Hottest ladies’s NCAA basketball groups forward of March Insanity

By this level in February, issues begin to get actual for school basketball groups throughout the nation. Common-season convention championships are at stake. League tournaments, and thereby computerized bids to the NCAA match, are proper across the nook. After which a nationwide title might be on the road for the 68 groups that compete in March Insanity.

Championships aren’t gained or misplaced in February, one thing we noticed as lately as final 12 months. LSU, for instance, dropped two late contests in SEC play, routed by South Carolina on Tremendous Bowl Sunday after which upset within the convention match semifinal by Tennessee. However the Tigers emerged as the perfect model of themselves in late March and early April, making this system’s first Closing 4 in 15 years and profitable its first nationwide championship.

It is a lot better to be jelling and have issues discovered presently of 12 months than nonetheless trying to find solutions. In order March creeps up, listed below are 5 scorching groups choosing up momentum on the proper time, some which have shaken issues up in ESPN’s Bracketology and is perhaps poised for deep runs this spring.

Contemporary off its first Elite Eight look in 30 years, Ohio State did not meet expectations early on, dropping marquee nonconference contests to USC and UCLA, however the Buckeyes have taken care of enterprise in Massive Ten play. After falling at Michigan on Dec. 30, the Buckeyes have not misplaced within the 2024 calendar 12 months, most importantly beating Iowa in additional time in Columbus. Final week they pulled off a 80-47 rout over Nebraska, who the sport prior had upset Iowa, in maybe essentially the most full recreation of the season for Kevin McGuff’s squad.

A 13-game win streak has propelled Ohio State into the No. 2 rating within the Related Press ballot, whereas the Buckeyes have additionally assumed a 1½-game lead over Iowa within the Massive Ten standings and a No. 1 seed within the NCAA choice committee’s first high 16 reveal. At this price, no remaining regular-season recreation might need as a lot juice as their rematch in opposition to the Hawkeyes in Iowa Metropolis on March 3.

The Buckeyes have thrived with Jacy Sheldon (17.8 PPG) again into the fold (she performed in simply 13 video games final 12 months as a result of damage), and in the event that they get the model of Cotie McMahon that dropped 33 factors in opposition to Iowa final month, they may attain Cleveland and the Closing 4. Whereas they’ve a number of choices for the way to rating offensively, their protection has triggered the largest issues within the Massive Ten. By forcing over 20 turnovers per recreation and boasting the perfect defensive score in convention play (89.1 factors allowed per 100 possessions in keeping with CBB Analytics), Ohio State has solely allowed three Massive Ten groups to attain greater than 72 factors.

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Oregon State tops UCLA’s heroics on Talia von Oelhoffen’s buzzer-beater

Lauren Betts’ bucket in closing seconds places UCLA up, then Talia von Oelhoffen drills a 3-pointer on the buzzer to provide Oregon State the win.

Following a 13-win season that included simply 4 victories in convention play, the Beavers have been picked to complete tenth within the Pac-12 preseason ballot. As an alternative, Scott Rueck has led his workforce right into a tie for second place within the convention standings and a No. 2 seed in Charlie Creme’s newest Bracketology. After going undefeated in nonconference play, Oregon State dropped early video games to the L.A. faculties however has since gained 9 of its final 11, sweeping Colorado, defeating Utah in Salt Lake Metropolis and at present coming off a very thrilling weekend by which they beat UCLA on the buzzer in the most effective finishes to a basketball recreation.

With high scorer and rebounder Raegan Beers (17.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG) unavailable as a result of a facial damage she suffered in opposition to UCLA, the Beavers fell to USC the subsequent recreation — their sole loss at Gill Coliseum this 12 months — however they gave the Trojans and JuJu Watkins all the things they may deal with.

Beers supplies a paint presence inside, and the Beavers encompass her with gamers who can knock down 3s (Timea Gardiner, Talia von Oelhoffen and Lily Hansford have every made at the least 30 on the season). However their bench unit has been a separator, and whereas their protection is not flashy it’s nonetheless robust to go in opposition to (in convention play they’re holding opponents to a league-best 40.1% efficient subject aim proportion, in keeping with CBB Analytics).

Oregon State hasn’t performed within the NCAA match since 2021, however the Beavers are trying like a workforce few will need to face in Corvallis after which doubtlessly Portland. And Rueck is aware of a factor or two about deep postseason runs, taking the Beavers to 2 Candy 16s, one Elite Eight and a Closing 4 from 2016-19.

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Georgia Amoore sinks a clean reverse layup

Georgia Amoore makes a reverse layup to increase Virginia Tech’s lead.

ESPN School GameDay’s third cease of the season comes Sunday in Blacksburg, Virginia, and the go to comes at an ideal time. After falling to Iowa and LSU in nonconference play after which struggling consecutive losses to Florida State and Duke, Virginia Tech enters Sunday’s matchup in opposition to North Carolina on a nine-game win streak. The run mirrors how the Hokies took the ACC by storm final February on their strategy to reaching this system’s first Closing 4. Most impressively this season, they swept the regular-season sequence in opposition to NC State and have gained 4 consecutive highway matchups in opposition to ranked ACC groups.

