road Score 3: 196.575
Road/Home Score 1: 196.925
Road/Home Score 2: 196.900
Road/Home Score 3: 196.625

Well, finally. I've been harping on about the Bruins not breaking 197 for weeks, and now they've gone and done it in a big way. This score is an important statement that UCLA is indeed a nationally competitive team, and it marks UCLA's most complete meet of the year by far. There were the usual standout performances on a couple events (Peszek and Francis on beam, Sawa on floor), but the major difference this week–and the most important factor in UCLA achieving this score–was the freshmen at the beginning of the lineups, with Pinches and Mossett both having their best meets of the year. It's huge the difference an early 9.850 makes compared to an early 9.775. UCLA and Michigan are both close in RQS, and it's likely that whichever team scores higher at their meet this weekend will be ahead in the rankings. 

9. Nebraska 196.710
Week 8: 196.650
Week 8 leaders: AA - Wong 39.650; VT - Wong 9.925; UB - Wong 9.900; BB - Wong 9.925; FX - Wong 9.900 (because Emily Wong is your hero)

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.225
Road Score 2: 196.650
Road Score 3: 196.450
Road/Home Score 1: 196.975
Road/Home Score 2: 196.850
Road/Home Score 3: 196.625

The scores this season being what they are, a 196.650 barely registers as a thing, which means that Nebraska managed to score a solid mid-196 and drop two places in the rankings. Floor was the team's lowest scoring event this weekend, which has been a trend. Nebraska is ranked #13 on floor with an RQS of 49.185 and a high of 49.350, which is a major obstacle when there are other teams scoring 49.6s and 49.7s. A 49.185 isn't as much of a problem on an even like beam, but on floor, they're giving up a lot comparatively. The Huskers remain in a similar place to Michigan and UCLA in terms of RQS in spite of dropping and, if they can outscore both those teams by a couple tenths this weekend, have a good shot to jump back up to their previous position. 

10. Stanford 196.465
Week 8 (Monday): 196.750
Week 8 leaders (Monday): AA - Vaculik 39.550; VT - Chuang, Daum, D McNair 9.900; UB - Vaculik 9.925; BB - Vaculik 9.875; FX - Chuang, Vaculik 9.900

RQS:
Road Score 1: 197.275
Road Score 2: 196.825
Road Score 3: 196.250
Road/Home Score 1: 197.000
Road/Home Score 2: 196.325
Road/Home Score 3: 195.925

Stanford just completed their Monday meet, so it's not included in official rankings or RQS picture until next week, but their prospective RQS taking into account this new score of 196.750 would be 196.630, which is pretty competitive with the three teams ranked directly above them. The Cardinal would still need a significant score next week at Alabama to make up any ground in the rankings, but that's imaginable. They were able to get this 196.750 while counting a mistake on beam, so the potential for the necessary 197 is there, especially with Chuang getting 9.9s, which we haven't seen a trace of so far this year. For weeks, Stanford has been on the verge of having to count those low 196s that are hanging around but still doesn't have to as yet, and that must continue during the final two meets if they are to avoid a scary regional.

11. Auburn 196.335
Week 8: 194.825
Week 8 leaders: AA - Atkinson 39.475; VT - Rott 9.900; UB - Atkinson 9.900; BB - Walker 9.875; FX - Webster 9.900

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.850
Road Score 2: 196.550
Road Score 3: 195.950
Road/Home Score 1: 197.100
Road/Home Score 2: 196.225
Road/Home Score 3: 196.100 

12. Minnesota 196.225
Week 8: 197.250
Week 8 leaders: AA - Mable 39.625; VT - Slechta 9.950; UB - Hanley, Tomson 9.925; BB - Mable 9.925; FX - Mable 9.950

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.525
Road Score 2: 196.350
Road Score 3: 196.025
Road/Home Score 1: 197.250
Road/Home Score 2: 196.225
Road/Home Score 3: 196.150

13. Illinois 196.165
Week 8: 195.850
Week 8 leaders: AA - O'Connor 39.125; VT - See 9.875; UB - Fielder 9.825; BB - Lennon, O'Connor, See 9.800; FX - See 9.875

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.500
Road Score 2: 195.850
Road Score 3: 195.825
Road/Home Score 1: 196.775
Road/Home Score 2: 196.475
Road/Home Score 3: 196.175

14. Arkansas 196.130
Week 8: 195.675
Week 8 leaders: AA - Grable 39.600; VT - Grable 9.925; UB - Grable, Salmon 9.900; BB - Grable 9.850; FX - Grable 9.925

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.100
Road Score 2: 196.050
Road Score 3: 196.025
Road/Home Score 1: 197.100
Road/Home Score 2: 196.275
Road/Home Score 3: 196.200  

15. Oregon State 196.115
Week 8: 196.625
Week 8 leaders: AA - Tang 39.325; VT - Keeker 9.900; UB - Aufiero, Casey, Tang 9.900; BB - Witherby 9.875; FX - Gardiner, Harris 9.850

