NCAA Tourney

Random Final 4 Trivia:

• Since 2012, all 4 #1 seeds made the Final 4 twice (2012 and 2015).
  
• 2017 saw 2 1s and 2 2s.
• 2016 had a 1, 2, 4 and a 7. A different region and Texas (a 2 seed) makes the Final 4 that season (I know - ifs and buts) as they were peaking at the perfect time while most of the top seeds not named UCONN were struggling.
  
• Only 4 teams with a seed below 4 (2 5s and 2 7s) have made the Final 4 since 2000.
  
• No 3 seed has made the Final 4 since 2010.
• No 6 seed has made the Final 4 since 1997.

 

According to the 538 bracket projections, we got a good shot to get to the Elite Eight over Miss. State to meet Baylor for the fourth time this year. Got a chance to get rid of both Baylor and UConn this year.
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-march-madness-predictions/womens/

 

Some stats on Brooke from Her Hoop Stats...

 

ESPN put out the TV coverage map for the games. Some problems with it...Arizona State is listed as playing Michigan State on Friday evening, then listed again as playing Nebraska on Saturday afternoon.

http://www.espn.com/womens-college-.../22750379/women-ncaa-tournament-coverage-maps

Also, isn't Northern Colorado in Waco?

 

guess they have to prove they are NCAA worthy.

 

They fixed it.

 

https://www.hookem.com/story/ncaa-tournament-time-backcourts-often-stand-taller/

 

I had hoped to watch both OU and OSU games. And, yes, N. Colorado is playing in Waco. Too bad it looks like we will have whiplash coverage instead of seeing that game as well.

 

Did anyone attend the watch party in person? Just wondering about the atmosphere; Statesman said that 300 fans attended. Wondering where it took place.

 

I think it takes place in the Lonestar Room in the Erwin Center. I've never been able to attend because I work until 6.

 

Testify!!

 

One of the very few good things about ESPN is that they basically stream everything. Looks like all of the games will be streamed: http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/schedule

 

LOL @ Baylor fans who are whining that Texas and A&M are getting special treatment by ESPN as upcoming first round games are supposedly to be shown in their entirety, while Baylor's first round game will be part of ESPN's whip-around coverage.

 

Looks like a big and enthusiastic crowd.

 

Good article in today’s Dallas Morning News. Main point is that the teams that go deep in playoffs have the best backcourt. Blair, Fennely, Aston and others quoted. Message was that bigs can be negated by double teaming and other. If you have smalls that are outstanding that are playmakers, during crunch time, the teams that move on have the best backcourt. I am buying into that strongly as I think the Baylor inexperience at guard will eventually show. And since I am positive the Horns have that outstanding senior leadership at guard......we will move on......and the Bears won’t make it to Final Four. Hook Em

 

One tidbit I noticed about the tournament was that Northern Colorado made it into the tournament. Coached by Kamie Ethridge along with Director of Operations Deb Patterson. Old Frienemies. Glad they're doing well, just not in the Big 12!

 

Not true according to the coverage map but they have to have something to push that "us against the world" thing.

And they get a shot at Baylor if they win against Michigan. Won't that be a shocker if the LBs don't make it out of Waco?

 

Looks like the other teams will be coming in either Thursday or Friday.

 

Someone mentioned Monday that visiting fans might be hard pressed to find a hotel remotely close on short notice during SXSW. Might’ve been a real hassle for the teams as well.

 

Forgot about SXSW! Hopefully, knowing that they would host, Texas was a good host and saved some rooms for the visiting squads. Wonder if they will use their AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center put up the other teams?

 

#8/#8 Texas (26-6) will host the first and second round games of the 2018 NCAA playoffs. The Longhorns will play the NR/NR Maine Black Bears (23-9) on Saturdays’ second game at half an hour after the conclusion of game one between the RV/NR Arizona State Sun Devils (21-12) and the NR/NR Nebraska Cornhuskers (21-10) which starts at 2:30 PM CST.

