Rating the 16-game Women’s NCAA Tournament schedule for Saturday

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The second day of the Women’s NCAA Tournament will get underway Saturday with matchups throughout the nation. Sixteen video games will probably be held throughout eight websites. The high 4 seeds in every bracket play host to first- and second-round video games.

Odds say we’ll see a repeat Final Four with UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina. There are 64 different groups who wish to have a say in that.

The opening day of the match did not see any upsets, however No. 6 Baylor did have a detailed name with No. 11 Nebraska.

The occasions listed can fluctuate barely if previous contests run lengthy, however there ought to at all times be one thing taking place all through the afternoon and night hours. Here’s the rating of all of the video games and all the things you might want to learn about the best way to watch Saturday’s contests.

1. No. 9 Syracuse vs. No. 8 Iowa State

Time/TV: 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

This will probably be a conflict of two facilities on the high of their recreation. Iowa State is armed with Audi Crooks, the nation’s third-leading scorer at 25.2 factors per recreation. Syracuse is anchored by ACC Freshman of the Year, who averages 15.5 factors, 9.4 rebounds and a pair of.6 blocks per recreation.

2. No. 9 Princeton vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Two high-powered offenses will attempt to outshoot one another on this recreation. The Cowgirls rank within the high 30 nationally in most taking pictures metrics and have scored a minimum of 80 factors 16 occasions this season and are undefeated when doing so. Princeton is twenty sixth in factors per-play and twenty eighth in free throw share. Two gamers to look at are Madison St. Rose for the Tigers and Stailee Heard from Oklahoma State.

3. No. 11 Fairfield vs. No. 6 Notre Dame

Time/TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPN

We’re on upset watch right here. While Notre Dame is powered by two-time ACC Player of the Year Hannah Hidalgo, the Irish aren’t all that good at defending shooters. They rank 296th in subject purpose protection, 198th in 3-point protection, and 272nd in efficient subject purpose protection. The Irish are 6-7 this season when an opponent makes a minimum of six 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Fairfield leads the nation in 3-pointers made per recreation with 11.4. The Stags, coached by Carly Thibault-DuDonis, are within the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season.

4. No. 9 USC vs. No. 8 Clemson

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

The vibes are excessive proper now for Clemson, which is dancing for the primary time since 2019 and the second time since 2002. The Tigers ended their season on a excessive notice beneath second-year coach Shawn Poppie, securing their place within the match subject with an upset win over Duke, a victory on the street at Cal and an ACC Tournament overcome Virginia. USC has had an up-and-down season with out JuJu Watkins, however are powered by Jazzy Davidson, a contender for National Freshman of the Year.

5. No. 11 Rhode Island vs. No. 6 Alabama

Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS

The Rams are within the NCAA Tournament for the primary time since 1996 and second time in program historical past. Tammi Reiss’ workforce isn’t led by a star, however has a collective unit that does loads of the vital issues very well. Rhode Island ranks twenty fifth nationally in free throw taking pictures share (77.1%), fifteenth in defensive rebounding fee (74.8%), nineteenth in offensive rebounds allowed per recreation (9.0), and seventh in least turnovers per recreation (11.7). Simply put, Rhode Island makes free throws, rebounds effectively and takes care of the ball. Alabama doesn’t rank within the high 100 in both of these statistics and enters the match having misplaced six of its final 9 video games.

6. No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 12 James Madison

Time/TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU

Kenny Brooks faces the workforce his former workforce. Long earlier than he was the pinnacle coach at Virginia Tech after which Kentucky, Brooks performed for Hall of Famer Lefty Driesell at JMU and years later turned the Dukes head coach and turned this system right into a mid-major powerhouse, going to 6 NCAA Tournaments in 10 seasons. Sean O’Regan, a former Brooks’ assistant, took over for him and has stored issues rolling because the Dukes have gained 20 or extra video games in eight of his 10 seasons. James Madison is likely one of the greatest mid-major groups within the match, however that is unlikely to be a recreation the place the apprentice defeats the grasp.

7. No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Virginia

Time/TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Virginia is within the NCAA Tournament for the primary time since 2018 and superior to this recreation by narrowly beating Arizona State within the First Four. The Bulldogs are dancing for the second time beneath fourth-year coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Georgia picked up some spectacular wins in SEC play by taking victories over Ole Miss, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, whereas Virginia notched wins this season over Louisville and Notre Dame. This is a matchup between two former Missouri State head coaches, as Abrahamson-Henderson from 2002 to 2007, whereas Amaka Agugua-Hamilton was the coach from 2019 to 2022 earlier than arriving at Virginia.

8. No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado

Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Illinois ranks second nationally in free throw taking pictures with an 81.5% mark. Colorado ranks 298th nationally in foul fee at 22.2%. The numbers say this recreation will probably be determined by how disciplined the Buffs will probably be on protection and the way effectively the Illini capitalize on their journeys to the free throw line.

9. No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 14 Vermont

Time/TV: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Catamounts — who rank within the high 100 in each NET and WAB — are dancing for the third time in 4 years beneath coach Alisa Kresge. Nikola Priede is a participant to look at for Vermont as she averages 17.4 factors and seven.7 rebounds per recreation, and likewise ranks eighth nationally in win shares with 7.1. Louisville is predicted to win this recreation comfortably on its dwelling flooring, however should do with out key reserve guard Skylar Jones.

10. No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami Ohio

Time/TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPNU

The Mountaineers are internet hosting NCAA Tournament video games in Morgantown for the primary time since 1992. The constructing must be rocking and Mark Kellogg’s workforce will probably be heavy favorites, however Miami Ohio is high 75 in NET and WAB, and twelfth nationally in whole 3-pointers made.

11. No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 15 FDU

Time/TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN

FDU coach Steph Gaitley has greater than 750 profession wins and isn’t any stranger to March Madness, making her eleventh journey to the NCAA Tournament along with her fourth totally different workforce. Still, all of the metrics favor Iowa, who will probably be enjoying on their dwelling courtroom in entrance of a sold-out crowd.

12. No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Southern

Time/TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC

This recreation will not be shut, however ought to function a get-right recreation for South Carolina after dropping within the SEC Tournament title recreation. Come to see what Dawn Staley is carrying, stick round for the play of Raven Johnson and Joyce Edwards.

13. No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Howard

Time/TV: 11: 30 a.m. ET, ESPN2

Howard beat one Power 4 opponent this yr in Cincinnati, however misplaced its different three video games to main convention opponents by a median margin of 24 factors. This must be a showcase recreation for Jaloni Cambridge, a sophomore guard for the Buckeyes who averages 22.8 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation.

14. No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point

Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNEWS

This is the third time in six years that Chelsea Banbury has guided the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament. It’s unlikely they will have the identical type of luck because the High Point males’s workforce, as they face SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes, who leads the nation in scoring with 27 factors per recreation.

15. No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 UTSA

Time/TV: 3 p.m. ET, ABC

Karen Aston’s Roadrunners rank greater in NET than 4 Big East groups, however the results of this recreation is prone to be similar to how UConn handled the remainder of its league. Tune in early to see Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd prepare dinner.

16. No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist

Time/TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

This recreation will not be shut. Sorry, Lancers. But tune in if you wish to see Lauren Betts and the Bruins dominate.


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