By Richard Kent, Special to SI.com

The Favorites

Notre Dame's Jacqueline Batteast was the Big East's preseason player of the year. AP

Notre Dame, (25-4, 13-3 Big East)
No. 2 seed
The Irish have a veteran team that beat Ohio State, UConn, Rutgers and Duke, but lost to Villanova. Jacqueline Batteast is one of the top-three players in the conference. Megan Duffy can shoot the 3-pointer and Teresa Borton is a true center in a conference with few. What the Irish lack is athleticism and frontcourt depth, but head coach Muffet McGraw is a great tournament coach and always has her team ready for postseason.
Postseason potential: In the NCAAs.

UConn (20-7, 13-3)
No. 3 seed
It doesn't hurt that the Huskies are at home in the Hartford Civic Center where more than 80 percent ofthe crowd will be for UConn. It has won three consecutive national titles and its senior class is an incredible 127-12. Junior guard Ann Strother can drill it from 3-point land and freshman Charde Houston is a warrior who can score in droves. A lack of depth at the point and unexplained scoring droughts -- such as at BC last weekend -- have been problems. The Huskies do have one of the best in-game coaches in the country in Geno Auriemma.
Postseason potential: In the NCAAs.

Rutgers (23-5, 14-2)
No. 1 seed
The Scarlet Knights are the biggest surprise in the country this year after beating top-10 teams LSU, Texas and Tennessee in an eight-day stretch in late December and early January. They also scored wins over UConn and Notre Dame as well as a sweep of Boston College. Chelsea Newton is the heart and soul of the team and head coach Vivian Stringer needs the oft-hurt senior to stay healthy throughout the postseason. Cappie Pondexter is a national player of the year candidate even after sitting out the first semester. The Knights still have trouble scoring and winning on the road.
Postseason potential: In the tournament already

The Contenders

Villanova (17-10, 10-6)
No. 5 seed
A typical Harry Perretta-coached team -- unathletic and undersized. But they win, and picked up a great victory over Notre Dame. Leading scorer Liad Suez comes off the bench and the 'Cats can be dangerous if they control the tempo and score more than 50 points. Losing Jenna Viani has hurt.
Postseason potential: On the bubble, might need at least two wins to get in.

Boston College (19-8, 10-6)
No. 4 seed
The Eagles played the toughest schedule in the conference and might have been the favorite for the conference title had senior point guard Jessalyn Deveny not gone down for the season with an ACL injury. Clare Droesch can shoot from anywhere. The Eagles picked up a great win on senior night, topping UConn, 51-48.
Postseason potential: On the bubble.

Sleeper

West Virginia (16-9, 7-7)
No. 7 seed
The Mountaineers jumped out to a great start, but played an easy schedule before suffering through Big East woes. They boast a pair of stars in Yolanda Paige, a sure WNBA player, and sophomore Meg Bulger. The graduation of Meg's sister Kate really hurt the team. They lack depth on the inside. West Virginia is a young team that will only improve next season.
Postseason potential: Must win to get in.

Rest of the Field

No. 6: Georgetown
No. 8: St. John's
No. 9: Seton Hall
No. 10: Pittsburgh
No. 11: Syracuse
No. 12: Providence

First-round predictions: Villanova over Providence, SJU over SHU, WVU over Pittsburgh, Georgetown over Syracuse.

Quarterfinal predictions: BC over Villanova, RU over SJU, ND over WVU, UConn over Georgetown.

Semifinal predictions: RU over BC, UConn over ND.

Championship prediction: UConn over RU-at the buzzer