The primary spherical is within the books and greater than half of the sector is gone. We’ve minimize the NCAA Event down from 68 groups to only 32 as video games start on Sunday, beginning with No. 10 Oregon versus No. 2 Duke at 12 p.m. ET from the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Oregon is considered one of simply two double-digit seeds advancing to the second spherical, with the opposite being No. 10 South Dakota State after it toppled No. 7 Oklahoma State within the Spherical of 64.
As journeys to the Candy 16 are on the road over the following two days, we’re right here that will help you arrange your watch schedules for Sunday and Monday. Some groups can be going residence, whereas others can be packing their baggage for Birmingham, Alabama, or Spokane, Washington.
Right here’s a rating of all 16 video games within the Spherical of 32:
16. No. 9 Indiana vs. No. 1 South Carolina
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET – ABC
I imply, everyone knows how this sport goes to go, proper? Gamecocks by a complete lot. Tune in if you wish to see MiLaysia Fulwiley do MiLaysia Fulwiley issues.
15. No. 10 South Dakota State vs. No. 2 UConn
Monday, 8 p.m. ET – ESPN
It was a enjoyable run, South Dakota State. Better of luck towards the game’s longest-running Dying Star.
14. No. 8 Illinois vs. No. 1 Texas
Monday, 2 p.m. ET – ESPN
Sorry Illinois, however Madison Booker and Rori Harmon can go forward and begin packing for Birmingham.
13. No. 9 Mississippi State vs. No. 1 USC
Monday, 10 p.m. ET – ESPN
It’s been an excellent journey, Bulldogs. Congrats in your first spherical win. Good luck containing JuJu Watkins and Kiki Iriafen.
12. No. 6 West Virginia vs. No. 3 North Carolina
Monday 7 p.m. ET – ESPN2
All due respect to the Tar Heels and Mountaineers, and Alyssa Ustby and JJ Quinerly, however there’s an excellent likelihood that this sport devolves into a fully unwatchable rockfight. These are two of the very best defensive groups within the sport. UNC and WVU each rank within the high 10 in defensive score and high 25 in factors allowed per play. The Tar Heels permit their opponents to shoot simply 36.6 % from the ground on common – which is sixteenth within the nation – whereas the Mountaineers rank second in turnovers compelled per sport. In the event you like offense, this sport may not be for you.
11. No. 10 Oregon vs. No. 2 Duke
Sunday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN
For lots of the identical causes said above relating to UNC-WVU, Oregon’s conflict with Duke could be a sport that’s low on good offense and excessive on missed pictures and turnovers. The Geese and Blue Devils play completely different defensive schemes and types, however each are superb on that finish of the ground. The added wrinkle to this sport is the presence of Deja Kelly, who performed for Duke’s rival North Carolina for 4 years earlier than becoming a member of the Geese. She’s 5-2 all-time vs. Duke and 3-1 in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The winner of this sport may get to face the Tar Heels within the Candy 16.
10. No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 4 Baylor
Sunday, 4 p.m. ET – ESPN
The Rebels are seemingly enjoying with a chip on their shoulder and with one thing to show right here as a result of they believed they need to’ve been internet hosting as a high 16 seed. A kind of No. 4 seed spots went to Baylor. Whereas this sport may lack in starpower – though Madison Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs have been very enjoyable to look at this season – each of those coaches rank among the many high of their craft of their respective conferences.
9. No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 2 N.C. State
Monday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN
The Wolfpack held off Vermont and pulled away on the finish on Saturday, whereas Michigan State obtained a double-double from Grace VanSlooten and slowed down Harmoni Turner simply sufficient to beat Harvard. One other gradual begin might price N.C. State towards a extra skilled, proficient and defensive-minded staff just like the Spartans.
8. No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 4 Maryland
Monday, 5 p.m. ET – ESPN2
In the event you’re searching for a possible upset, this could possibly be considered one of them. The Terps obtained off to a gradual begin on Saturday and trailed Norfolk State at halftime earlier than pulling away to win by double digits. Alabama, in the meantime, shot 47 % from the ground and gained the rebounding battle by 16 towards a troublesome Inexperienced Bay staff. The Crimson Tide is looking for its first Candy 16 journey since 1998.
7. No. 6 Iowa vs. No. 3 Oklahoma
Monday, 4 p.m. ET – ESPN
Now right here’s a sport with some star energy, with Lucy Olsen pulling down 3-pointers for the Hawkeyes and Raegan Beers doing work within the paint for the Sooners. Enjoyable truth: Oklahoma coach Jennie Baranczyk performed at Iowa when present head coach Jan Jensen was there as an assistant.
6. No. 9 Richmond vs. No. 1 UCLA
Sunday, 10 p.m. ET – ESPN
March Insanity in all probability ends on this sport for the Spiders, however they’re a very enjoyable and proficient staff that might pose issues for the Bruins. Richmond proved that it deserved an at-large bid by beating Georgia Tech by 25 factors within the first spherical behind the stellar play of Maggie Doogan. Richmond ranks inside the highest 25 nationally in each offensive and defensive score.
5. No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET – ESPN
In the event you’re searching for high-powered offense from each groups, that is your sport. The Woman Vols and the Buckeyes each rank within the high 18 nationally in factors per sport. Ohio State went undefeated in non-conference play, but it surely didn’t play anybody from the SEC. Let’s see how the Buckeyes do towards Kim Caldwell’s squad.
4. No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 2 TCU
Sunday, 6 p.m. ET – ESPN
TCU is basically good and it is a little bit of a rebuilding 12 months for Louisville, so it’s arduous to know if this sport can be shut. However Hailey Van Lith going up towards her previous staff is an efficient cause to tune in, and Jeff Walz – lengthy one of many high coaches within the sport – may need an fascinating scheme cooked as much as cease his former participant and Sedona Prince.
3. No. 5 Kansas State vs. No. 4 Kentucky
Sunday, 2 p.m. ET – ESPN
Kentucky had a detailed name within the first spherical with Liberty, profitable by only a single level and behind a large efficiency from Georgia Amoore. In the meantime, Ayoka Lee returned for Kansas State and she or he had a double-double in a giant win for Jeff Mittie’s squad towards top-of-the-line mid-major groups within the nation in Fairfield. Regardless of all of the success that Lee and Mittie have shared collectively, Kansas State hasn’t been to the second weekend of the event since 2002.
2. No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 3 Notre Dame
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET – ABC
It is a large rivalry in soccer, however the two sides don’t play one another all that usually in girls’s basketball. Nonetheless, this must be a aggressive sport with big-time gamers. Notre Dame, after all, is powered by its trio of guards in Hannah Hidalgo, Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles, but it surely’s unclear how efficient the latter can be after happening within the first spherical with a left ankle harm. Michigan is steered by a star freshman in Syla Swords.
1. No. 3 LSU vs. No. 6 Florida State
Monday, 6 p.m. ET – ESPN
Florida State has been a type of groups this season that’s able to beating anybody and dropping to anybody. The Seminoles defeated North Carolina and Notre Dame, but in addition misplaced to Stanford. Nonetheless, when the nation’s main scorer Ta’Niya Latson and one of many sport’s greatest rim protectors in Makayla Timpson are enjoying at their greatest, the Seminoles are arduous to beat. Even towards a banged up LSU squad, the place each Aneesah Morrow and Flau’Jae Johnson have handled current lower-body accidents, FSU will should be on the high of its sport to tug off an upset in Baton Rouge. Watching them strive could possibly be a complete lot of enjoyable.
