NCAAW Hoops talk!

[DOT]

I swear, the last few times I've watched a Uconn game, I look away for 30 seconds and it goes from a close game to a 20-point lead

Feels a bit nostalgic.

[hermes]

iowa avenged their earlier msu loss

ava heiden coming out party, came up huge and might have saved the game with hannah in foul trouble

[hermes]

hawkeyes lose in another close one with ohio st.

pressing defenses still give us trouble, and have too many stretches where we can't hit the broadside of the barn

[Green Chile]

As we close in on the tourney, what an awesome season this has been.

It feels like there are 6 teams with what would normally be a really good shot to win it all (if there weren't so many of them).
And of course a loaded bunch right after them that could all make a Final Four run.

I haven't been following all that long, but I don't recall this level of parity at the very top.

And the number of marketable stars? Wow.
It's probably not fair to these young women, but the 3 year thing does just make women's college basketball so much fun.

The Caitlin Clark Effect wouldn't have been so strong if it were only one season. We've got Paige that's been a household name for years. Now, we've got multiple years of JuJu, Hannah, Booker, Sarah Strong, Mikayla Blakes, Fulwiley, Joyce Edwards, Syla Swords, Olivia Olsen Toby Fournier, and so many more still to come.
And I might be biased, but I swear Lanie Grant is going to be a household name one day.

Anyway, it's been such a fun season.

[Green Chile]

Let me add Oluchi Okananwa (sp?) from Duke to that list.

She's always been the most explosive, energetic player on the floor when she's out there. Now, she's starting to develop her offensive game. Oh my.

I love Kim Caldwell, and she was a great hire. But Tennessee's best move was to bring Kara Lawson home. It pains me, but I love what Duke has cooking.

They lost 4 games in the ACC. They avenged all four at the end of the season/tourney.

[Doctor MJ]

U
C
Llll
A

UCLA Fight! Fight! Fight!

[Doctor MJ]

btw, in my biased opinion, UCLA deserves the top overall seed, with UConn, South Carolina & oh-I-guess USC.

More reluctantly, I think I'd have to side with Trojan JuJu Watkins as POY over my Bruin Lauren Betts. Probably have Paige ahead of Betts too.

[Green Chile]

btw, in my biased opinion, UCLA deserves the top overall seed, with UConn, South Carolina & oh-I-guess USC.

More reluctantly, I think I'd have to side with Trojan JuJu Watkins as POY over my Bruin Lauren Betts. Probably have Paige ahead of Betts too.

I'd have to think so, but it's a tough call.
The parity at the top is just bonkers.

But UCLA only having lost to one team, and then avenging those losses, they have to be it. Up until the first USC loss, UCLA was looking they were separating themselves from the rest of the top 6 teams.

Most are predicting Texas to still get that last #1 seed over UConn.

This tourney is going to be so wild. Notre Dame is a 2-seed and they beat 3 of the top 5 teams in the country.

[Green Chile]

And I've sworn all season that Dugalic is going to end up a Lynx or Liberty. 6'4" good defender that can shoot? Some smart team is going to nab her in the 2nd round and she'll be an important part of the rotation.

[hermes]

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracket
here is the bracket

[Green Chile]

Notre Dame is so hard to figure out. I can't decide if they are going to lose to Michigan in the 2nd round or go all the way to the Championship game. They are in a funk right now, but we're talking about a team that beat USC, UConn, and Texas.

UConn got a good shot here. Texas is the most vulnerable #1 seed, and a healthy Paige, Azzi, and Strong can beat anybody.

Not looking good for my Heels. Oregon State is a live 14 seed, then likely West Virginia. JJ Quinnerly can knock them out by herself. Mountaineer nation would love that given the hubbub on the men's side. Even if they make it to the Sweet 16, they're not getting past Duke. I've watched 2 versions of this. I love this Carolina team, but Duke is just better.

But that's why they lace them up. Who knows. This is going to be so much fun.

I'm feeling a UCLA, South Carolina, UConn, Notre Dame Final Four.

[Green Chile]

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracket
here is the bracket

If it comes to it, Oklahoma can't feel good facing your Hawkeyes. Iowa, Michigan, Vandy, and Tennessee are all really dangerous in that 5-7 seed range. FSU and Louisville too.