Texas is 1-0 versus Maine. Maine is 1-7 in the NCAAs, having a victory over Stanford 60-58 on March 12, 1999. The Black Bears have never played Arizona State. They are 1-0 versus Nebraska (89-82 on Jan. 06, 1988) and 0-1 versus Texas (34-72 on Dec. 29, 1992). Nebraska is 4-3 versus Arizona State with the last game a 62-58 win at home on Dec. 28, 2008. The Huskers are 0-1 versus Maine and 6-14 against Texas with the two splitting games the last three seasons they played in the Big 12, ending with a 55-67 loss in Austin on Feb. 15, 2011.

http://texassports.com/news/2018/3/12/no-8-womens-basketball-to-host-ncaa-first-and-second-rounds.aspx

GAME ONE: ARIZONA STATE VS NEBRASKA​

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS (21-12)
http://thesundevils.com/news/2018/3/12/womens-basketball-sundevilwbb-ties-school-record-with-fifth-consecutive-ncaa-tournament-berth.aspx

http://thesundevils.com/news/2018/3/13/womens-basketball-sundevilwbb-exceeded-expectations-in-season-of-transition.aspx?path=wbball

The Sun Devils tie the school record with their fifth straight NCAA invite. Both streaks have come under Coach Charlie Turner Thorne.

The Sun Devils lost their top returning starter, Sabrina Haines, to an ACL injury in early December.

They are led by Kianna Ibis (#42, 6-1 Jr. F) at 12.4 ppg, Robbi Ryan (#11, 5-9 Soph. G) and Courtney Ekmark (#22, 6-0 RS Jr. G/F) each averaging 10.0 ppg with Jamie Ruden (#52, 6-1 Soph. F) contributing 8.5 ppg off the bench. Those four: Ibis (177-357; 49.6%), Ryan (128-286; 44.8%), Ekmark (112-282; 39.7%) and Ruden (109-244; 44.7%) along with starters Charnea Johnson-Chapman (#33, 6-3 Jr. C; 97-174; 55.7%) and Reili Richardson (#1, 5-11 Soph. G; 64-201; 31.8%) account for 79% of all FGs taken by the Sun Devils. Johnson-Chapman and Sophia Elenga (#21, 6-1 Jr. F; 75-145; 51.7%) have the highest FG%s on the team. Ibis is third in FG% at 49.6%. Ekmark is the designated 3pt shooter for ASU. She is 58 of 150 from BTA for 38.7%. Ibis is the most accurate from BTA at 41.0% on 16 of 39 treys. Richardson (18-77; 23.4%), Ruden (25-65; 38.5%) and Ryan (21-61; 34.4%) are others to beware of from BTA. Other than two players who have not hit double digits and one that has 29 FT attempts, everyone else has at least 50 FT attempts. They are led in getting to the FT line by Ryan (54-7275.0%), Johnson-Chapman (35-67; 52.2%) and Ekmark (49-62; 79.0%). Seven players are making over 70% of their FTs with Ekmark’s 79.0% tops.

Richardson hands out 4.8 apg. Kiara Russell (#4, 5-8 Soph. G) is next at 3.1 apg. Ryan (2.6 apg) and Ekmark (2.2 apg) also are pretty handing at setting up their teammates. With an average of 1.7 blocks per game, ASU does not have a strong shot blocking presence inside. Their two top shot blockers are Johnson-Chapman (0.6 bpg) and Ibis (0.4 bpg). The Sun Devils have five players that average around one steal per game: Russel (1.2 spg), Ekmark (1.1 spg), Richardson (1.0 spg), Ibis (1.0 spg) and Ryan (0.9 spg).

With Haines going out early in December, ASU has ten active players. Nine form the core rotation with one of the nine the only one to not average double digit minutes. No player averages over 29 mpg but seven average at least 22 mpg with two more at 14 and 18 mpg. Six players have at least four starts with the current starters being Reili, Ryan, Ekmark, Johnson-Chapman and Ibis. While Johnson-Chapman is their starting center and is usually replaced with a smaller player, Eva Rubin (#44, 6-5 Fr. C) is available although she has only limited minutes this season.

NEBRASKA HUSKERS (21-10)
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211705643

http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211705806

The Huskers return to the NCAAs for the first time since 2015 after missing out the last two years.

