I have been away for a few days so this is my first chance to offer my two cents about the NCAA tournament. Except for a handful of close and interesting games like Kansas State v. Kentucky, the tournament has not been very exciting. No team lower than a 5 seed has made the round of sixteen. By far the most significant event of the 2025 tournament has been the injury suffered by JuJu Watkins of USC, a team that heretofore was a real possibility of being crowned NCAA champions. The closest parallel I recall to what has happened to Watkins and USC dates back to 1997 when the undefeated UConn Huskies lost Shea Ralph to an ACL injury in the round of 32 game against Iowa. The Huskies defeated Illinois in the Sweet Sixteen but then lost to Tennessee in the regional final and the Lady Volunteers went on to win their first of three in a row championships. I believe that the Trojans will likely defeat Kansas State in their next game and, like UConn in 1997, and if history repeats itself fall in the regional finals.
As we all realize, the path of the Huskies to the Final Four is now easier, assuming that is that the team will defeat Oklahoma on Saturday and will then face a depleted USC squad or Ayoka Lee and Kansas State. And we should not assume that Oklahoma will be an easy touch and that the Huskies will romp to a 30 point victory, no matter how much we would like to see this happen. Moreover, should USC advance to the regional finals, the team is by no means chicken feed without Watkins. Kiki Irafan would be the go to star of most teams in the country.
I earlier expressed doubt about the Huskies reaching the Final Four, but obviously the way the team has played starting with the huge victory over South Carolina, the prospects look much brighter. Still the weakness at the 5 spot is worrying and we must be concerned if the team shoots blanks from 3-point range, as happened on the three losses the Huskies have suffered this season. I don’t know much about Oklahoma, but Raegan Beers is likely the best big player the Huskies have faced thus far this season, and we have to wonder how El Alfy and Brady will respond to the challenge. If Kansas States defeats USC, then our centers will have to face Ayoka Lee who is better than Beers.
As we all realize, the path of the Huskies to the Final Four is now easier, assuming that is that the team will defeat Oklahoma on Saturday and will then face a depleted USC squad or Ayoka Lee and Kansas State. And we should not assume that Oklahoma will be an easy touch and that the Huskies will romp to a 30 point victory, no matter how much we would like to see this happen. Moreover, should USC advance to the regional finals, the team is by no means chicken feed without Watkins. Kiki Irafan would be the go to star of most teams in the country.
I earlier expressed doubt about the Huskies reaching the Final Four, but obviously the way the team has played starting with the huge victory over South Carolina, the prospects look much brighter. Still the weakness at the 5 spot is worrying and we must be concerned if the team shoots blanks from 3-point range, as happened on the three losses the Huskies have suffered this season. I don’t know much about Oklahoma, but Raegan Beers is likely the best big player the Huskies have faced thus far this season, and we have to wonder how El Alfy and Brady will respond to the challenge. If Kansas States defeats USC, then our centers will have to face Ayoka Lee who is better than Beers.
