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The Bracket

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couple of things about a potential SC / UNC rematch.

1/ first game w/ Heels was early in the season and the first true road game (sold out, hostile crowd, border rival) for a youthful and somewhat game inexperienced squad. Overcame a sluggish start and won the second half and the game, passing an important early season road test.

2/ IF we play again, the rematch is in the CLA where SC has not lost in over three years . This season only one home game was decided by less than 10 points. most, including UConn, Ol Miss, Alabama (all NCAA Tournament teams) were by 20/30 or more. crowd will be close to capacity and loud.

3/ Lay Fulwiley played 3 minutes in the first game b/c of a few lapses on D/freshman mistakes. She will play a much bigger role on both sides of the ball & in transition in a possible rematch. she has a particular set of skills, speed, & excitement coming off the bench that is hard to plan for in a home game environment

could be a close game into the 4th if SC is not playing their best or it could be in hand & decided by the mid/end of the third if they’re on. that’s usually how it goes with this year’s team. more so the latter, when playing at home.
 
WLT1717 said:
Haha - if you say so. Not 3 times harder IMO. But at least you have 5 players to suit up in the first game.
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Cardoso is the only player who won't be playing Friday. The announcers misspoke last weekend about how many players were going to be disqualified from the first round.
 
Most intriguing potential matchups IMO:

1st Round:

Iowa State-Maryland. Maryland ended their season in a big way by blowing out Ohio State. Iowa State similarly torched Oklahoma in the Big 12 semifinals. Both have Cinderella potential and some really talented players.

2nd Round:
South Carolina-North Carolina. UNC gave SC one of its toughest games of the year earlier in the season. They're physical and tough, two traits needed to hang with South Carolina.

Stanford vs. Iowa State. Crooks vs. Brink would be a blast to see.

Duke vs. Ohio State. Celeste Taylor plays her former team. Duke is very dangerous and Ohio State has struggled finishing the season. I think the Buckeyes could be ripe for an upset.

Oregon State vs. Nebraska. Both teams have strong bigs and I think Nebraska has proven they're incredibly dangerous with their showings vs. Iowa. If they bring the same energy and intensity, they could find themselves in the Sweet 16.

Louisville vs. LSU. Hailey Van Lith vs her old team. Hailey Van Lith losing to her old team after leaving to form a super team would be an unbelievable storyline.

Kansas State vs. Colorado. This is the most intriguing 2nd round matchup IMO. Colorado has struggled to end the year but they are a very dangerous team with their size inside, perimeter shooting and great PG play. Kansas State has an immovable post player in Lee. This will be a battle.


Looking a little further ahead:

Sweet 16:
UCLA vs. LSU. This is one of the best regional matchups and kind of a shame we see these 2 playing before the Elite 8. Both teams have championship potential.

Iowa vs. Kansas State/Colorado. Either matchup is deadly for Iowa. Colorado is a more complete team in my opinion but Iowa playing KState a 3rd time this year would make it a toss up.

UCONN vs. Ohio State. Rematch of last year, though both teams looks markedly different. I think UCONN is better suited to beat Ohio State this year but it's going to be a great match up. Sheldon/Taylor guarding Bueckers is can't miss TV.


Elite 8:

LSU vs. Iowa. Will be one of the most viewed games ever if these 2 meet.

Texas vs. Stanford. Rematch of the 2022 Elite 8 where Tara made some comments about Texas's style of play that offended the Longhorns. Texas is better suited to beat Stanford than they were in 2022 but the last matchup was a battle. Both teams were the clear #4/#5 squads too.

USC vs. Ohio State. These 2 opened the season playing each other and it was where Watkins exploded on the women's scene. USC upset Ohio State but a 1-2 battle would be a great matchup should these 2 face.
 
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jdote33 said:
www.cbssports.com

NCAA Women's Tournament 2024: West Virginia head coach calls out Iowa: 'Let's send Caitlin Clark packing'

The Hawkeyes and Mountaineers could potentially meet in the second round
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
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Do It Episode 3 GIF by Star Wars
 
Have been off the grid for several days, just saw the bracket, haven't read thru this thread yet. I will start with--TOO many SEC teams, just like I've been predicting all year. You know it's going to happen. Every single year.
 
If Iowa can somehow reach the Final Four given this bracket, it will only add to her legendary status. To most it's frightening; to her, it's just another challenge. USC has to play the winner of Michigan/Kansas? What a complete joke. Even the national pundits realize how pathetic this is: Rebecca Lobo, "Holy cow, this region is tough". Carolyn Peck: Iowa's region is, "a murderer's row".

Bring it on.
 
Bjbod said:
If Iowa can somehow reach the Final Four given this bracket, it will only add to her legendary status. To most it's frightening; to her, it's just another challenge. USC has to play the winner of Michigan/Kansas? What a complete joke. Even the national pundits realize how pathetic this is: Rebecca Lobo, "Holy cow, this region is tough". Carolyn Peck: Iowa's region is, "a murderer's row".

Bring it on.
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I was listening to a sports group on YouTube today and they were saying the same thing and I totally agree. Iowa making it to the FF and winning it all. It just adds to their legacy and Caitlin Clark's legendary status. What a run it could be for Iowa's program, their fan base, the community, and the State of Iowa.
 
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Bjbod said:
If Iowa can somehow reach the Final Four given this bracket, it will only add to her legendary status. To most it's frightening; to her, it's just another challenge. USC has to play the winner of Michigan/Kansas? What a complete joke. Even the national pundits realize how pathetic this is: Rebecca Lobo, "Holy cow, this region is tough". Carolyn Peck: Iowa's region is, "a murderer's row".

