Even when it’s not explicitly acknowledged, a part of the NCAA Event Choice Committee’s job is to make a tv present, to place groups on paths that may be compelling must-watch matchups in March Insanity.
That’s why we would see Duke vs. North Carolina within the Candy 16. That’s why JuJu Watkins and USC are on a collision course to face Paige Bueckers and UConn within the Elite Eight. And that’s why Louisville obtained despatched to TCU’s sub-regional.
Keep in mind, the committee tried this final yr too. When former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith was then enjoying for LSU, the Cardinals obtained despatched to Baton Rouge. However the second spherical matchup by no means occurred as Louisville obtained upset within the first spherical by Center Tennessee State.
The committee’s second — and ultimate — strive at making this occur lastly labored: Van Lith and her second-seeded Horned Frogs will face No. 7 Louisville on Sunday in Fort Value, Texas.
So, for the primary time ever, Van Lith will face the workforce she helped take to the Remaining 4 as a sophomore in 2022.
However Van Lith isn’t feeding into the frenzy across the matchup.
“I perceive the media, I perceive the narrative that’s being painted. Doesn’t essentially align with the place I’m at mentally and emotionally,” she mentioned Saturday. “That’s okay. It doesn’t matter if folks don’t have the identical notion as me. I’m in a very great spot. I’m excited to play. You understand, this recreation a a lot larger than me and what I obtained happening.”
She added: “TCU is trying to go to the Candy 16 for the primary time ever. That’s quite a bit larger than no matter else the narrative is. I’m simply excited to go play. It’s going to be nice recreation time. Most likely going to get a primetime slot. I find it irresistible.”
Certainly, TCU vs. Louisville will tip-off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday on ESPN, proving that it’s a matchup worthy of the mothership therapy.
At her third faculty in three years, Van Lith is having arguably the most effective season of her faculty profession and is a giant purpose why TCU is seen as a Remaining 4 contender. She’s averaging 17.7 factors and a career-best 5.4 assists per recreation, whereas additionally grabbing 4.3 rebounds per recreation and taking pictures a career-high 45.7 p.c from the ground.
The fifth-year 5-foot-9 guard from Wenatchee, Washington — who additionally received an Olympic bronze medal this previous summer season with Staff USA in 3×3 basketball — can also be seventh nationally in win shares. She’s certainly one of simply 5 gamers within the nation — and the one one enjoying within the NCAA Event — who’s averaging at the least 17.5 factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per recreation. Along with her main the best way, TCU received the Large 12 this season for the primary time.
It’s a bounce-back season for Van Lith, who struggled to discover a constant position final season on a star-laden LSU roster that fell within the Elite Eight to Iowa. One might make the case that Van Lith was frolicked to dry a bit by her coaches in that defeat as they refused to make actual changes to protect Caitlin Clark, leaving Van Lith one-on-one along with her for a lot of the evening.
Van Lith averaged simply 11.6 factors per recreation at LSU whereas taking pictures a career-low from the ground. At TCU, she’s discovered the correct match for her skillset.
“I feel after I selected TCU I used to be actually searching for a system very like our system right here. Only a ton of spacing. Distinctive personnel that opens up the ground for me the place I is usually a playmaker, what I do greatest,” Van Lith mentioned. “But additionally a system that may problem me to open up new elements of my recreation, like I’ve with enjoying the one slightly bit.”
Louisville has a younger roster with eight true freshmen, however there’s just a few gamers nonetheless there who performed with Van Lith, together with Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell. Van Lith mentioned she’s nonetheless very shut with Russell.
“One in every of my greatest mates performs for Louisville nonetheless. Most likely going to be a bridesmaid at my marriage ceremony if I ever get married,” Van Lith mentioned, smiling. “We did go to a Remaining 4. That’s life altering. Quite a lot of feelings there, so it was a optimistic… Yeah, me and Merissah, room 112.”
Cochran nonetheless has plenty of respect and admiration for Van Lith too, however is aware of that on Sunday they received’t be former teammates and mates — simply opponents.
“Hailey was an important teammate. I want her the most effective. However on the finish of the day we obtained to outlive and transfer ahead. On the finish of the day, that is basketball and it’s competitors, so I’m positive as effectively that she desires to compete as a lot as I wish to compete towards her,” Cochran mentioned. “See? It’s no unhealthy blood. All love. I’m wishing her the most effective.”
Louisville coach Jeff Walz wasn’t prepared to play together with hype being drummed up for the matchup both.
He was requested what works so effectively with Van Lith and Sedona Prince being on the identical workforce. For context right here, Walz coached Prince in 2018 on Staff’s USA’s U-18 workforce that received the FIBA Americas Championship.
Walz responded to the query this fashion:
“I imply, like what do you imply? They’re each nice gamers. What the hell? I imply, it’s not like they’ve reinvented the sport right here,” Walz mentioned. “It’s (not) like two shitty gamers we simply made nice. They’re actually good gamers.”
Walz’s persona permeates all all through Louisville’s ladies’s basketball program and has for the whole thing of his tenure as head coach. It’s why, with eight freshmen or no freshmen, they’re all the time a troublesome out. Their depth and self-discipline has helped them make 4 Remaining Fours below Walz’s watch.
On Sunday, his Cardinals will attempt to punch their thirteenth ticket to the Candy 16. TCU will probably be enjoying for the prospect to advance to the NCAA Event’s second weekend for the primary time ever.
Van Lith is aware of all too effectively what she and the Horned Frogs are up towards.
“Being in that program, I do know that they positively are going to have a chip on their shoulder. Once I was there we all the time had a chip about us. You understand, most likely why I additionally play like that also,” Van Lith mentioned. “So we’re going to have to come back out and be intense and match their depth. We’ll see if we’re as much as it.”