[Doctor MJ]

https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/bracket
here is the bracket

#1 seeds were basically what ESPN predicted, which meant Texas instead of UConn. Obviously they had a better pulse on it than me, but it just seems weird to me that THE women's college basketball program with THE biggest star and soon to be #1 pick ranked in the Top 4 of polls but wasn't a #1 seed. Obviously they play in a relatively weak conference, but they did beat a #1 seed (Carolina) in addition to have a #1-worthy record.

[Doctor MJ]

Notre Dame is so hard to figure out. I can't decide if they are going to lose to Michigan in the 2nd round or go all the way to the Championship game. They are in a funk right now, but we're talking about a team that beat USC, UConn, and Texas.

UConn got a good shot here. Texas is the most vulnerable #1 seed, and a healthy Paige, Azzi, and Strong can beat anybody.

Not looking good for my Heels. Oregon State is a live 14 seed, then likely West Virginia. JJ Quinnerly can knock them out by herself. Mountaineer nation would love that given the hubbub on the men's side. Even if they make it to the Sweet 16, they're not getting past Duke. I've watched 2 versions of this. I love this Carolina team, but Duke is just better.

But that's why they lace them up. Who knows. This is going to be so much fun.

I'm feeling a UCLA, South Carolina, UConn, Notre Dame Final Four.

Interesting you feel like UConn's in a good place when they have to play in USC's bracket, and USC already beat them on the road with JuJu looking like the best player in the matchup.

Were I UConn, I'd probably rather be in any other bracket but that one.

[Green Chile]

Notre Dame is so hard to figure out. I can't decide if they are going to lose to Michigan in the 2nd round or go all the way to the Championship game. They are in a funk right now, but we're talking about a team that beat USC, UConn, and Texas.

UConn got a good shot here. Texas is the most vulnerable #1 seed, and a healthy Paige, Azzi, and Strong can beat anybody.

Not looking good for my Heels. Oregon State is a live 14 seed, then likely West Virginia. JJ Quinnerly can knock them out by herself. Mountaineer nation would love that given the hubbub on the men's side. Even if they make it to the Sweet 16, they're not getting past Duke. I've watched 2 versions of this. I love this Carolina team, but Duke is just better.

But that's why they lace them up. Who knows. This is going to be so much fun.

I'm feeling a UCLA, South Carolina, UConn, Notre Dame Final Four.

Interesting you feel like UConn's in a good place when they have to play in USC's bracket, and USC already beat them on the road with JuJu looking like the best player in the matchup.

Were I UConn, I'd probably rather be in any other bracket but that one.

I don't think that's the best spot for UConn, and certainly wouldn't be confident in that pick. All these top teams have all beat each other, so it would be hard to be confident in the outcome of any of the Elite 8 or Final Four games.

But the USC game was Azzi's first game back, and she essentially didn't play. She is now back and playing great.
A healthy Paige, Strong, and Fudd with Geno's experience is a tough out for anybody.

Of course, so is Juju, so it's going to be fun.

I don't think it's a coincidence that they are in the same bracket again (along with Iowa). I'd have to imagine somebody at ESPN/ABC/Disney has some influence on the committee.

All this talk about committees and transparency, we've got to remember the real consumer of college sports is the TV networks pay large sums of money. That committee knows that Paige vs. Juju 3.0 is a big priority.

[Green Chile]

As wide open as this year been, it's interesting is that basically every women's basketball podcast has the same Final Four (South Carolina, UConn, UCLA, ND). And most have the same championship game of South Carolina and UConn.

With all this parity, it would be pretty wild if it was just Geno and Dawn.

A lot of people don't seem to have a ton of trust in Texas, UCLA, and USC. At least based on about 15 podcasts.

With all 3 teams, it seems the main issue is that if one player has an off night they can lose. With Texas, it's shooting in general.

ND is wild. Every podcaster thinks it's entirely possible they lose to Michigan. But they nearly all put them in the Final Four.

Just interesting that so many podcasters see it so similarly. It would seem when that happens, things don't normally go that way.

Either way, it's going to be a lot of fun to find out.

[hermes]

parity is improving but i think its still a little top heavy
and broadcaster bias will likely take a while to unwind

[Green Chile]

Got some live ones with South Dakota State and Florida Gulf Coast. Both always strong mid-majors.

Saw SDSU give Duke all it could handle earlier this year, and FGCU lost their coach to the Atlanta Dream and hasn't skipped a beat.

[Green Chile]

Norfolk State too. Maryland is so banged up. Norfolk State led by stud NC State transfer Diamond Johnson.

[Green Chile]

Well, so much for that, outside of the Jackrabbits. First time since 1990 that no seed higher than a 10 won a 1st round game.