Sixteen groups have superior to the regional semifinals in Albany and Portland. And the Candy 16 is filled with potential.
All 4 No. 1 seeds reached the spherical of 16. Defending champion LSU is again, as is No. 1 general seed South Carolina, which is 34-0 and chasing an ideal season.
Particular person star energy abounds as nicely. Caitlin Clark, who broke the NCAA Division I report for many factors in a single season within the second spherical, and Iowa stay within the hunt to ebook a return journey to the nationwide semifinals. JuJu Watkins, the front-runner for nationwide freshman of the 12 months, has led USC to its first Candy 16 since 1994.
The Trojans are one among 5 Pac-12 groups within the Candy 16 because the convention continues its push to exit on a excessive notice in its final March Insanity earlier than the Pac-12 as we all know it ceases to exist.
And Duke, at No. 7 the bottom seed left, is hoping to proceed its run however must get previous UConn and Paige Bueckers, who had been upset on this spherical a 12 months in the past.
Which groups will make the Elite Eight? ESPN’s Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou and Michael Voepel preview each regional semifinal and be a part of Andrea Adelson in predicting who advances.
Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Area 1 in Albany)
Why Notre Dame will win: Throughout their 10-game profitable streak, the Irish have adopted a easy components: play nice protection, and Hannah Hidalgo, Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld will care for the offense. That has allowed the Irish to not simply survive however thrive, regardless of coach Niele Ivey having solely six gamers accessible in her rotation. Notre Dame has navigated three season-ending accidents and the lack of Olivia Miles and Jenna Brown earlier than the season even started. Solely Duke, within the win that began the streak, has shot over 40% from the sector in opposition to Notre Dame up to now 10 video games, and no opponent has reached 70 factors. Ivey and Hidalgo, the nationwide chief in steals, have turned this right into a defense-first group. The flexibility of their three stars additionally offers the Irish a number of methods to attain. Hidalgo likes to assault the paint. Citron has a clean midrange sport and can also be a great finisher. Westbeld is Notre Dame’s high rebounder and greatest 3-point shooter.
Why Oregon State will win: The Beavers have a giant benefit within the submit in 6-foot-4 sophomore Raegan Beers. The knee harm that ended the season for Notre Dame’s Kylee Watson may loom massive on this sport. She was the skilled, bodily presence the Irish may flip to in opposition to a participant like Beers, whose 17.5 factors and 10.2 rebounds per sport lead Oregon State. Natalija Marshall, a 6-5 Notre Dame senior, performed spot minutes within the Irish’s frontcourt earlier than the accidents. Now she could have the accountability of slowing down an All-Pac-12 participant. Beers was held in examine in opposition to Nebraska within the second spherical however count on the Beavers to look her far more usually on Friday.
What is the X issue: Notre Dame’s foul state of affairs. Participant fatigue is not a difficulty, regardless of the shortage of depth. The longer breaks in NCAA match play assist. However fouls are a game-to-game proposition. How these play out cannot be predicted. The Irish can in poor health afford to have Hidalgo, Citron or Westbeld compelled to take a seat with foul bother early within the sport. Hidalgo has completed with 4 fouls in three of these 10 video games, and Citron had 4 twice. That’s the closest any Notre Dame participant has been to fouling out. The Irish appear to have perfected the artwork of enjoying nice protection with out fouling, nevertheless it stays one thing to observe. — Creme
Which group will advance?
Adelson: Oregon State 71, Notre Dame 70
Creme: Notre Dame 65, Oregon State 61
Pelton: Notre Dame 70, Oregon State 66
Philippou: Notre Dame 66, Oregon State 56
Voepel: Notre Dame 74, Oregon State 66
1:48
The star gamers from the primary two rounds of the ladies’s NCAA match
Take a look at a number of the greatest performs from the highest stars within the first two rounds of the ladies’s NCAA match.
Friday, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN (Area 1 in Albany)
Why South Carolina will win: If the Gamecocks play their A-game, they will not lose. That has been the consensus within the basketball world because the second month of the season (if not sooner). No different group is proficient or deep sufficient to beat South Carolina at its greatest. And the efficiency we noticed within the second spherical in opposition to North Carolina was no less than near South Carolina’s greatest. The Gamecocks lead the NCAA match in scoring, rebounding and subject aim share allowed. Freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley has emerged as one thing nicely past a highlight-generating participant. Her perimeter capturing and penetrating talents give coach Daybreak Staley one other dimension. Fulwiley and Te-Hina Paopao are capturing over 50% from the 3-point line, and Kamilla Cardoso remains to be dominating inside. Towards the Tar Heels, South Carolina’s guards had been dominant. With Cardoso, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, the Gamecocks ought to put on down a skinny Hoosiers entrance line.
