NCAAW: Harvard-Michigan State highlights second day of event

Early spherical upsets, a minimum of compared to males’s March Insanity, are a little bit of a rarity within the girls’s sport. As a result of gamers can’t go one-and-done, the highest groups accumulate expertise that spreads throughout completely different graduating courses, making it that a lot tougher for double-digit seeds make noise.

Though we might not see any of the top-seeded groups face an actual risk till the Candy 16 or Elite Eight, listed below are some matchups that deserve your time on day two of the primary spherical:

No. 8-seed Cal vs. No. 9-seed Mississippi State

California v Notre Dame — Marta Suarez, who’s performed in three school conferences in 4 years, is a dominant inside-out scorer for the Cal Golden Bears.

Cal was in a position to cling round with No. 8 Notre Dame within the ACC Event, an encouraging signal after being routed by the Irish 91-52 in February. That’s how a few marquee matchups have performed out for the Golden Bears this 12 months. They’ve been completely smothered a couple of too many occasions for comfortability, however went 25-8 in a great ACC convention. They don’t venture to be a staff to make noise past the primary spherical, however they’ve a excessive probability of giving the individuals a great sport to look at amongst a pile of blowouts.

Mississippi State is fairly just like Cal. They are not an incredible staff, however they’re adequate to current an entertaining product. They could be marginally over-seeded due to a 13-1 begin to non-conference play. Since that begin, the Bulldogs are 8-10. They rebound the heck out of the ball and end properly contained in the paint, however their offense is inflated by a excessive tempo. They haven’t proved something to anybody since November, however something can occur in March. Cal shall be a great warmup to see whether or not the Bulldogs can reignite their fall flame. This one ideas off at 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

No. 7-seed Michigan State vs. No. 10-seed Harvard

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: MAR 15 Women’s Ivy League Tournament - Columbia v Harvard — Harvard’s Harmoni Turner is ninth within the NCAA in points-per-game at 22.5.

When penning this headline, I unintentionally typed “Michigan State vs. Harmoni Turner.” That ought to let you know how good the Harvard senior guard is. Within the Ivy League semifinal, she dropped a peaceful 44 factors on fellow event staff Princeton. The sport earlier than that, she shot 14-for-17 from 2-point vary en path to 33 factors and 6 assists towards Dartmouth. The remainder of Harvard’s roster is fairly common, however to be trustworthy, it’s arduous to face out when taking part in with a generational expertise, particularly for the Ivy League.

When the sport begins at 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN Information), Michigan State shall be prepared for Turner—the query is more-so whether or not no matter technique they devise will work. The Spartans are extra bodily and have three gamers averaging over 13 factors per sport compared to Harvard’s one. Stops shall be at a premium for the Crimson. Michigan State has performed higher competitors this season and has extra event expertise than Harvard—however Harmoni Turner has one thing to show. She selected to remain within the Ivy League regardless of getting calls from Energy 4 colleges, and now she will get to point out herself on the world stage.

No. 6-seed Florida State vs. No. 11-seed George Mason

North Carolina v Florida State — Ta’Niya Latson has the twenty fourth most factors in ACC historical past (2037). She’s solely a junior.

George Mason, coming into the postseason with solely 5 losses, has outscored opponents by 544 factors this season. They common the ninth-fewest turnovers within the NCAA and shoot on the Twentieth-best clip from the 3-point line. Analytics love the Patriots. The one event staff they’ve confronted this 12 months was No. 4-seed Maryland, who beat them simply by 10 factors. An upset win over Florida State, coming off two straight losses, is totally within the playing cards.

What Florida State has is expertise. Expertise by the identify of Ta’Niya Latson. What’s there to say about Latson that hasn’t already been mentioned? First within the nation in factors per sport. Second within the nation in factors produced. First within the nation in utilization. Will get to the free throw line 13 occasions a sport, and makes 11 of them. The Seminoles lose 75 p.c of their video games when Latson is held to below 20 factors, however she’s solely failed to achieve that mark 4 occasions in 27 video games this season. Shutting her down is a fairytale. Florida State vs. George Mason, which is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2), shall be one in all two issues: an entertaining potential upset, or a litmus take a look at of how far Latson might be able to carry the Seminoles in March.

No. 1-seed Texas vs. No. 16-seed William & Mary

NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament - First Four - Austin — Erin Dickerson has led the Tribe to the NCAA Event in her third 12 months as head coach.

William & Mary, a No. 16 seed, doubtless will not beat No. 1-seed Texas after they meet in Austin at 9:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2), however they’re one of many extra wonderful tales this March and are value a watch. The Tribe completed the common season at a disappointing 11-18 document, shedding seven of their final eight video games. Then, they received 4 video games in 4 days to steal the CAA convention title. They carried their momentum into the First 4, beating 21-11 Excessive Level by six. Doing the inconceivable is, properly, inconceivable for a purpose, nevertheless it’s at all times enjoyable to root for.

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