Day 1 of the women’s NCAA tournament: A lot of chalk, few upsets and a perfect SEC start

Chalk controlled most of the opening day of the 2023 ladies’s NCAA event, with the SEC beaming brightest many thanks to a 5-0 document on Friday.

No. 1 total seed South Carolina dealt with Norfolk State, drawing within 5 success of an undefeated season and back-to-back national titles, while 3-seed LSU functioned versus Hawaii.

What was much less noticeable heading right into March was just how the middle-of-the-back SEC groups would certainly get on. However No. 8 seed Ole Miss, 10th-seeded Georgia and also 11-seed Mississippi State— which ended up being the very first First 4 group to make it to the 2nd round– all progressed.

It has actually been a harder week for the ACC, as 3 celebrity gamers– Florida State‘s Ta’Niya Latson, NC State‘s Diamond Johnson and also Notre Dame‘s Olivia Miles— were dismissed either for the whole event or, in Johnson’s instance, the weekend break. Notre Dame really did not have much problem directing Southern Utah 82-56, however 10th-seeded Princeton defeated 7-seed NC State on Grace Stone‘s permission 3-pointer with much less than 5 secs staying.

Also the “troubles” weren’t shocks. No. 10 seed Georgia removing Florida State was possible, otherwise foreseeable, offered Latson’s injury. Exact Same with NC State’s loss sans Johnson. No. 9 seed South Dakota State bested No. 8 USC 62-57 in overtime, however it was an 8-9 match. Many magnificent was 6-seed Creighton‘s loss to the Bulldogs after their Elite 8 run in 2015. Could Mississippi State, which plays hard protection and also can generate both inside-out, think the function by distressing the Irish on Sunday?

ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Charlie Creme and also M.A. Voepel damage down the highlights from the preliminary and also consider what to anticipate throughout the remainder of the early-round video games.

Provide us your ideal overreaction based upon eventually of video games.

Creme: No. 2 seed Maryland will certainly be an actual danger to South Carolina in Greenville 1 if Brinae Alexander can fire like she did versusHoly Cross The Terrapins made 9 3-pointers and also racked up 93 factors Friday. Alexander fired 4-for-7 on threes. Her better manufacturing has actually been a huge component of Maryland’s top-level play in the later component of the period. In the Terps’ last 6 video games, the Vanderbilt transfer made 18 of 36 efforts from past the arc, and also she’s shooting 44.3% there for the period. She led Maryland with 18 factors off the bench versus the Crusaders in a reliable 25 mins.

The Gamecocks do not have much susceptability, however a group with numerous deep hazards can, a minimum of partly, counteract their protection– also one like South Carolina’s. Alexander, Abby Meyers, Lavender Briggs and also Shyanne Sellers may simply offer Maryland the shooters to draw an Elite 8 shock.

Philippou: LSU, a group that has actually currently captured a great deal of flack for its simple nonconference routine, remains in problem if everybody around Angel Reese appears as level as they did versus Hawaii and also if the Tigers do not rebound far better (40-33). In addition to an uneven very first quarter, and also as leading as Reese was (34 factors, 15 rebounds), the video game was relatively. LSU fired 1-for-14 from the arc, and also Alexis Morris went 3-for-10 from the area. The course will certainly obtain a lot more challenging for the Tigers from right here on out with Michigan up following after the Wolverines handled a big win over UNLV Runnin Rebels in what was thought about a feasible dismayed video game– and afterwards possibly a group like high-octane Utah in the Sugary food 16.

Voepel: Perhaps the SEC will certainly have 2 groups in the Last 4. We have actually all been choosing South Carolina to head to Dallas primarily considering that the championship game video game finished in 2015. Much was made from the SEC not being like normal this period, aside from the Gamecocks. However the SEC went 5-0 on Friday, consisting of the troubles by Georgia and also Mississippi State– also if neither of those end results was truly a shock. Saturday, No. 4 Tennessee and also No. 10 Alabama will certainly attempt to maintain the SEC ideal in the preliminary.

What or that stunned you one of the most in Friday’s video games?

