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Message: [QUOTE="bballnut90, post: 2622337, member: 2117"] Overall thoughts on the bracket....I thought the committee overall did a good job. A couple random thoughts/pointers: 1. I didn't see the interview with Dawn, but if she claims she's upset that she didn't get a better 2 seed location it's clearly a cover that she's upset she was put in UCONN's bracket, plain and simple. 2. Aside from the fact that UCONN is essentially a shoe-in for their 11th straight Final Four, I think their bracket has some great potential match ups. This will potentially be the 3rd time in 4 years that Florida State and South Carolina meet in the regionals, both ending up as close wins for South Carolina. I wouldn't be surprised if the tide turns in Florida State's favor, but I have a hard time imaging Wilson doesn't will her team to victory in that match up. USF/FSU could be an interesting game too. I also think the Duke/Belmont/Georgia subregional is pretty intriguing. 3. Louisville has by far the most dangerous regional. Potential Sweet 16 matchup against Stanford is terrifying if I'm Jeff Walz. Tara might be the best game planner in the business and has worked magic the past 2 years against Notre Dame. She has the players and talent to knock off Louisville if they can slow down Durr. If they make it to the Elite 8, they likely face Baylor which would be a rematch from 2013 and from 2017. 2013's matchup was the miracle win over Griner/Sims, and 2017 was a straight up beat down by Baylor over Louisville. I'd love to see another battle between these two. Louisville has the horses to beat Baylor if Hines-Allen and Fuerhing can slow down Cox/Brown, but my money would be on Baylor. Baylor may also have a chance to avenge their 2016 Elite 8 loss if they play Oregon State in the Sweet 16. Other matchups to watch for are Oregon State/Tennessee in the 2nd round and Stanford/Mizzou in the 2nd round. Individually, Russell/Gulich vs. Brown in the Sweet 16 could be a fun matchup. 4. Notre Dame caught a HUGE break by landing a 1 seed and avoiding Baylor. I'm not complaining since I generally like ND, but they're lucky. Oregon is no slouch, but I like Notre Dame in a matchup between the two. I'd love to see Oregon play Ohio State in the Sweet 16, and see Oregon play Green Bay in the 2nd round. I would not be surprised if Ohio State is upset by LSU in the 2nd round. 5. Mississippi State, deservedly so, has a great bracket. Texas is an interesting potential Elite 8 foe, but I like UCLA over Texas if they play in the Sweet 16. Billings vs. Gustafson should be a great 2nd round matchup. 6. Likely Final Four match ups include Notre Dame vs. Connecticut, Mississippi State vs. Baylor, or Mississippi State vs. Louisville. This would be the most intriguing Final Four in years (IMO) if we get some of these. Connecticut would still be the obvious favorite, but they've shown to be vulnerable at points this year and Notre Dame/Louisville/Mississippi State/Baylor have all been fantastic this year. If I'm a UCONN fan, I'd be more nervous playing Baylor, Notre Dame or Mississippi State than I have been entering a Final Four since 2013. The last 4 years I've thought it's a going to take somewhat of a miracle to upset UCONN, but I don't feel that way about this season. My early predictions are: Sweet 16: Connecticut beats Duke South Carolina beats FSU Notre Dame beats A&M Oregon beats LSU Mississippi State beats NC State UCLA beats Texas Louisville beats Stanford Baylor beats Oregon State Elite 8: Connecticut beats South Carolina Notre Dame beats Oregon Mississippi State beats UCLA Baylor beats Louisville Final Four: Connecticut beats Notre Dame (this would be a heck of a rematch) Mississippi State beats Baylor (another potentially epic game) Title: Connecticut beats Mississippi State (another incredible matchup Should be fun! Can't wait for this weekend when everything gets going. [/QUOTE]

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