Nebraska is led by three players in double figures: Hannah Whitish (#3, 5-9 Soph. G) is the leading scorer at 12.6 ppg. Maddie Simon (#24, 6-2 Jr. F) and Kate Cain (#31, 6-5 Fr. C) average 10.4 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively. Taylor Kissinger (#33, 6-1 Fr. G/F) adds 9.8 ppg coming off the bench while current starter Nicea Eliely (#5/11, 5-1 Soph. G) provides an additional 8.4 ppg. Whitish (130-323; 40.2%), Simon (104-267; 39.0%), Cain (144-255; 56.5%) and Eliely (89-188; 47.3%) are the main shooters for the Huskers. Cain and Darrien Washington (#50, 6-2 Jr. F; 17-30; 56.7%) are the only two hitting over 48% from the field. Whitish (71-184; 38.6%) and Kissinger (48-130; 36.9%) are the primary players pulling the trigger from BTA. Three others average over two trey attempts per game, including the most accurate 3pt shooter in Emily Wood (#12, 5-5 Sr. G; 33-78; 42.3%). Another player to watch from BTA is Eliely who is making 38.0% of her treys (19-50). Whitish (60-78; 76.9%) and Simon (57-73; 78.1%) are the most likely to get to the FT line for Nebraska. Wood’s 92.9% tops the team although she does not get there often (13-14).

Cain is averaging 7.1 rpg with Simon adding 5.4 rpg. Four others average 4.1 rpg each. Whitish pops up on top in assists with 4.8 apg. Jasmine Cincore (# 34, 5-10 Sr. G) is second with 2.2 apg. Cain, with 3.2 bpg, is far and away the top shot blocker as Eliely is second with 0.6 bpg. Three players average over one steal per game, led by Whitish (1.3 spg) and Eliely (1.3 spg) and followed by Cincore (1.2 spg).

Whitish is the only player to have started all 31 games. Cain and Cincore have 30 starts in 31 games. Ten of the 12 players have played in at least 27 games with Kissinger seeing action in 24 and Janay Morton (#13, 5-10 RS Sr. G) getting into 23 games. The starting lineup in the Huskers’ last game consisted of Cain, Cincore, Eliely, Simon and Whitish. Nine of the players average at least 13 mpg with Whitish at the top with 31.0 mpg. The other four starters average between 26 and 28 mpg.

LINEUPS
Projected starting lineups are based on the last game played.


For ASU, they will look to get Nebraska’s Cain in foul trouble in order to clear the way to the basket. The Huskers will look to force the Sun Devils into turnovers.The battle to watch will be inside as ASU’s Ibis and Johnson-Chapman square off against Nebraska’s Simon and Cain. In addition, watch for ASU’s Ekmark and the Huskers’ Whitish to which one is shut from from BTA. Or gets hot from long range. Whitish has more help from her backcourt teammates than does Ekmark as both teams like to shoot the three.

​

 

GAME TWO: TEXAS VS MAINE​

MAINE BLACK BEARS (23-9)
http://goblackbears.com/news/2018/3/12/womens-basketball-no-15-maine-to-meet-no-2-texas-in-ncaa-first-round.aspx

http://goblackbears.com/news/2018/3/14/womens-basketball-four-maine-buffalo-wild-wings-locations-to-host-maine-ncaa-tournament-watch-parties.aspx

Maine will be returning to the NCAAs for the first time since 2001. The Black Bears come in as the American East regular season and tournament champions.

They played four teams that will be playing in the NCAAs and lost to all. All losses were road games: Miami (70-80), Ohio State (70-83), Miss. State (43-83) and Duke (39-69). They did beat P5 team Boston College (61-40) also on the road.

Maine will have someone familiar with the Frank Ervin Center when they come in. Jhasmin Player, currently an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Maine, played at Baylor and graduated in 2009. She is a familiar name to Texas fans.