Bring it on.
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JellyBean said:
I was listening to a sports group on YouTube today and they were saying the same thing and I totally agree. Iowa making it to the FF and winning it all. It just adds to their legacy and Caitlin Clark's legendary status. What a run it could be for Iowa's program, their fan base, the community, and the State of Iowa.
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Pretty much everyone is. Wilbon from PTI was very blunt as to what he thought of the selection committee for setting it up this way. In fairness, they have a reason to gripe because it doesn't make sense when you look at the other brackets. Personally, I wish someone other than Holly had a chance to interview with the selection committee chair and really press them as to why. It also removes an element of drama of potentially seeing South Carolina, LSU and Iowa in the Final Four.
 
cancontent said:
Pretty much everyone is. Wilbon from PTI was very blunt as to what he thought of the selection committee for setting it up this way. In fairness, they have a reason to gripe because it doesn't make sense when you look at the other brackets. Personally, I wish someone other than Holly had a chance to interview with the selection committee chair and really press them as to why. It also removes an element of drama of potentially seeing South Carolina, LSU and Iowa in the Final Four.
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Those seeds are what they are. They had to be in someone's bracket. I had a lot of thought about that going in: just because everyone thinks UCLA or LSU are tough puts doesn't necessarily mean they performed well enough in season to merit that objectively.

UCLA was Pac-10 #3 in the end? LSU largely didn't beat anyone but Va Tech and had some slip ups.

Iowa themselves did t exactly play a clean season and I'm not sure why they would be considered overall #2.

But yeah, they got the region I would not want, but all the more fuel for the legend.
 
nwhoopfan said:
Have been off the grid for several days, just saw the bracket, haven't read thru this thread yet. I will start with--TOO many SEC teams, just like I've been predicting all year. You know it's going to happen. Every single year.
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lol I’m old enough to remember when LSU prolly doesn’t even deserve a 3 seed cause they didn’t play nobody.
 
Gamecockfan77 said:
Those seeds are what they are. They had to be in someone's bracket. I had a lot of thought about that going in: just because everyone thinks UCLA or LSU are tough puts doesn't necessarily mean they performed well enough in season to merit that objectively.

UCLA was Pac-10 #3 in the end? LSU largely didn't beat anyone but Va Tech and had some slip ups.

Iowa themselves did t exactly play a clean season and I'm not sure why they would be considered overall #2.

But yeah, they got the region I would not want, but all the more fuel for the legend.
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Come on, man. LSU is 6 at HHS, 7 at Massey, 8 in NET, and higher than all three on eye test.

Their losses are neutral site vs 1, home v 1, neutral v 16, road v 45, road v 47. Not a bad loss among them, and they’re the defending champ.

They aren’t a 3 seed. If Iowa fans want to be mad at somebody, they should start with those fans who spend all year running down the SEC and creating a climate that leads the committee to underseed LSU.
 
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Vowelguy said:
Not wins. Win.

They had 1 really good game all year and a bunch of disappointing ones.

Will not be surprised if they don’t even make it past the first round
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Indiana will beat Fairfield by 30+.
 
nwhoopfan said:
Have been off the grid for several days, just saw the bracket, haven't read thru this thread yet. I will start with--TOO many SEC teams, just like I've been predicting all year. You know it's going to happen. Every single year.
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Outside of TAMU, every other SEC bid was at least somewhat justifiable.
 
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GoUconn7961 said:
Not on the men's side this year.
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Obv this is the women's forum and I'm not a Hurley fan, but maaannnn! UConn men got screwed. For fun, I put together South Carolina's bracket if we were given the same teams by Massey rating as UConn Men got by KP.

1 - South Carolina
2 - Stanford (5th, works bc top claim to the other 1, same as Iowa State)
3 - Southern Cal (10th, team that won major conference tournament)
4 - Texas (4th, lol seed)

Going to be honest, I slightly prefer our actual bracket.
 
JstVisiting said:
Obv this is the women's forum and I'm not a Hurley fan, but maaannnn! UConn men got screwed. For fun, I put together South Carolina's bracket if we were given the same teams by Massey rating as UConn Men got by KP.

1 - South Carolina
2 - Stanford (5th, works bc top claim to the other 1, same as Iowa State)
3 - Southern Cal (10th, team that won major conference tournament)
4 - Texas (4th, lol seed)

Going to be honest, I slightly prefer our actual bracket.
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I understand that Iowa State and Auburn fans are pretty ticked off about this bracket

0425A15A-66A4-4EFE-B9B7-B941EE659248.jpeg
 
JstVisiting said:
Come on, man. LSU is 6 at HHS, 7 at Massey, 8 in NET, and higher than all three on eye test.

Their losses are neutral site vs 1, home v 1, neutral v 16, road v 45, road v 47. Not a bad loss among them, and they’re the defending champ.

They aren’t a 3 seed. If Iowa fans want to be mad at somebody, they should start with those fans who spend all year running down the SEC and creating a climate that leads the committee to underseed LSU.
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There are only four SEC teams that anyone should pick to do anything in the NCAA tournament. One of them is a Tennessee squad that on balance loses to every quality team it faces and is more of a dangerous player gets hot play. Ole Miss more of a rock fight play.

You could argue LSU over Notre Dame for the last 2, but Auburn and Miss State are pretty bad losses for a 2 seed and VPI is their marquee win. ND won the ACC tournament.
 
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