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Let the madness begin, as they say.
Reigning national champion UConn earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, while UCLA, Texas and South Carolina rounded out the remaining top spots. Will there be upsets or will there be chalk? Can the Huskies defend their title, or can a team like UCLA win its first-ever championship?
What about Vanderbilt? With arguably the nation’s best player in Mikayla Blakes, can the Commodores cause some chaos and make a deep run in a tough region? Or, will South Carolina find a way to clinch its third title in five years?
Here’s a breakdown of the field:
[WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT: 1 Thing To Know About Every Team]
1. Of the No. 1 seeds, which group has the clearest path to the Closing 4?
Madison Booker #35 of the Texas Longhorns through the second half in opposition to the Georgia Bulldogs. (Picture by Scott Wachter/Getty Photos)
Texas.
The Longhorns beat South Carolina two out of 3 times this season, together with within the SEC championship recreation. These wins, plus the general energy of their résumé, are why Texas earned the third No. 1 seed whereas South Carolina obtained the fourth. This element is necessary as a result of now the Longhorns will play within the Fort Value regional, which is simply 190 miles north of Austin, as an alternative of touring to Sacramento.
Final yr, the Longhorns misplaced to the Gamecocks within the Closing 4. This yr, they’ve a good draw to get there once more. The hardest potential hurdles they may face on the best way could be No. 2 seed Michigan or No. 3 seed Louisville within the Elite Eight. However Texas has extra expertise and depth than each of these groups, and is taking part in its greatest basketball of the yr proper now, so they need to don’t have any downside attending to Phoenix.
2. What’s the most intriguing first-round matchup on this yr’s match and why?
NC State Wolfpack ahead Khamil Pierre (12) throughout a recreation in opposition to the Clemson Tigers. (Picture by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
No. 7 NC State vs. No. 10 Tennessee.
Everyone loves a rematch, and these groups began the season taking part in one another. Each packages have been ranked within the high 10 on the time and the Wolfpack received an in depth recreation, 80-77. NC State ahead Khamil Pierre, who transferred from Vanderbilt, led all scorers with 21 factors, whereas teammates Tilda Trygger had 19 and Zamareya Jones had 18.
After shedding that season opener, the Volunteers went on to win 14 of their subsequent 16 video games. However then issues fell aside midseason and Tennessee struggled, going 2-10 down the stretch, together with shedding seven in a row to complete the season. NC State has fared barely higher, however was nonetheless uneven to finish the yr, shedding to Notre Dame within the ACC Match quarterfinal. Now it’s March, and will probably be fascinating to see which group has developed extra since that early November assembly.
3. Who’re three under-the-radar names that everybody ought to find out about heading into March Insanity?
Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones shoots a foul shot in opposition to the Kansas State Wildcats. (Picture by Peter Aiken/Getty Photos)
Audi Crooks, C, Iowa State: Crooks is Iowa State’s 6-foot-3 middle and the nation’s second-leading scorer. She is averaging 25.5 factors and seven.8 rebounds per recreation, whereas taking pictures 64.7% from the sphere. If Crooks can get right into a rhythm early, the Cyclones might go far on this match. Iowa State is a No. 8 seed and opens match play vs. No. 9 Syracuse.
Mikayla Blakes, G, Vanderbilt: By some accounts, Blakes is the most effective participant within the nation. The sophomore guard leads the nation in scoring, averaging 27 factors per recreation, and is undoubtedly Vanderbilt’s most useful participant. She may have some good battles on this tourney because the Commodores might probably face each Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame, and Sarah Robust and UConn. Vanderbilt is a No. 2 seed and kicks issues off in opposition to No. 15 Excessive Level.
Aaliyah Chavez, G, Oklahoma: Take note of this freshman. She has had a stellar rookie season in Norman, which included main Oklahoma to a shocking additional time win in opposition to South Carolina in January. Chavez scored 15 of her 26 factors in OT as then-No. 16 Oklahoma beat then-No. 2 South Carolina, 94-82. She has an opportunity to make an impression in her first NCAA Match, which might embrace a rematch with the Gamecocks within the Candy 16. No. 4 seed Oklahoma will play No. 13 Idaho within the first spherical.
4. What’s the more than likely first-round upset that includes a 12-seed or larger?
Peyton McDaniel #00 of James Madison prepares to drive to the basket in opposition to Jordan Lee of Texas. (Picture by Scott Wachter/Getty Photos)
No. 12 seed James Madison over No. 5 seed Kentucky.
This one is enjoyable as a result of Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks performed at James Madison and began his profession teaching each the boys’s and girls’s packages at his alma mater. Now, they’ll face off within the first spherical of this yr’s NCAA match.
The Dukes, who received the Solar Belt Convention Match, are led by redshirt senior guard Peyton McDaniel (18.9 ppg) and senior ahead Ashanti Barnes (9.1 rpg). They each recorded double-doubles within the convention title recreation win over Troy. JMU went 26-6, and received their final 12 video games, whereas Kentucky hasn’t been so fortunate. The Wildcats have misplaced eight of their final 14 video games, so the Dukes might be catching Brooks and Co. on the proper time.
5. Who’re your Closing 4 picks and who wins all of it?
Lauren Betts #51 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates through the second half in opposition to Iowa. (Picture by Michael Hickey/Getty Photos)
I’m going chalk: UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina to the Closing 4. It received’t be simple, however these are the 4 greatest groups within the nation.
The Bruins, nevertheless, may be the deepest and strongest group. With Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens, this group goes to be a tricky out. A possible matchup within the nationwide championship recreation in opposition to Sarah Robust, Azzi Fudd and UConn might legitimately be the most effective recreation of the yr. And the Bruins will come out on high.
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