Blanca Millan (#22, 6-1 Soph. G) is the leading scorer for the Black Bears at 17.8 ppg. Joining her in double digit scoring are Tanesha Sutton (#23, 5-10 RS Jr. G) who averages 12.0 ppg and Julie Brosseau (#10, 5-8 Soph. G) who drops in 11.4 ppg. All three are starters. Six players are the primary shooters for Maine: Millan (227-505; 45.0%), Sutton (148-299; 49.5%), Brosseau (121-323; 37.5%), Fanny Wadling (#51, 6-1 Soph. F; 88-205; 42.9%), Dor Saar (#15, 5-6 Fr. G; 61-172; 35.5%) and Parise Rossignol (#12, 5-8 Jr. G; 61-153; 39.9%). The Black Bears like to shoot from BTA. Almost 40% of Millan’s shots are from BTA (69-191; 36.1%). About two thirds of Brosseau’s shots are treys (68-192; 35.4%). Saar launches almost 58% of her shots from BTA (34-100; 34.0%). Rossignol tries 61% of her FG attempts from BTA (30-94; 31.9). And from the bench, Kelly Fogarty (#20, 5-9 Fr. G) has only seven shot attempts of 57 count as two point attempts; Maddy McVicar (#4, 5-4 Jr. G) has only 12 FG attempts inside the arc of 49 FGs attempted; and Sierra Tapley (#2, 5-8 Soph. G) has ten 3pters attempted in 14 shot attempts. Maine has attempted 40.2% of their shots from BTA. Sutton has the most FT attempts (62-84; 73.8%) while Millan is second (48-71; 67.6%) and Brosseau third (42-54; 77.8%). Rossignol (21-25; 84.0%) and Saar (24-30; 80.0%) are the most accurate FT shooters.

Maine’s top five scorers are also their best distributors. Saar averages 3.0 apg while Sutton chips in 2.9 apg. Brosseau hands out 2.2 apg and Wadling adds 1.9 apg. Millan averages 1.6 apg. The Black Bears don’t have a player that averages over one block per game. Millan is the top shot blocker at 0.8 bpg. Wadling is next at 0.5 bpg. Millan’s 2.8 spg and Sutton’s 1.9 spg top the Maine squad.

The Black Bears have three players that have started at least 31 games: Millan (32-32), Sutton (31-31) and Wadling (31-32). The other two current starters are Saar and Brosseau, each with 26 starts in 31 games. Millan’s 34.7 mpg tops the team . Sutton, Wadling, Saar, Brosseau and Rossignol all average between 29.8 and 21.4 mpg. Kirsten Johnson (#33, 6-2 Sr. F) is the4 only other player in double digits at 14.8 mpg. Those seven combine with McVicar and Maeve Carroll (#5, 5-11 Fr. F) to form a core rotation of nine players that have seen action in at least 29 of 32 games. The Black Bears height is young as fellow frosh Kat Williams (#31, 6-5 C) and Kira Barra (#32, 6-3 Fr. F) average less than six minutes per game in the limited time they have played.

TEXAS LONGHORNS (26-6)
Texas heads into the NCAAs with four players, all starters, averaging double figures in scoring. The fifth, Joyner, is averaging 6.5 ppg. Ariel (14.6 ppg), Brooke (13.9 ppg), LaShann (12.8 ppg) and Jatarie (10.6 ppg) comprise the top scoring quartet. The top bench scorer is Alecia at 6.7 ppg. The top quartet are the only Horns to have exceeded triple digits in FGs made: Ariel (178-335; 53.1%), Brooke (159-380; 41.8%), LaShann (159-301; 52.8%) and Jatarie (144-271; 53.1%). Ariel, Jatarie and LaShann also have the three highest FG%s on the team. Ariel (44-107; 41.1%), Brooke (58-154; 37.7%), LaShann (20-57; 35.1%) and Alecia (25-74; 33.8%) represent the main 3pt threats for the Horns. LaShann is the first Texas player to break 100 FT attempts (73-101; 72.3%). Brooke has the best FT% (54-61; 88.5%) on the team while Ariel (75-88; 85.2%) has made the most FTs. Jatarie (47-66; 71.2%) rounds the four players hitting over 67% of their FTs.