Creme: Possibly the most significant shock of the day was that there weren’t any kind of real shocks. It got on the opening day of the preliminary specifically 364 days ago that No. 10 seed Creighton ripped off No. 7 Colorado, 12-seed Florida Gulf Coast beat No. 5 Virginia Tech and also No. 10 seed South Dakota dismayed No. 7 Ole Miss. Those were absolutely unanticipated. Also when a reduced seed won Friday, like Mississippi State or Georgia, it had not been thought about a distress. The Bulldogs were the wagering fave.

Alissa Pili’s 33-point, eight-rebound efficiency had not been a shock, however the Utah celebrity’s 8 aids elevated a brow (she balanced 2.1 heading right into the event). Utah helped on 32 of its 37 basket in the 26-point sway Gardner-Webb.

Philippou: I really did not anticipate Gonzaga to shed, not to mention so severely, to Ole Miss (71-48), however credit scores the Rebels’ protection. The Bulldogs went 1-for-17 from 3 in spite of getting in the event with a 41.5% clip from the arc, ideal in the nation.

As well as while I anticipated the Tigers to defeat NC State prior to pointer, the Wolfpack showed up in control a lot of the video game. So I really did not believe it would certainly finish that means, with Carla Berube’s team clawing back from being down two-possessions early in the 4th and also holding NC State scoreless for the last 5:44 of the video game. Credit score the Tigers for their grit and also strength, something we saw with just how they recoiled from their 0-2 Ivy Organization begin or perhaps in just how they rallied from a deficiency to almost rip off UConn in December. The Utes’ high-powered crime will certainly be a high job for the defensive-focused Princeton, however it’ll be an interesting match nevertheless.

Voepel: No. 1 seed Virginia Technology won, however two-time ACC gamer of the year Elizabeth Kitley took simply 6 shots in a 58-33 success over No. 16Chattanooga Kitley do with 12 factors, however customarily routed the boards with 14. In the Hokies’ second-round video game versus No. 9 South Dakota State Jackrabbits, they’re most likely to require even more touches for their celebrity facility. On a favorable note, it shows up the Hokies’ Taylor Soule, that left Friday’s video game, was dealing with muscle mass pains and also is most likely to play Sunday.

What are you most eagerly anticipating seeing Saturday?

Creme: Maryland (93 factors) and also Iowa (95) did their component, however with No. 1 seeds South Carolina and also Virginia Technology racking up well listed below their standards, this event might make use of a shot of factors. No. 11 seed Middle Tennessee (vs. 6-seed Colorado, 7 p.m. ET on ESPNews) and also 12-seed FGCU (vs. 5-seed Washington State, 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU), that each run a spread crime and also relocate the sphere, might be the troubles and also stimulate that we really did not see in Friday’s video games. If the event remains to hold chalk like it did mostly on Day 1, the 2nd round will certainly be full of heavyweights, however I’m questioning Saturday will certainly go so very closely to develop.

Philippou: Exactly how fifth-seeded Washington State turns up after its Cinderella run in the Pac-12 event will certainly be fascinating. As Virginia Technology discovered in in 2015’s NCAA event, FGCU is a hard first-round match, however Kamie Ethridge’s Cougars aspire to reveal their 4 success in 5 days in the Pac-12 tourney weren’t a fluke. They’ll require to bring a standout protective efficiency versus a group that fires extra 3s than anybody else in the nation (and also makes a great deal of them). Charlisse Leger-Walker has actually been a celebrity out west for several years and also has actually gone under the radar. Bella Murekatete likewise had an outstanding run in the Pac-12 event, racking up a minimum of 19 factors versus Utah and alsoUCLA Currently, both gamers will certainly get on nationwide tv– versus among one of the most effective mid-majors in the sporting activity.

Voepel: I’m interested to see just how the Huge 12 will certainly finish with 5 of its 6 groups in the event playing Saturday. West Virginia were the organization’s first string to play, shedding Friday toArizona Just one Huge 12 group is organizing: No. 4 Texas should not have way too much problem with No. 13 East Carolina.

The various other 4 competitions might be fascinating: No. 5 Oklahoma vs. No. 12 Portland, and also No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Miami are both a comparison of designs. On the various other hand, No. 5 Iowa State (276 3-pointers) are rather comparable to No. 12 Toledo (209 ). And Also No. 7 Baylor, which encounters No. 10 Alabama, have actually been backwards and forwards this period. We will certainly see which variation of Baylor shows up Saturday.