Why Indiana will win: The within-outside punch of Mackenzie Holmes and Sara Scalia has been efficient to date and will be on this sport. Scalia can be notably vital if Indiana goes to tug the upset. If she will free herself to make some 3-pointers — she’s 6-of-15 to date within the match — it ought to open some passing lanes and house for Holmes to function within the submit. One-on-one, Holmes can succeed in opposition to South Carolina. It is when the Gamecocks carry a number of defenders as tall or taller than the 6-foot-3 Holmes that she may have issues. If level guard Chloe Moore-McNeil can play a gentle ground sport in opposition to what is certain to be a revolving door of high quality perimeter defenders, Indiana can keep within the sport and maybe steal an upset late.
What is the X issue: South Carolina’s perimeter protection. Fulwiley, Paopao, Raven Johnson and Bree Corridor may cause a number of issues if they’re efficient on protection. Shutting down Indiana’s perimeter capturing will take away the Hoosiers’ greatest likelihood to maximise possessions. Indiana’s guards additionally have to get Holmes the ball in scoring areas. If Scalia, Moore-McNeil, Sydney Parrish and Yarden Garzon cannot navigate that strain protection, Holmes will not get sufficient high quality touches to be impactful. — Creme
Which group will advance?
Adelson: South Carolina 80, Indiana 65
Creme: South Carolina 77, Indiana 59
Pelton: South Carolina 85, Indiana 67
Philippou: South Carolina 85, Indiana 60
Voepel: South Carolina 82, Indiana 73
Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Area 4 in Portland)
Why Stanford will win: Stanford has the 2 greatest gamers on the court docket in Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen. In the event that they play like that, Stanford will win. Brink struggled offensively and with foul bother in opposition to Iowa State, and regardless of Iriafen’s 41-point brilliance, the Cardinal almost did not survive in opposition to Iowa State, needing extra time to advance. Coach Tara VanDerveer will want a 3rd vital contributor, maybe Hannah Bounce or Elena Bosgana. If the Cardinal have three gamers delivering on the offensive finish at a excessive charge, they are going to be within the Elite Eight.
Why NC State will win: Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers are the 2 greatest guards on the court docket. Zoe Brooks could be third. NC State is hard to beat if the trio performs prefer it did in opposition to Tennessee within the second spherical, when these gamers had been the Wolfpack’s high three scorers. The offense has struggled at instances late within the season when Rivers wasn’t capturing the ball nicely or Brooks wasn’t as concerned. Getting their transition sport going early is vital. Rivers and Brooks excel within the open court docket, and enjoying a full-court sport negates Stanford’s dimension benefit.
What is the X issue: This can be a basic battle of energy vs. weak spot. Frontcourt vs. backcourt. The play of River Baldwin and Mimi Collins in opposition to Brink and Iriafen can be vital to observe. They needn’t defend completely, but when Baldwin and Collins can rebound and defend successfully, with out fouling, NC State could have the higher hand. — Creme
Which group will advance?
Adelson: Stanford 66, NC State 60
Creme: NC State 76, Stanford 74
Pelton: Stanford 71, NC State 63
Philippou: Stanford 71, NC State 62
Voepel: Stanford 75, NC State 70
Friday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN (Area 4 in Portland)
Why Texas will win: Whereas Madison Booker is Texas’ greatest participant, the Longhorns’ skill to dominate inside, particularly on the glass, is what’s going to get them to the Elite Eight. Offensive rebounding was the difference-maker in opposition to Alabama within the second spherical, and if Aaliyah Moore, Taylor Jones and DeYona Gaston can set up bodily dominance, the Longhorns may have the ability to push across the Bulldogs. Search for the 6-1 Booker — who’s so adept at creating house for her midrange jumper — to capitalize on her dimension benefit over the smaller Gonzaga guards, Kayleigh Truong (5-9) and Kaylynne Truong (5-8).
Why Gonzaga will win: The Zags are essentially the most correct 3-point capturing group within the nation (40.1%) and made 12 of 28 in opposition to Utah. Texas cannot beat Gonzaga in a capturing contest, regardless of being a strong 3-point capturing group itself. Yvonne Ejim can also be the best and environment friendly submit participant on this sport. Texas will undoubtedly attempt to get bodily together with her with a number of defenders. That is what Vic Schaefer-coached groups do. But when Ejim can play successfully in a number of methods, she will drag the Texas bigs to the excessive submit and be simply as efficient. That might largely negate the Longhorns’ physicality. Gonzaga can pull the upset if it could open the court docket and play with tempo.
What is the X issue: The protection of Texas’ Shay Holle and Shaylee Gonzales in opposition to Brynna Maxwell and the Truong sisters can be vital. Utah’s guards had bother matching up with all three. Eliza Hollingsworth, a 6-3 ahead, was additionally left open an excessive amount of. She’s doubtless going to be extra agile than the defender guarding her on the skin. The Texas technique on tips on how to deal with all of the Gonzaga perimeter choices may determine this sport. — Creme
Which group will advance?