Rebounding is a team effort for Texas. Jatarie and Joyner each average 6 rpg as the starting posts. Ariel (5.5 rpg) and Brooke (4.4 rpg) provide support from the backcourt. Brooke (138 assists; 4.5 apg) and Ariel (102 assists; 3.2 apg) are the two Horns to have reach 100 plus assists for the season. LaShann (85 assists; 2.7 apg) has a chance to join them. Audrey-Ann, even though she has not played in the past nine games, continues to lead the team in blocks with 37. Ariel is the next closest with 24 blocks (0.8 bpg) while Jatarie’s ten blocks (0.3 bpg) is next. Joyner is second per bpg (0.4 bpg) with nine blocks in 22 games. Ariel’s 2.7 spg (85 steals) ranks second in the Big 12 and 35th nationally. Brooke (48 steals; 1.5 spg) and LaShann (46 steals; 1.4 spg) are second and third on the team in this category.

Brooke, Ariel, Jatarie, LaShann and Joyner are the starting five. Brooke (31 starts), Ariel (32 starts) and LaShann (32 starts) have started every game they have been available for. Jatarie has 31 starts in 32 games. Brooke, even though she missed one game, with 988 minutes has played more than a 100 minutes than anyone else on the team. She has the highest mpg at 31.9 mpg. Ariel is next with 881 total minutes for an average of 27.5 mpg. Seven players aside from Brooke and Ariel average between 25 and 11 mpg. Texas has a core rotation of eight with four others also available. Audrey-Ann is out indefinitely (currently listed as day-to-day) with a left wrist injury that required surgery while Destiny has not played since the Northwestern game on Dec. 13, 2017.

LINEUPS
Projected starting lineups are based on the last game played.

Maine is going to be at a distinct disadvantage inside as they start no one taller than 6-1. Two freshmen, Kat Williams; (#31, 6-5 C) and 32Kira Barra (#32, 6-3 F), get limited playing time. They combine to average 1.3 ppg and 1.2 rpg. Other than RS Jr. G Sutton, this is a young backcourt going up against a veteran one from Texas. I would expect LaShann to focus on shutting down Brosseau who is a bigger threat from BTA while Ariel takes on Sutton, who is more likely to play inside the arc. That would leave Millan for Joyner & Jordan as they rotate in. They will need to honor her ability to hit from BTA.

Maine is unlikely to have an answer for Texas inside. Even if they bring in their tall frosh, they are unlikely to have the experience to handle the Texas posts.




Texas leads the four teams in most categories, most notably in scoring margin (+17.0), rebounding margin (+10.4) and offensive rebounds per game. Maine takes 24 3pters a game while Nebraska is at 22 3pters a game. Both Texas (17 3pters per game) and ASU (14 3pters a game) are more dependent on their inside game. Only Maine comes into the playoffs on a winning streak, having won their conference tournament while the other three fell short. None of the four teams are outstanding from the FT line although Texas (70.4%), Maine (71.6%), ASU (71.0%) are decent while Nebraska struggles at 64.0%.

Game one should be the most exciting of the first day. Texas should not have too much trouble with Maine if they focus on shutting down their 3pt barrage which is going to come from their entire backcourt.

http://texassports.com/news/2018/3/7/ncaa-womens-basketball-first-and-second-round-headquarters.aspx?path=wbball

Both games will be televised on ESPN2. Game one (ASU vs Neb.) begins at 2:30 PM. Game two (Texas vs Maine) is scheduled for 5 PM or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game in case it goes into OT.

 

I used to teach at ASU so I'll be cheering for them.

 

Horns focused in.
https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/...breakout-ncaa-victory/kfxhPgYfe6trr38MG6r7RN/

 

Ha...except for Jamie Carey...(middle right photo) not looking happy..!!??

 

Ugh... not good news with AA out with an injury.

 

Oh man. Last thing we needed.

 

You know, Coach A hasn't mentioned a thing all season for the most part (except when directly asked by the media, and responds with "Coach's decision) when Rellah wasn't in attendance for some games (or dressed in warmups only), but she makes this type of statement a couple of days prior to our first tourney game? Very odd.