Virginia Tech at present sits on the No. 3 seed line in Bracketology and atop the ACC standings. The Hokies are 13-2 with three regular-season video games remaining, together with only one in opposition to a Prime 25 opponent.

Elizabeth Kitley (22.9 PPG, 11.8 RPG) and Georgia Amoore (17.8 PPG, 7.5 APG) are on the shortlist for greatest duos within the nation. With each placing up profession numbers this season, Kitley might develop into a three-time ACC participant of the 12 months whereas Amoore is without doubt one of the greatest level guards within the school recreation. As a gaggle that has wanted to be affected person as its newer gamers develop into their roles, the Hokies’ X issue stays which participant will assist their all-American pair. Matilda Ekh appears to have gotten extra comfy as a 3rd scoring choice, and Kenny Brooks will want her, Cayla King and the remainder of their complementary items to be at their greatest to make it deep into March.

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Oklahoma cruises on the highway with win over Cincinnati

Oklahoma cruises on the highway with win over Cincinnati

With three starters from final 12 months graduated and a fourth out for the 12 months with an damage, the Sooners have been picked to complete fifth within the Massive 12 preseason ballot. Most onlookers assumed it will be a down 12 months for Oklahoma, particularly after the Sooners went 6-5 in nonconference play, most shockingly shedding to Southern by 9.

However Jennie Baranczyk’s squad appears to have turned a nook in Massive 12 competitors, as Oklahoma tops the convention standings with three video games remaining. The Sooners have gained 10 of their final 11 contests, together with placing up 91 factors in a win over Texas in Austin.

Skylar Vann (15.5 PPG) and Payton Verhulst (12.0 PPG) have emerged as its high scorers, however Oklahoma has no points sharing the ball. In truth, their 71.4% help price is the perfect within the nation, in keeping with Her Hoop Stats. And whereas they are not essentially elite defensively, the Sooners have improved on that finish of the ground. They rank No. 5 in league play in defensive score by permitting 90.9 factors per 100 possessions with an opponent efficient subject aim proportion of 44.0% (second greatest within the league), in keeping with CBB Analytics.

If the Sooners — who have been co-regular season champs final 12 months with Texas — keep on this observe, they may win back-to-back Massive 12 titles for the primary time since 2006-2007, vital contemplating previous to final 12 months, they hadn’t gained a convention crown since 2009. Oklahoma is a No. 6 seed within the newest Bracketology.

We might be remiss if we did not point out the three groups within the nation who’ve gained at the least 20 consecutive video games: South Carolina, Gonzaga and Fairfield. Whereas the Gamecocks and Bulldogs are perennial match groups, the Stags went 20 years in between appearances within the Massive Dance (2001 to 2022). However they’re the clear favorites to signify the MAAC come March below second-year coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis.

Their present 21-game win streak has garnered some consideration within the AP ballot (they’re the No. 2 workforce receiving votes exterior the Prime 25 behind UNLV), with their sole loss on the 12 months to projected NCAA match workforce Vanderbilt within the second recreation of the season.

Loads of freshmen have made waves across the nation this season, and Fairfield has one in all its personal: Meghan Andersen leads the workforce in scoring (15.9 PPG), rebounding (5.1 PPG) and blocks (1.3 BPG).

What to look at this weekend

No. 11 Colorado at No. 7 USC
10 p.m. ET Friday, Pac-12 Community

USC is on the rise with six straight Pac-12 wins, together with one lately over Oregon State in Corvallis, and the Trojans will look to increase that streak after they host the Buffaloes on Friday. Colorado, in the meantime, might use a confidence-boosting week in L.A. after dropping two straight to Oregon State and Utah, losses which bumped them off the No. 1 line in Bracketology and has allowed Stanford to strengthen its stronghold atop the Pac-12 standings.

No. 24 Baylor at No. 22 West Virginia
2 p.m. ET Saturday, Massive 12 Community/ESPN+

The Massive 12 has been unpredictable this season. After each groups went undefeated in nonconference play, the Bears are in the course of the pack within the league at 9-6, whereas West Virginia sits in fourth at 11-4, with each projected as No. 6 seeds within the NCAA match. Baylor gained the primary assembly 65-58, however the Mountaineers, who’re coming off a tricky additional time loss at Kansas State, will not need to drop two in a row.

No. 13 LSU at Tennessee
Midday ET Sunday, ESPN/ESPN App

This battle of the second- and third-best groups within the SEC ought to inform us extra about the place every squad is absolutely at. The Tigers have been up and down in convention play, almost beating South Carolina however dropping video games to unranked Auburn and Mississippi State. Tennessee has 4 convention losses after struggling 5 in nonconference play however has had previous two weeks or so, additionally competing with the Gamecocks. The Girl Vols are nonetheless lacking a marquee win this season, so capitalizing off internet hosting the Tigers would go a good distance.