Adelson: Texas 81 Gonzaga 63
Creme: Texas 68, Gonzaga 65
Pelton: Texas 75, Gonzaga 68
Philippou: Texas 82, Gonzaga 66
Voepel: Texas 81, Gonzaga 71
2:00
Relive LSU’s high performs within the ladies’s NCAA match to date
Relive the LSU Tigers’ greatest performs from this 12 months’s NCAA match in wins over Rice and Center Tennessee.
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, ABC (Area 2 in Albany)
Why LSU will win: A part of the Tigers’ energy this season is proved by how intently they performed SEC rival and No. 1 general seed South Carolina. The Tigers misplaced the regular-season matchup with the Gamecocks 76-70 on Jan. 25, and the SEC match last 79-72 on March 10.
The Tigers did not have a very convincing NCAA match first-round win over Rice (70-60). And observers voiced concern concerning the second spherical’s free throw capturing disparity with Center Tennessee: The Tigers had been 26-of-37 from the road, whereas the Blue Raiders had been 6-of-9.
However the backside line is that LSU has the rebounding skill, led by Angel Reese, to win the board battle in most video games. The Tigers additionally common virtually 10 factors per sport greater than the Bruins. So so long as LSU is ready to run its offense comparatively nicely, it could be robust for UCLA to decisively win any main facet of the sport.
Why UCLA will win: The Bruins misplaced to rival USC within the Pac-12 match semifinals, after which bought a scare from Creighton within the second spherical of the NCAA match. Now that they’re within the Candy 16, we’d see one of the best of UCLA. The Bruins misplaced right here in Albany within the regional semifinal 5 years in the past; that was to a UConn group not that removed from its dwelling. Final season, UCLA additionally misplaced within the Candy 16 on the East Coast: to South Carolina in Greenville, South Carolina.
This season’s Bruins spent loads of time at No. 2 within the Related Press ballot and have all of the bases coated with expertise. UCLA has six gamers averaging between 14.9 and eight.9 factors. All however one among them — heart Lauren Betts — have made no less than 20 3-pointers this season. It is honest to say that UCLA is one of the best program that hasn’t made the ladies’s Remaining 4 within the NCAA period. A win over the defending champion Tigers will not get it there however could be a giant step.
What is the X issue: It may very well be free throws. The Tigers lead Division I in free throws made (709) and tried (950). Evaluate that to UCLA, which is 421-of-563 from the road for the season. — Voepel
Which group will advance?
Adelson: UCLA 77, LSU 76
Creme: UCLA 72, LSU 71
Pelton: LSU 80, UCLA 73
Philippou: UCLA 75, LSU, 72
Voepel: LSU 81, UCLA 77
1:58
Take a look at Caitlin Clark’s high highlights of this NCAA match
Relive Iowa star Caitlin Clark’s greatest performs from the Hawkeyes’ wins vs. Holy Cross and West Virginia within the ladies’s NCAA match.
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC (Area 2 in Albany)
Why Iowa will win: The Hawkeyes needed to be affected person in letting West Virginia’s fouls meet up with it in Monday’s second-round win. The Mountaineers’ defensive technique was to attempt to harass Iowa into sufficient turnovers to take management of the sport, however the Hawkeyes did not let it occur. Nonetheless, the sport went right down to the wire, so Colorado may attempt a number of the identical ways.
That stated, Iowa nonetheless has loads of offensive threats even past famous person Caitlin Clark, who leads Division I in scoring, assists and 3-pointers. Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall and Sydney Affolter can all hit massive 3-point photographs. Hannah Stuelke was quiet throughout the early-round video games — she missed most of Iowa’s NCAA opener with migraine points — however this sport may very well be enormous for her. As for Clark, the Candy 16 and past final season was when she actually put her sport into one other gear. If she will do the identical this 12 months, the Hawkeyes can advance to the Elite Eight.
Why Colorado will win: The Buffaloes’ early-round victories had been in opposition to Drake, which depends on good 3-point capturing, and Kansas State, which is not as excessive scoring and bases its offense round a middle. Colorado dealt with each these groups nicely, beating the Bulldogs by 14 and the Wildcats by 13. Iowa is Division I’s most potent offense, however the Buffs have proved they’ll decelerate good groups.
If Colorado — which averages 75.4 PPG to Iowa’s 92.0 PPG — can set the tone defensively, that tilts the sport within the Buffs’ favor. Like West Virginia, Colorado has a super-quick guard in Jaylyn Sherrod. In contrast to the Mountaineers, the Buffs have extra expert inside gamers, akin to Quay Miller and Aaronette Vonleh. The Hawkeyes beat the Buffs 87-77 final season within the Candy 16, however Colorado may flip the tables this time.
