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Charlie Creme ESPN.com
Miami, Ohio State and LSU continue to eliminate the chalk in the females’s 2023 NCAA competition. Just the Greenville 1 Regional has actually offered a 1-2 match as unbeaten and top-seeded South Carolina will deal with Maryland in the Elite 8.
The Huge 10 provided on its preseason pledge of a league packed with heavyweights, putting 3 groups– Iowa signs up with the Buckeyes and Terps– in the Elite 8 for the very first time. The ACC likewise has 3, however Miami, which ended up connected for 6th in the conference and had the most affordable internet ranking (50th) of any of the league’s 8 groups in the field of 68, wasn’t expected to be among them. ESPN Analytics stated the Hurricanes had a 3% possibility of reaching the Elite 8 prior to March Insanity tipped off. They are this year’s celebration crashers in a competition that is getting significantly more wide-open– see: 10th-seeded Creighton in 2022 and 6-seed Texas in 2021– regardless of the existence of heavy preferred South Carolina this year.
Miami is the very first No. 9 seed to make it this far because Arkansas in 1998. The seed overall of 12 in its video game with No. 3 seed LSU on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) is the greatest number a local last has actually ever seen, making it formally the most unlikely Elite 8 match ever.
Miami certifies as the most significant surprise of this year’s Elite 8, however Ohio State’s upset of UConn can’t be disregarded. For the very first time because 2007, the females’s Last 4 will not consist of UConn. Ohio State’s win, paired with Virginia Tech‘s removal of Tennessee, likewise implies this will simply be the 3rd Elite 8 without either the Huskies or Woman Vols (1985 and 1992 were the others).
This has actually been a history-making competition in many methods. All the upsets both huge and little have actually made reseeding more tough than ever. However here it is one last time prior to we understand which groups punch their ticket to Dallas.
No. 1 seeds
1:34
South Carolina controls UCLA to advance to its 3rd straight Elite 8
The Gamecocks function as they control the Bruins 59-43 and advance to their 3rd straight Elite 8.
South Carolina Gamecocks
NCAA seed: No. 1 total (Greenville 1)
NCAA competition: Beat Norfolk State 72-40; beat South Florida 76-45; beat UCLA 59-43
Even the world’s biggest linguists are lacking superlatives for the South Carolina defense. What the Gamecocks did to UCLA is simply another example of their total supremacy of even the very best competitors the remainder of the nation needs to provide. The Bruins had more turnovers (8) than basket (6) in the very first half and didn’t even reach 30% shooting for the video game. The Gamecocks have not permitted more than 45 points in any video game in the competition. Their offense produced the group’s second-lowest output of the season and looked as out of sync as it has in a long time, however the result was still never ever in jeopardy. That’s how suppressing the defense has actually remained in this competition and all season. South Carolina has actually now matched last season’s group for the most wins in school history (35) and is one win far from Dallas, the website of the program’s very first nationwide title in 2017.
Up next: vs. Maryland on Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
0:40
What stood apart about Caitlin Clark’s efficiency in Iowa’s win?
Monica McNutt sets out what she liked about Caitlin Clark’s efficiency in Iowa’s Sugary food 16 win over Colorado.
Iowa Hawkeyes
NCAA seed: No. 2 (Seattle 4)
NCAA competition: Beat SE Louisiana 95-43; beat Georgia 74-66; beat Colorado 87-77
Colorado pressed Iowa. The Buffaloes even led at halftime. Then Caitlin Clark kicked into another equipment. Once again. Clark scored 11 points and helped on 3 more baskets in the essential 3rd quarter, which Iowa won 25-13. It’s a story that has actually been composed many times this season. Clark takes control of every element of the Hawkeyes’ attack and Iowa prospers. And when Monika Czinano is riding shotgun, Iowa is difficult to beat. Czinano is an X element. Her 19.0 points per video game in the competition surpasses her season average. In 4 of Iowa’s 6 losses, Czinano stopped working to score in double figures. She browsed the size of Colorado frontcourt duo Quay Miller and Aaronette Vonleh with 7-of-9 shooting. The 6-foot-3 Czinano may need to do the very same versus Louisville’s 6-3 Olivia Cochran and 6-5 Liz Dixon if Iowa is to advance to the school’s very first Last 4 because 1993.
Up next: vs. Louisville on Sunday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
1:39
Virginia Tech advances to Elite 8 for the very first time in program history
Georgia Amoore ratings a career-high 29 points as Virginia Tech advances to the Elite 8 for the very first time in program history.
Virginia Tech Hokies
NCAA seed: No. 1 (Seattle 3)
NCAA competition: Beat Chattanooga 58-33; beat South Dakota State 72-60; beat Tennessee 73-64
Elizabeth Kitley is the two-time ACC Gamer of the Year. She is the foundation of the increase of the Virginia Tech program. Today, however, Georgia Amoore is the Hokies’ finest gamer as they play the most essential video games in school history. As the video games have actually grown, the 5-foot-6 junior has actually improved. Amoore scored a career-high 29 points in Saturday’s local semifinal win over Tennessee. That seeks balancing 23 points per video game in 5 video games because the ACC competition semifinals. She has actually raised Virginia Tech to its very first Elite 8. Amoore will likewise be essential if the Hokies are to take the next action to the Last 4. How well she can continue to rating while likewise attempting to break the Ohio State press will be the most significant consider Monday’s last video game of the regionals.
Up next: vs. Ohio State on Monday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
1:00
Maryland’s 17-1 run in 3rd quarter seals area in Elite 8
Maryland carry on to the Elite 8 over Notre Dame thanks to a 17-1 run in the 3rd quarter.
Maryland Terrapins
NCAA seed: No. 2
NCAA competition: Beat Holy Cross 93-61; beat Arizona 77-64; beat Notre Dame 76-59
The restore is formally a significant success in College Park. After losing 85% of her offense to either graduation or the transfer website, Brenda Frese rotated to the portal herself. Abby Meyers, Brinae Alexander and Lavender Briggs filled out the spaces around Diamond Miller, Shyanne Sellers and Faith Masonius, and now the Terps are 22-2 because Dec. 8. (The only losses are to Iowa, another Elite 8 individual.) As soon as the chemistry began, Maryland has actually been among the country’s finest groups. The Terps aren’t huge and are just 207th in the nation in rebound rate, according to HerHoopStats.com, however their athletic capability conquers that. On Saturday, Maryland used down the diminished Irish, outscoring them by 18 in the 2nd half. There is long shot the Terps will do the very same to South Carolina, however their offending flexibility must provide the Gamecocks with their most significant difficulty.
Up next: vs. South Carolina on Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
No. 2 seeds
0:48
Utah misses out on both FTs as LSU hangs on to Sugary food 16 win
Jenna Johnson misses out on both complimentary toss efforts for Utah as LSU hangs on to advance to the Elite 8.
LSU Tigers
NCAA seed: No. 3 (Greenville 2)
NCAA competition: Beat Hawaii 73-50; beat Michigan 66-42; beat Utah 66-63
All the speak about LSU’s weak nonconference schedule this season implies absolutely nothing now. Michigan and Utah were both ranked in the leading 25 this season. The Utes were a top-10 group. The Tigers beat them both to make the program’s very first Elite 8 journey because the days of Sylvia Fowles in 2008. Angel Reese has actually put herself directly in the discussion with Caitlin Clark as the very best gamer in this NCAA competition, however versus Utah she got some substantial aid. LaDazhia Williams had her finest video game in an LSU uniform– and among the very best video games of a profession that has actually consisted of stops with Missouri and South Carolina– with 24 points. Alexis Morris made 4 important complimentary tosses, consisting of 2 with 10 seconds left, that put the Tigers ahead for excellent. By Kim Mulkey’s estimations, this LSU group, in simply her 2nd year as coach, leads schedule. The Tigers were simply 16th in the preseason survey, so while a Last 4 journey does not appear so unexpected now after a 31-2 season, it didn’t appear possible in November.
Up next: vs. Miami on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
0:16
Jacy Sheldon caps off a 17-2 Buckeyes run
Jacy Sheldon drives tough to the basket for a good floater to top off a 17-2 Buckeyes run.
Ohio State Buckeyes
NCAA seed: No. 3 (Seattle 3)
NCAA competition: Beat James Madison 80-66; beat North Carolina 71-69; beat UConn 73-61
The Buckeyes did something no group because Stanford in 2005 might: keep UConn from the Elite 8. It ends up the Huskies were the ideal match for Ohio State. Aside from injuries, UConn most fought with turnovers this season. The Buckeyes force over 20 per video game, which ranks 16th in the nation. They did even much better on Saturday, turning 25 UConn turnovers into 22 points. After falling back 10-2, Ohio State completely controlled the video game, entirely taking the Huskies out of any rhythm. Journalism that is the foundation of whatever the Buckeyes do was more disruptive to UConn than it was to either James Madison or North Carolina, similar to the variation that assisted Ohio State begin the season 19-0. The Huskies outshot and outrebounded the Buckeyes. The Ohio State press, particularly throughout a 21-9 2nd quarter in which UConn had more turnovers than shot efforts, was almost the whole story behind Saturday’s win. Cotie McMahon, who has actually become a future star throughout her freshman season, and Jacy Sheldon, who looks entirely healthy after returning just for the start of the Big 10 competition, were the rest. They integrated for 40 points and 4 takes.
Up next: vs. Virginia Tech on Monday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
0:17
Olivia Cochran strikes the strong and-1 layup
Olivia Cochran makes a difficult relocation, then completes inside with a difficult and-1 layup.
Louisville Cardinals
NCAA seed: No. 5 (Seattle 4)
NCAA competition: Beat Drake 83-81; beat Texas 73-51; beat Ole Miss 72-62
In the last season prior to the NCAA competition, the Cardinals’ only substantial wins were over Miami and a diminished Notre Dame. Now they remain in the Elite 8 for the 5th straight competition. It’s obvious Jeff Walz is an exceptional coach. He appears to take it to another level in the NCAA competition, particularly this year. This is the most affordable seed the Cardinals have actually had while making it this far. Just like she did in 2015 in Louisville’s Last 4 run, Hailey Van Lith has actually taken her video game to another level. She fought with her shooting in February and in the ACC competition however has actually made 47.2% of her shots and is balancing 22.7 points in 3 competition video games. Van Lith’s use rate is up also with Walz putting the ball in her hand much more. Still, guard Mykasa Robinson has actually been the most significant difference-maker. Constantly a premier protector, Robinson has 2 of her 6 double-digit scoring video games in the competition.
Up next: vs. Iowa on Sunday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
0:22
Jasmyne Roberts’ big-time and-1 sends out Miami to the Elite 8
Jasmyne Roberts’ late and-1 shows definitive as Miami hang on to beat Villanova to advance to the Elite 8.
Miami Hurricanes
NCAA seed: No. 9 (Greenville 2)
NCAA competition: Beat Oklahoma State 62-61; beat Indiana 70-68; beat Villanova 70-65
Versus No. 8 seed Oklahoma State in the preliminary, Miami routed by 17 points prior to rallying to win. The Hurricanes never ever routed versus No. 1 seed Indiana in among the competition’s most significant upsets. Then on Friday, they blew a 21-point lead versus No. 4 Villanova, just to recuperate, make essential plays down the stretch and emerge with yet another upset. 3 video games. 3 noticeably various courses to triumph. The outcome is Miami’s very first Elite 8. What hasn’t altered is how Miami has actually succeeded: offending balance and defense. The Hurricanes have actually had 3 various leading scorers ( Haley Cavinder, Lola Pendande and Jasmyne Roberts) and have actually held all 3 of their challengers listed below their season scoring average.
Up next: vs. LSU on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)