Official Bracket Thread

[HuskyNan]

Texas was missing their starting power forward due to an injury and surgery in late January. And, projected starter Laila Phelia has had an eye issue that has kept her out since early December. Injuries are part of the game.

Yeah, we’re aware. UConn fans are going to express as much sympathy for other teams as the Huskies got when they were forced to play a half a season with six players due to injuries

 

[Bone Dog]

ain't about paige v. juju (if the teams meet). u know better.

btw, p is much the better player, regardless, at this point.

The media coverage of that rematch (if it happens) will absolutely be framed as Paige v Juju.
u know better. This is a human interest angle media will be unable to resist using to sell that round of the tournament. And it is inherently interesting. We will see again and again the clip of Paige comforting Juju after last year's game. Those are the story lines I was talking about.

Totally agree that p is the better player.

In real terms, too, I think this bracket is in some sense a success merely for preparing the way for that matchup, and I really hope we get to see it... even if p doesn't guard j on most possessions and vice versa. They are the clear leaders of their respective teams and as they each go individually, so do their teams go.

 

[triaddukefan]

@triaddukefan meant he’d “fixed” his earlier post. And by the way, my crystal ball has Duke going to the final four this time. And no, @triaddukefan has not sent me any care packages… yet. My crystal ball just likes the look of the team Kara has put together this season.

Slow down there big fella... I hope your crystal ball is correct...but there is a big mountain to climb for Duke to get that far.

It’s a much tougher path to the Final Four than it would’ve been if they were a 3 seed in Texas’s bracket

Precisely. I would rather deal with Michigan TCU and Texas than Vanderbilt Big Carolina and Little Carolina

 

[Bone Dog]

Slow down there big fella... I hope your crystal ball is correct...but there is a big mountain to climb for Duke to get that far.



Precisely. I would rather deal with Michigan TCU and Texas than Vanderbilt Big Carolina and Little Carolina

Don't worry there, pardner. On a good day, Kara's kids can beat Dawn's... or lose badly. You have to go with your heart on these things. Besides, they'll probably be playing Norfolk St in the elite eight game anyway.

 

[PacoSwede]

The media coverage of that rematch (if it happens) will absolutely be framed as Paige v Juju.
u know better. This is a human interest angle media will be unable to resist ...

They are the clear leaders of their respective teams and as they each go individually, so do their teams go.

as i thought, u do know better --- as u acknowledge, it is the media hype machine at work, and it's my opinion that we on the BY should not be feeding it. the hype can get fat on its own, right? ... i prefer facts over hype.

re: ur other point --- i accept that p and j are the clear leaders, but i deny that 'their teams go' as they do individually. uconn has been able win even when p hasn't been at her best; not so for usc when juju is off.

 

[Centerstream]

Not sure if this has been already posted, from ESPN

Who has the most women's NCAA tournament showings in a row?

Get fired up for March Madness by checking out which women's basketball teams have made the most consecutive appearances at the Big Dance.

www.espn.com

 

[Bone Dog]

as i thought, u do know better --- as u acknowledge, it is the media hype machine at work, and it's my opinion that we on the BY should not be feeding it. the hype can get fat on its own, right? ... i prefer facts over hype.

re: ur other point --- i accept that p and j are the clear leaders, but i deny that 'their teams go' as they do individually. uconn has been able win even when p hasn't been at her best; not so for usc when juju is off.

Incorrect. You merely misread my original post and assumed I was saying this was all there was to that possible game. And you are also wrong to think we are feeding media hype on the BY. We don’t have that sort of influence.

As for your second point, you are sort of right, though the comparison is not entirely apt. If Juju has an off shooting night or if an opposing defense is effective against her, she doesn’t have nearly as much to offer to pull her team along as Paige does. Juju can play good defense, she scraps for loose balls and she is a good passer. But Paige is better in all these areas in my opinion. In other words, Paige doesn’t have off nights just because her shot isn’t falling. She is never “not at her best” as I see it because her game is so much more than just shooting.

But in partial support of your view, I’d add that neither team can sit either one down for long. But Geno has been able to play Paige for ~30 min/g while Juju plays 35+ mins/g. And the fall off when Juju sits seems more significant than when Paige sits. So, yes, the teams largely go as they go, but it seems more marked for USC.

 

[yhun89]

Texas was missing their starting power forward due to an injury and surgery in late January. And, projected starter Laila Phelia has had an eye issue that has kept her out since early December. Injuries are part of the game.

Yes, but Texas has been playing without them for months, especially in Phelia's case. They've gotten to where they are, even reaching #1, without Phelia and Moore. It's not like Texas' chemistry took a big blow all of a sudden, they've been playing fine without those two for a while now.

LSU has had Johnson and Morrow all season. Losing them was sudden, especially Aneesah, who was lost mid game. And yet the team managed to almost take down Texas despite all that.

