It’s been just a little over three weeks since the Cal women’s hoops team lost in a heart-breaker to GW in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

It was just last week when Tennessee took home its second consecutive national title. But these critics like to start early, as ESPN and SI.com have announced their pre-, pre-, pre-, pre-season rankings for the 2008-09 season.

And where is Cal? ESPN has the Bears at No. 7 heading into next year and Sports Illustrated has Cal at No. 6.

But the Bears are still ranked behind arch-nemesis Stanford, which ESPN has tabbed at No. 2 heading into next year. Oddly enough, Cal is ranked ahead the two-time defending champion Volunteers in both polls.

Next year has got to be the year for Bears. Devanei Hampton, Ashley Walker and Alexis Gray-Lawson are all seniors, and all three haven’t even sniffed the Final Four, won a Pac-10 crown or beat a team that’s ranked in the top 5.

Will it be a disappointment if Cal has nothing to show for after the 08/09 season? Probably, at least from the outside looking in.

However, everyone needs to remember, this is a team that just four years ago lost 14 games in conference. I say just making it to the Sweet 16 next year will be an accomplishment.

But of course, that won’t be enough for this trio of Cal stars, and it shouldn’t be. The onus is on them to get the Bears further.

Popularity: 50%