On Wednesday, Mar. 19 and Thursday, Mar. 20, eight groups will compete in NCAA Match’s First 4, aiming to earn an official spot within the event’s 64-team subject.
No. 11-seeds Princeton and Iowa State kick issues off at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, adopted by No. 16-seeds Southern and UC San Diego at 9 p.m. ET. On Thursday, No. 11-seeds Washington and Columbia meet at 7 p.m. ET earlier than No. 16-seeds William & Mary and Excessive Level combat for the ultimate spot.
Listed here are 4 issues to know when tuning in for the First 4:
Audi Crooks is superior!
After final season’s second-round NCAA Match sport in opposition to Stanford, the place Iowa State took the Cardinal to additional time earlier than developing quick, expectations have been excessive for the Cyclones. A No. 11 seed signifies that Iowa State upset, ending seventh within the Massive 12.
However, the Cyclones’ subpar season was not on account of Audi Crooks. The sophomore heart averaged over 23 factors per sport whereas taking pictures higher than 60 % from the sector. She scored 30 factors or extra seven occasions, highlighted by her 36-point and 10-rebound double-double in Iowa State’s dominant win over Kansas State, a No. 5 seed within the tourney, in early March.
Crooks’ singular scoring star energy not solely can energy Iowa State via their First 4 matchup in opposition to Princeton, but in addition makes the Cyclones an unappealing opponent for No. 6-seed Michigan on Friday.
Princeton, Columbia amongst report three Ivies in Massive Dance
Talking of Princeton, the Tigers are certainly one of a report three Ivy League colleges that earned a bid into the 68-team subject. Whereas Harvard mechanically certified by successful the Ivy League Match behind epic performances from Harmoni Turner, Princeton and Columbia, which topped the Ivy League through the common season, must safe their at-large choices by successful their First 4 video games.
Each groups’ season-long successes are extra spectacular contemplating they misplaced their engines from the season prior. The Tigers noticed a graduated Kaitlyn Chen take her skills to Storrs, CT and be a part of UConn, whereas the Lions’ Abbey Hsu was drafted by the Connecticut Solar and is about to make her WNBA debut in 2025, having lately signed her rookie scale contract.
This season, Princeton has been led by the trio of Skye Belker, Ashley Chea and Fadima Tall, all of whom are sophomores. Riley Weiss, one other sophomore, has led Columbia in scoring.
Southern is the second HBCU dancing
No. 13-seed Norfolk State, winners of the Mid-Jap Athletic Convention (MEAC), have their spot within the 64-team subject. Can No. 16-seed Southern, the regular-season and event champions of the Southwestern Athletic Convention (SWAC), be a part of them?
Though the video games have been struggles, the Jaguars did take a look at themselves in opposition to high competitors throughout non-conference play, going through off in opposition to Energy 4 event groups in Oklahoma, NC State, Texas and Illinois, along with fellow First 4 entrants in Iowa State and Washington. Regardless of the losses, that slate ought to have Southern ready for the pressures of a First 4 sport in opposition to UC San Diego and, in the event that they’re victorious, an opening-round date with UCLA, the event’s No. 1-overall seed.
Can William & Mary preserve successful when it issues most?
Generally, it’s not about what number of video games you win, however if you win them.
That’s the case for No. 16-seed William & Mary, which completed ninth within the Coastal Athletic Affiliation (CAA) regular-season standings with an 8-10 convention report and 15-18 general report, however prevailed within the convention event to punch their ticket into the Massive Dance. It’s the primary NCAA Match look in class historical past for the ladies’s or males’s applications. The Tribe are also the primary group since 2022 to make the event with a report of not less than three video games below .500, and solely the seventh to take action this century.
Nevertheless, William & Mary have received four-straight video games, their longest streak of the season. If they will lengthen it to 5 video games in opposition to Excessive Level, the regular-season and event champs from the Massive South, and earn a shot at No. 1-seed Texas, it doubtless can be on account of one other huge sport from Bella Nascimento, who had a 33-point and 11-rebound double-double within the CAA championship sport.
First 4 schedule
No. 11-seed Princeton (21-7) vs. No. 11-seed Iowa State (22-11)
When: Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 7 p.m. ET
The place: Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN
Methods to watch: ESPNU
No. 16-seed Southern (20-14) vs. No. 16-seed UC San Diego (20-15)
When: Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, CA
Methods to watch: ESPNU
No. 11-seed Washington (19-13) vs. No. 11-seed Columbia (23-6)
When: Thursday, Mar. 20 at 7 p.m. ET
The place: Carmichael Area in Chapel Hill, NC
Methods to watch: ESPN2
No. 16-seed William & Mary (15-18) vs. No. 16-seed Excessive Level (21-11)
When: Thursday, Mar. 20 at 9 p.m. ET
The place: Moody Middle in Austin, TX
Methods to watch: ESPN2