 

[jaydee602]

Can someone explain why Dawn Staley is so upset about not being the top #1 seed & why she feels penalized for playing a strong non- conference schedule?
Where is the penalty? There's no difference in being the first or second top seed & there isn't one disadvantage! SC stays in Birmingham with an easier road to the Final Four. UCLA's Spokane path is more difficult.
Would Dawn be content if the Committee called UCLA the #1 Spokane seed & South Carolina the #1 Birmingham seed?

 

[yhun89]

Can someone explain why Dawn Staley is so upset about not being the top #1 seed & why she feels penalized for playing a strong non- conference schedule?
Where is the penalty? There's no difference in being the first or second top seed & there isn't one disadvantage! SC stays in Birmingham with an easier road to the Final Four. UCLA's Spokane path is more difficult.
Would Dawn be content if the Committee called UCLA the #1 Spokane seed & South Carolina the #1 Birmingham seed?

I don’t understand why she’s upset either. The committee’s reasoning for why they weren’t #1 overall was perfectly reasonable.

 

[oldude]

Can someone explain why Dawn Staley is so upset about not being the top #1 seed & why she feels penalized for playing a strong non- conference schedule?
Where is the penalty? There's no difference in being the first or second top seed & there isn't one disadvantage! SC stays in Birmingham with an easier road to the Final Four. UCLA's Spokane path is more difficult.
Would Dawn be content if the Committee called UCLA the #1 Spokane seed & South Carolina the #1 Birmingham seed?

It’s difficult to know whether Dawn’s comment was calculated to motivate her team or simply off the cuff without thinking. What she should have said is some form of, “UCLA beat us head to head and has earned the #1 overall seed. Our schedule has been as tough as any in the country. We are happy to be the #2 seed overall and look forward to competing for another national championship.”

 

[jaydee602]

For what it's worth, Massey has UCONN as a 37 point favorite over Arkansas State.

The spread has jumped to UCONN (-44.5).
Fan Duels & Draft Kings have alreay posted the odds for all of the 1st round WBB games.
Women's College Basketball has never been more popular!

 

[oldude]

The spread has jumped to UCONN (-44.5).
Fan Duels & Draft Kings have alreay posted the odds for all of the 1st round WBB games.
Women's College Basketball has never been more popular!

Damn! I should have got by bet in on the Huskies when the line was only -37.

 

[triaddukefan]

 

[southie]

Yes, but Texas has been playing without them for months, especially in Phelia's case. They've gotten to where they are, even reaching #1, without Phelia and Moore. It's not like Texas' chemistry took a big blow all of a sudden, they've been playing fine without those two for a while now. LSU has had Johnson and Morrow all season. Losing them was sudden, especially Aneesah, who was lost mid game. And yet the team managed to almost take down Texas despite all that.

They did? They never led again after 6-5 early in the first quarter. Other than a couple of possessions in the second half, Texas always maintained at least a 2-score lead until the buzzer sounded.

 

[jaydee602]

Damn! I should have got by bet in on the Huskies when the line was only -37.

LOL.... Yeah, me too! And we expect it to go higher. UCONN is always a popular bet with gamblers in Vegas & the spread usually increases by gametime.
But we have to be careful because Geno enjoys removing his starters so the bench gets playing time.

 

[jaydee602]

I don’t understand why she’s upset either. The committee’s reasoning for why they weren’t #1 overall was perfectly reasonable.

My only guess is that she is just using this as motivation for her players.

 

[MSGRET]

The Prognosticator's Predictions for the Arkansas State vs UConn will be posted sometime on Wednesday, most likely early evening.

 

[jaydee602]

It’s difficult to know whether Dawn’s comment was calculated to motivate her team or simply off the cuff without thinking. What she should have said is some form of, “UCLA beat us head to head and has earned the #1 overall seed. Our schedule has been as tough as any in the country. We are happy to be the #2 seed overall and look forward to competing for another national championship.”

But nobody will ever criticize Dawn for her complaints. She is teflon & immune to any criticism.

 

[NEforceUConn]

I wish Maryland as a 4 had Ohio State's (fellow 4) path. i will fill out a bracket, but might have to use the dartboard for all non UConn games.

 

[BrianUC]

USC vs. UConn will be the championship game. The rest of the games will be anticlimactic.

 

[Bone Dog]

USC vs. UConn will be the championship game. The rest of the games will be anticlimactic.

There’s something to this. Not because they’re necessarily the best teams, but because they have the best narrative. This is what Dawn should have complained about, not that her team had been snubbed. Put UConn and USC on opposite sides of the bracket and this could have been avoided.

 

[TAK]

UConn and fans: one game at a time.
I’m not thinking about USC.
Upsets are going to happen.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Focus on the next game up.

 

[EricLA]

Ashlynn Shade

Thanks for posting these. I think Ash is one of the best interviewees. She speaks slowly, clearly, and doesn't just answer "yes or no". She gives complete answers with a little bit extra for each question. Well done for all the UConn ladies, but I especially wanted to acknowledge Ash...

 

[Bone Dog]

UConn and fans: one game at a time.
I’m not thinking about USC.
Upsets are going to happen.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Focus on the next game up.

This is advice for players and coaches. Not for fans. It’s our job to look ahead, to get distracted by possibilities, to fantasize about the finals.