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Mississippi State over 6-seed Creighton was a prominent dismayed choice. What did you like regarding the Bulldogs’ first-round win– and also just how will they check Notre Dame?

Philippou: No. 11 seed Mississippi State was a solid 3-point capturing group getting in the event; its 35.2% precision rankings 36th in the nation. However the Bulldogs selected the ideal video game to completely go off from 3, as Friday’s 11 treys connected their period high. As well as while Jessika Carter went off versus Illinois (22 factors, 9 rebounds) in the First 4, Mississippi State really did not require to count on her or repaint racking up as a lot versus Creighton. The Bulldogs likewise obtained it done on the protective end, discouraging the Bluejays and also requiring them to take challenging shots (Creighton ended up 26.5% from the arc). If Mississippi State can convert that protective interruption right into Sunday, maybe a frustration for a Notre Dame group without its beginning point player. The Irish have actually been a respectable protective device, and also they’ll be entrusted with ensuring the Bulldogs do not remain warm from 3. However Sam Purcell’s team can be reliable in the paint too through Carter and also with its guards obtaining downhill.

Creme: I undervalued Jessika Carter’s dimension and also effect in both of Mississippi State’s NCAA event wins. The 6-foot-5 elderly has 36 factors and also 19 rebounds incorporated. What stands apart much more regarding the Bulldogs success today was that Carter had not been also Mississippi State’s ideal gamer on Friday; junior JerKaila Jordan was. Carter’s dimension modifications video games, however it’s not necessary for the Bulldogs to win.

Their athleticism beamed versus Creighton and also might problem the Irish. Notre Dame’s backcourt is diminished without Olivia Miles and alsoDara Mabrey Bulldogs instructor Sam Purcell is mosting likely to have the ability to run Jordan, Anastasia Hayes, Ahlana Smith, Debreasha Powe, Asianae Johnson and also Kourtney Weber in a turning that might put on down Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron and alsoKK Bransford That team incorporated to make 11 of 19 3-pointers versus Creighton and also, while far better than regular, it was no fluke; Mississippi State was 4th in the SEC in 3-point precision this period. If those guards reach the edge with their athleticism and also fire it well from deep, and also Carter has some impact inside versus Maddy Westbeld and also Lauren Ebo, we might obtain an outcome that we can classify as a real trouble.

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This really feels acquainted: Iowa organizes a 10-seed on its residence court in the 2nd round. What do you anticipate when the Hawkeyes encounter Georgia on Sunday?

Voepel: It’s creepy just how comparable the scenarios are to in 2015. Friday, No. 2 seed Iowa won its March Insanity opener by 52 factors, the program’s biggest margin of success in an NCAA event video game, with Caitlin Clark racking up 26 factors. That complied with No. 10 seed Georgia defeating No. 7 Florida State at Carver-Hawkeye Field.

In 2014, the Hawkeyes were likewise a No. 2 seed, won their opener by 40, after that dealt with the No. 10 seed, which had actually distressed No. 7. That really did not work out for Iowa, which shed 64-62 to Creighton. Iowa does not desire a repeat.

Georgia is a hard challenger, for various factors than Creighton was. The 2022 Bluejays fired a lots of 3-pointers. Georgia was last in the SEC in threes; the Bulldogs have 113 this year to Iowa’s 293. Because of this, the area the Hawkeyes made use of so efficiently versus SE Louisiana on Friday might be huge versus Georgia, as well./ p>>

However the Bulldogs have dimension, deepness and also protection: They have actually held enemies to 58.6 PPG this period. Iowa, which has actually balanced a Department I-best 87.8 PPG, desires a high-scoring video game Sunday. Both Clark and also colleague Monika Czinano stated Friday the Hawkeyes will certainly speak as a group regarding in 2015 and also what failed in the 2nd round, although this will certainly be a really various match

” Not nevertheless much regarding the X’s and also O’s, however extra just how called in we need to be for each video game,” Czinano stated. “The instructors do not also need to claim it. Most of us understand.”