Welcome to the second weekend of the NCAA Match, the place the video games are candy, the gamers are hungry and in accordance with the information, viewers can’t get sufficient of ladies’s basketball.Â
There wasn’t a lot insanity within the first two rounds of the ladies’s match, save for second-seeded Ohio State getting overwhelmed at dwelling, which was undoubtedly a shocker. And sure, technically Baylor successful at Virginia Tech was an upset in accordance with seeds, however on condition that the Hokies had been lacking the three-time ACC participant of the 12 months, lots of people anticipated that end result.Â
Does a scarcity of upset motion imply chaos is coming within the subsequent 4 days? One can solely hope — except you’re rooting for the general top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks. In that case, you’re most likely crossing your fingers that all the pieces will go chalk.Â
We will argue at a special time if that’s enjoyable or not. For now, let’s re-seed the match primarily based on which groups are left.Â
1. South Carolina
You’re not stunned, are you? The Gamecocks haven’t forgotten they had been upset final 12 months and in reality, they nonetheless appear upset about it. They’re taking it out on anybody of their means — look out, Indiana — and appear wanting to show there gained’t be a repeat of final spring. Â
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2. Southern California
The Trojans have survived all the pieces this season, from the hardest convention in America to a stifling zone Monday night time designed to gradual tremendous freshman JuJu Watkins. However USC, taking part in in its first Candy 16 since 1994, is way a couple of participant, and the Trojans might be prepared to point out that vs. Baylor.
3. UConn
Geno Auriemma, who has coached a couple of spectacular gamers in his time, mentioned it greatest: the Huskies have gotten the most effective participant in America in Paige Bueckers, and it’s arduous to argue with the numbers. They’ll go so far as she will carry them.Â
4. Texas
The Longhorns have but to play like they’re lacking an All-American, though Rori Harmon is without doubt one of the most impactful gamers within the nation on each ends of the ground. It helps that in Harmon’s absence, UT topped one other All-American in freshman Madison Booker. To date, Booker’s postseason inexperience hasn’t been a problem.Â
5. LSU
You don’t have to love them, or their coach, to know the Tigers are a lot proficient. Led by double-double queen Angel Reese, the defending nationwide champs nonetheless have not performed an entire sport this season towards high competitors. Is that coming in Albany?Â
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6. Iowa
It’s Caitlin Clark and everybody else — there’s perhaps one different future WNBA participant on this roster in sophomore Hannah Stuelke, however that’s it. However Clark is so spectacular, described as a generational participant by practically everybody who watches her, that she would possibly be capable to lead Iowa again to the Ultimate 4.Â
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7. NC State
In a loaded ACC, the quietly wonderful Wolfpack is commonly ignored. We should always most likely cease doing that, on condition that NC State has 5 gamers who rating in double figures, with any of them able to taking on a sport.Â
8. Oregon State
The Beavers, picked to complete tenth within the Pac-12 this season, have that all the time coveted inside-out assault and, in accordance with the numbers, are the second-best defensive workforce left within the match, behind solely South Carolina. They had been rolling in mid-February earlier than sophomore heart Raegan Beers broke her nostril and missed a couple of video games, stalling their momentum. Can they get again to that degree of play?
9. Colorado
Because the joke goes, deliver your soccer pads to match up with this workforce. The Buffs are powerful, bodily and make you’re employed arduous for each basket. They’re additionally battle examined after taking part in within the Pac-12, and have top-of-the-line on-ball defenders within the nation in Jaylyn Sherrod. However is it sufficient to knock off Iowa?Â
10. GonzagaÂ
Can we cease calling the Zags a mid-major workforce already? GU has top-of-the-line and most skilled lineups within the nation behind ahead Yvonne Ejim and twin guards Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong. In the event that they knock off top-seeded Texas, will they lastly get the respect they deserve?
11. Notre Dame
The Irish are virtually taking part in on fumes at this level, having misplaced one other participant (ahead Kylee Watson) to a season-ending damage simply earlier than the NCAA Match. They’ve bought a spectacular freshman level guard in Hannah Hidalgo, who has but to effectively, play like a freshman. Is that coming in some unspecified time in the future?Â
12. UCLA
There’s no query the Bruins, led by the most effective sophomore class within the nation, are deep on expertise. However they’ve a historical past of underachieving, which makes many leery of selecting them to make the Ultimate 4. Can Lauren Betts and Charisma Osborne assist change that narrative?
13. Baylor
The Bears are right here due to terrific late-game execution and the play of Jada Walker, who had a profession sport within the second spherical. It doesn’t appear very reasonable that state of affairs repeats itself.Â
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14. Stanford
The Cardinal wanted 41 factors and 16 rebounds from Kiki Iriafen to outlive Iowa State on its dwelling flooring, partially as a result of its All-American couldn’t keep on the ground. Stanford can’t advance within the match if Cameron Brink is on the bench in foul hassle; the Cardinal’s guards aren’t adequate to cowl for her.
15. Indiana
The Hoosiers are one among a handful of groups to deal with Iowa this 12 months, which is actually a formidable accomplishment, however does anybody actually assume they will dangle with South Carolina and the Gamecocks’ athleticism?Â
16. Duke
It’s superb that the Blue Devils have made it this far, and so they’ve bought the play of Reigan Richardson to thank for it. However the street seemingly ends right here, on condition that at 68.8 factors per sport, Duke ranks 111th in scoring offense nationally. That’s 34 spots behind Oregon State, the opposite lowest scoring workforce left within the match.Â
E mail Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and comply with her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell