The primary spherical is within the books and greater than half of the sphere is gone. We’ve reduce 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 can assist you arrange your watch schedules for Sunday and Monday. Some groups shall be going residence, whereas others shall 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 recreation 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 in opposition to the game’s longest-running Demise 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 experience, 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 probability that this recreation devolves into a fully unwatchable rockfight. These are two of the most effective 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 enable their opponents to shoot simply 36.6 p.c from the ground on common – which is sixteenth within the nation – whereas the Mountaineers rank second in turnovers compelled per recreation. In case you like offense, this recreation won’t be for you.
11. No. 10 Oregon vs. No. 2 Duke
Sunday, 12 p.m. ET – ESPN
For most of the similar causes acknowledged above relating to UNC-WVU, Oregon’s conflict with Duke may be a recreation that’s low on good offense and excessive on missed pictures and turnovers. The Geese and Blue Devils play totally different defensive schemes and kinds, however each are excellent on that finish of the ground. The added wrinkle to this recreation 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 recreation 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 doubtless taking part in 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 recreation may lack in starpower – though Madison Scott and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs have been very enjoyable to observe 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 sluggish begin might value N.C. State in opposition to a extra skilled, gifted and defensive-minded staff just like the Spartans.
8. No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 4 Maryland
Monday, 5 p.m. ET – ESPN2
In case you’re searching for a possible upset, this may very well be considered one of them. The Terps obtained off to a sluggish begin on Saturday and trailed Norfolk State at halftime earlier than pulling away to win by double digits. Alabama, in the meantime, shot 47 p.c from the ground and gained the rebounding battle by 16 in opposition to a tricky Inexperienced Bay staff. The Crimson Tide is trying to find 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 recreation 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 most likely ends on this recreation for the Spiders, however they’re a extremely enjoyable and gifted staff that would 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 case you’re searching for high-powered offense from each groups, that is your recreation. The Woman Vols and the Buckeyes each rank within the high 18 nationally in factors per recreation. Ohio State went undefeated in non-conference play, nevertheless it didn’t play anybody from the SEC. Let’s see how the Buckeyes do in opposition to Kim Caldwell’s squad.
4. No. 7 Louisville vs. No. 2 TCU
Sunday, 6 p.m. ET – ESPN
TCU is basically good and this can be a little bit of a rebuilding yr for Louisville, so it’s arduous to know if this recreation shall be shut. However Hailey Van Lith going up in opposition to her outdated staff is an effective motive to tune in, and Jeff Walz – lengthy one of many high coaches within the sport – may need an attention-grabbing 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, successful by only a single level and behind a large efficiency from Georgia Amoore. In the meantime, Ayoka Lee returned for Kansas State and he or she had a double-double in a giant win for Jeff Mittie’s squad in opposition to 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 match since 2002.
2. No. 6 Michigan vs. No. 3 Notre Dame
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET – ABC
This can be 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 recreation with big-time gamers. Notre Dame, in fact, is powered by its trio of guards in Hannah Hidalgo, Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles, nevertheless it’s unclear how efficient the latter shall be after taking place within the first spherical with a left ankle damage. 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 additionally misplaced to Stanford. Nonetheless, when the nation’s main scorer Ta’Niya Latson and one of many recreation’s greatest rim protectors in Makayla Timpson are taking part in at their greatest, the Seminoles are arduous to beat. Even in opposition to a banged up LSU squad, the place each Aneesah Morrow and Flau’Jae Johnson have handled latest lower-body accidents, FSU will must be on the high of its recreation to tug off an upset in Baton Rouge. Watching them attempt may very well be a complete lot of enjoyable.