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.450
Road Score 2: 195.625
Road Score 3: 195.200
Road/Home Score 1: 197.100
Road/Home Score 2: 196.675
Road/Home Score 3: 196.625

16. Boise State 196.080
Week 8: 196.975
Week 8 leaders: AA - Morris 39.500; VT - Black 9.900; UB - Morris 9.950; BB - Mejia 9.875; FX - Perkins 9.900

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.325
Road Score 2: 196.000
Road Score 3: 195.850
Road/Home Score 1: 196.975
Road/Home Score 2: 196.200
Road/Home Score 3: 196.025

17. Central Michigan 196.030
Week 8: 194.675
Week 8 leaders: AA - Druien 38.200; VT - K Petzold 9.850; Fagan 9.750; BB - Noonan 9.900; FX - Bolender 9.900

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.500
Road Score 2: 196.425
Road Score 3: 195.925
Road/Home Score 1: 196.600
Road/Home Score 2: 195.800
Road/Home Score 3: 195.500

18. Arizona 195.915
Week 8: 196.250
Week 8 leaders: AA - Flores 38.925; VT - Klarenback 9.875; UB - Felix-Terrazas, Flores 9.900; BB - Edwards 9.875; FX - Klarenbach 9.925

RQS:
Road Score 1: 195.850
Road Score 2: 195.625
Road Score 3: 195.350
Road/Home Score 1: 196.925
Road/Home Score 2: 196.500
Road/Home Score 3: 196.250

19. Penn State 195.910
Week 8: 196.600
Week 8 leaders: AA - Stauder 39.425; VT - Sanabria-Robles, Sibson, Welsh 9.875; UB - Stauder 9.925; BB - Medvitz, Stauder 9.850; FX - Musgrove 9.850

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.150
Road Score 2: 195.825
Road Score 3: 194.825
Road/Home Score 1: 196.675
Road/Home Score 2: 196.600
Road/Home Score 3: 196.150

20. Denver 195.770
Week 8: 195.675
Week 8 leaders: AA - McGee 39.375; VT - Martin 9.850; UB - McGee 9.875; BB - McGee, Pulgarin Linero 9.900; FX - McGee 9.825

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.550
Road Score 2: 195.875
Road Score 3: 195.675
Road/Home Score 1: 196.050
Road/Home Score 2: 195.800
Road/Home Score 3: 195.450

21. Arizona State 195.710
Week 8: 195.575
Week 8 leaders: AA - Conrad 38.875; VT - Kraus, Seaman 9.825; UB - Kraus 9.875; BB - Miceli, Perez 9.875; FX - Sundby 9.850

RQS:
Road Score 1: 195.900
Road Score 2: 195.575
Road Score 3: 194.950
Road/Home Score 1: 196.200
Road/Home Score 2: 196.125
Road/Home Score 3: 196.000

22. California 195.650
Week 8 (Monday): 196.025
Week 8 leaders (Monday): AA - Asturias 39.275; VT - Crawford 9.875; UB - Crawford 9.850; BB - Owens 9.875; FX - Leong, Asturias 9.850

RQS:
Road Score 1: 196.725
Road Score 2: 195.350
Road Score 3: 194.650
Road/Home Score 1: 196.425
Road/Home Score 2: 196.275
Road/Home Score 3: 195.550


Projected RQS including Monday score: 195.925, which would currently be a ranking of 18th.

23. Southern Utah 195.560
Week 8 A: 195.600
Week 8 A leaders: AA - Shettles 38.850; VT - Webb 9.850; UB - Click, Shettles 9.850; BB - Bozzuto, Jaworski 9.800; FX - Shettles, Sigler 9.875

Week 8 B: 195.925
Week 8 B leaders: AA - Shettles 39.250; VT - Ramirez 9.800; UB - Ramirez 9.875; BB - Click 9.825; FX - Shettles 9.850

RQS:
Road Score 1: 195.925
Road Score 2: 195.700
Road Score 3: 195.500
Road/Home Score 1: 195.600
Road/Home Score 2: 195.550
Road/Home Score 3: 195.450

24. Ohio State 195.390
Week 8: 194.950
Week 8 leaders: AA - Shaffer 39.250; VT - Miller 9.875; UB - Shaffer 9.850; BB - Miller 9.875; FX - Shaffer 9.825

RQS:
Road Score 1: 195.925
Road Score 2: 195.275
Road Score 3: 195.200
Road/Home Score 1: 195.900
Road/Home Score 2: 195.625
Road/Home Score 3: 194.950 

25. NC State 195.370
Week 8: 196.100
Week 8 leaders: AA - Watkins 39.400; VT - Watkins 9.925; UB - Watkins 9.850; BB - Fallanca 9.825; FX - Ouellette, Watkins 9.875

RQS:
Road Score 1: 195.450
Road Score 2: 195.400
Road Score 3: 194.300
Road/Home Score 1: 196.100
Road/Home Score 2: 196.050
Road/Home Score 3: 195.650