What is the X issue: Iowa’s 3-point capturing. The Hawkeyes common a Division I-best 11.1 3-pointers per sport. And after they begin raining 3s, they’ll go on spurts that change the entire dynamic of the sport. — Voepel
Which group will advance?
Adelson: Iowa 75, Colorado 70
Creme: Iowa 78, Colorado 72
Pelton: Iowa 90, Colorado 82
Philippou: Iowa 82, Colorado 74
Voepel: Iowa 84, Colorado 79
2:02
The perfect of JuJu Watkins to date within the NCAA match
Relive USC star JuJu Watkins’ greatest performs from the Trojans’ wins vs. Texas A&M Commerce and Kansas within the ladies’s NCAA match.
Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN (Area 3 in Portland)
Why USC will win: Having misplaced only one sport throughout February and March, the Trojans have been enjoying their greatest basketball on the proper time. Freshman phenom JuJu Watkins is doing her factor and boasts the third-most factors of all time by a freshman with 861. However others round her have stepped up too — notably McKenzie Forbes on the offensive finish, who simply strung collectively three consecutive 20-plus-point video games for the primary time in her profession. When these two are hitting photographs and the remainder of the Trojans — whether or not Kayla Padilla, Kaitlyn Davis, Clarice Akunwafo or another person — excel of their roles, Lindsay Gottlieb’s squad is hard to beat.
Why Baylor will win: The Bears’ offensive steadiness — a distinction from Watkins-centric USC — signifies that primarily based on matchups, any one among their gamers has the chance to pop off. Towards Vanderbilt, it was Bella Fontleroy. Towards Virginia Tech, it was Sarah Andrews within the first half and Jada Walker within the second on her technique to posting a career-high 28 factors. Nicki Collen stated her group misplaced a few of its confidence on the offensive finish of the ground throughout its rocky Massive 12 slate, but when that sturdy efficiency in Blacksburg carries over to Saturday — mixed with the Bears’ usually sturdy protection — it may spell an upset.
What is the X issue: Baylor is 21-1 this season when it outrebounds its opponent, with Aijha Blackwell and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs combining for 15.3 boards per contest. Can Rayah Marshall (10.3 RPG) — probably the greatest rebounders within the Pac-12 — and the Trojans sustain?
Which group will advance?
Adelson: USC 83 Baylor 72
Creme: USC 72, Baylor 55
Pelton: USC 72, Baylor 65
Philippou: USC 71, Baylor 62
Voepel: USC 72, Baylor 67
1:50
Take a look at Paige Bueckers’ high highlights of the NCAA match
Relive UConn star Paige Bueckers’ greatest performs from the Huskies’ wins vs. Jackson State and Syracuse within the ladies’s NCAA match.
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, (Area 3 in Portland)
Why UConn will win: The Huskies have three seniors — Paige Bueckers, Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl — who’ve been on this stage (and greater) earlier than and had been on the group final 12 months when UConn was surprised by Ohio State within the Candy 16. Even when it was to a special opponent, the ache of that loss on this spherical remains to be contemporary on their minds, solely additional motivating the Huskies heading into Saturday. Bueckers could be having one of the best postseason of any participant within the nation, and together with her well-rounded influence on the sport will do no matter it takes to get UConn one step nearer to Cleveland. She would not must do it alone, both, with sturdy begins to postseason play from Edwards and freshman Ashlynn Shade.
Why Duke will win: The Blue Devils boast probably the greatest defenses within the nation, a unit that may trigger suits for UConn’s offense. They have not allowed an opponent to attain greater than 63 factors since Feb. 19. Whereas they did not have a ton of constant offensive firepower throughout the common season, they now have one of many hottest gamers within the match in junior Reigan Richardson, who’s averaging 12.4 factors per sport on the season however scored 25 and 28 factors in opposition to Richmond and Ohio State, respectively. Duke’s prowess on the offensive glass, spurred by freshman Oluchi Okananwa, additionally offers the Blue Devils an edge over an opponent with a dearth of frontcourt choices.
What is the X issue: Syracuse did a great job for essentially the most a part of neutralizing UConn’s submit play. Can Duke do the identical? The Blue Devils enable simply 23.4 factors within the paint per sport and have posts Kennedy Brown (6-6) and Camilla Emsbo (6-5) defending the rim (the group averages 5.6 rejections per sport). Edwards is among the high gamers left within the match, and final time these two packages met in November 2022, she tallied 17 factors and 11 rebounds. — Philippou
Which group will advance?
Adelson: UConn 66, Duke 60
Creme: UConn 70, Duke 56
Pelton: UConn 71, Duke 60
Philippou: UConn 67, Duke 59
Voepel: UConn 79, Duke 65
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/beef_stroganoff_072_0-1-14b979e7e0e943e0bea96ca93d54ef06.jpg "60 Winter Dinner Recipes Assured To Hold You Heat")