Bracketology - Dec 16

[BRS24]

Women's Bracketology: Louisville up, Tennessee down as the battle to host heats up

A decisive win over Tennessee put Louisville solidly inside the top 16 -- and dropped the Lady Vols to a 6-seed.

www.espn.com

Louisville back in the top 16, USC out.

Despite the lighter schedule, the weekend included two big matchups that were very telling as to this season's power structure. UConn's blowout at USC and Texas' dismantling of Baylor in Fort Worth demonstrated that the gap between the very best teams in the country and the next tier is substantial. The Trojans and Bears figure to fight for top-16 spots all season, yet neither game was competitive. South Carolina, without third-leading scorer and top rebounder Madina Okot, also cruised to an easy win over Penn State. The combined margin of victory in those three games: 103 points. Not to take away the mystery in mid-December, but apart from LSU, there doesn't seem to be a challenge to the No. 1 seeds. UConn, Texas, South Carolina, UCLA and LSU have separated themselves. It would be shocking if four teams from that group aren't on the top line on Selection Sunday.​

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Big Ten - 13
SEC - 11
ACC - 7
Big 12 - 7
Big East - 2
Atlantic 10 - 2

 

[Bone Dog]

I totally get swapping Louisville for USC. One thing that got exposed in the loss to UConn is their lack of any frontcourt presence. What surprises me is that UNC hasn’t fallen out of the top 16. They were kinda exposed too.

 

[Basingstoke]

I wouldn't rule out Michigan sneaking into the top 4.

 

[Centerstream]

I wouldn't rule out Michigan sneaking into the top 4.

Currently #4 in the NET rankings.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

I am not buying LSU until they play a few league games. Kim Mulkey is legendary for her philosophy of patseys, but she may have outdone herself this year. She has a strong squad no doubt, but strong enough?

 

[EricLA]

I wouldn't rule out Michigan sneaking into the top 4.

I'm not sold on Michigan. I think if we face them again, it won't be close. we had the lead up to 20, and then the wheels fell off. and in Q4, when we got the lead back up to 13, and I thought we'd coast to the end, until Swords went bananas with the 3's. Of course credit to them, but no one shot really well, and I think that was the game Geno criticized the team for rebounding as Sarah "had to get 20 on her own".

I'd love to face them again. It won't happen till the tourney but I think we got their A game and they got our B- game. We will see tho.

And as for LSU, horrible OOC schedule, but they have oodles of talent, but one problem is they don't face UCLA. But both leagues are loaded (SEC Texas, Oklahoma, SC, LSU, Vandy, Tennessee) and the B10 (Maryland, Iowa, Michigan, UCLA, and Ohio State). IF both teams are legit it will be a great battle for the last 1 seed. Barring something odd happening to SC or Texas. I think UConn is safe (doomed I know), but I think we will have our revenge hats on for 2/1.

Can't count out ND as Hidalgo is a 1st team AA, but I think they rest of their roster doesn't match up with ours. I'd be very surprised if we lose either game.