NFL
By Jeffrey Newholm
Last year, a delusionally optimistic reporter whined that we had two weeks to wait for the big dance. Somehow, someway, the United States women’s basketball fandom army survived two years without glass slippers. On Sunday, March 21st, the ladies will be back! Sixty-four teams battle in San Antonio to see who will take home the walnut and bronze. Like every year, NBS has you covered! Take a waltz with me as I cover the top seed, best story, and most lovable underdog of each region.
Alamo Region
#1 Seed: Stanford Cardinal
Excellent ESPNW reporter Michelle Voepel argued Stanford’s 1992 title was forever ago. Hey, now, this reporter was born in that year! Jokes aside, 28 years sounds like far too long for Tara VanDerveer’s top overall seed. Stanford may be most known for losing to #16 Harvard in 1998, but long has been the silver standard of west coast basketball with 33 straight tourney appearances.
The Cardinal faced adversity this season, as a restrictive California government forced the school to play numerous games away from campus. However, four starters average in double figures, with the school outscoring opponents by an average of 26 points a game. It may have taken Uconn having a down year with a spectacular one losses loss, but Vanderveer’s surging program is back where it belongs: the top team in a crowded field of excellence.
Ticket punched and ready for the Big Dance! 💃#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/s5yKTo3Pr1
— Stanford WBB 🤓🏀 (@StanfordWBB) March 16, 2021
Best Story: #5 Missouri State
Besides playing in the Final Four, is there a better thrill for an athlete than winning a conference championship? Unfortunately, the Bears decided to back out of the Missouri Valley dance when other teams faced COVID outbreaks. However, the two-time conference coach of the year, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, knew that her squad was in the NCAAs no matter what. While it’s disappointing not to win conference because of other team’s mistakes, the #5 Bears gladly tie their sneakers for a sprint to the Sweet 16 (although #4 Arkansas may have different ideas).
Most Lovable Underdog: #11 South Dakota
The Coyotes (that’s ca-yowts, not cow-yot-ees) won 30 games last season, only for the pandemic to end their season despite an automatic NCAA berth. Although SD succeeded again in the Summit tourney this March, they face a challenging matchup against elite #6 Oregon (although the Ducks aren’t the behemoth of last season). Will the Coyotes win their first playoff game in three chances? Don’t forget (or mispronounce) their name, as the proud, underappreciated team doesn’t feel sorry for itself.
River Walk Region
#1 Seed: Uconn
Head coach Geno Auriemma recently tested positive for COVID but thankfully has no symptoms thanks to a vaccine. (Thank you, scientists!) However, he will miss at least the first weekend. Meanwhile, there’s no cure in sight for HFS – Husky Fatigue Syndrom. Led by amazing freshwoman Paige Bueckers, Uconn ran the table in the Big East. Unfortunately for the Huskies (but perhaps fortunately for the legion of tired fans), the River Walk region boasts immense talent, with Baylor and Tennesse potentially waiting in the Elite Eight.
Best Story: #3 Tennessee
The Lady Vols made the – hold on, I got a call – they haven’t made the Final Four since 2008? What the heck? Now passed-away coach Pat Summitt deserves a far better legacy! Thankfully, the Vols have a wise new coach in former player Kelly Harper. The Vols must fight past #14 Middle Tennessee State (note a 14 seed has never won a game) and potentially both Baylor and Uconn. Too tall a challenge for a 16-7 team? Remember Warren Buffet’s advice: short selling is a loser’s game.
Most Lovable Underdog: #8 Syracuse
In the 2016 title game, the Orange bamboozled UConn with a 16-0 second-half run. However, a key Breanna Stweart rebound killed the momentum, and the Huskies won again. If the Orange can beat the South Dakota State Jackrabbits if (and it’s a big if!), they have another shot against the top dog. Frenetically energetic coach Quentin Hillsman will have the Orange ready with zany defense, and a freshman-heavy Uconn lineup may have unexpected struggles.
San Antonio we’re coming for you 👋#ncaaW pic.twitter.com/al30qFDm96
— Syracuse Women's Basketball (@CuseWBB) March 16, 2021
Mercado Region
#1 Seed: NC State
The Wolfpack made its only Final Four in 1998, but by narrowly defeating Louisville in the 2021 ACC Final, it earned the respect of the committee. Sophomore stud Elissa Cunane leads the pack in scoring with 16.8 points a game. After several years of being good but not quite extraordinary, her school has a chance to renew its basketball legacy. The #2 Texas A&M Aggies, however, may have the right weapons to slay the wolves.
Best Story: #5 Gonzaga
Few WCC teams can dream of stopping the Bulldogs, but they almost lost due to food poisoning. Wait, what? Indeed, six Zags fell ill from a lousy chef, and the team almost lost a heartbreaker to BYU in the WCC finale. Down six players? Eh, no problem for Jill Townsend.
NOW THAT IS HOW YOU PUNCH YOUR TICKET TO THE TOURNEY 😱@ZagWBB 🎟 pic.twitter.com/XumW1RpqIy
— espnW (@espnW) March 9, 2021
The Zags’ longest run was the Elite Eight in 2011, but as they learned in Las Vegas, they must be due to improve! (Disclaimer: Nuts and Bolts Sports is not responsible for losses from its suspect gambling advice.)
Most Lovable Underdog: #8 South Florida
The Bulls played understudy for Uconn for seven years in the American before finally winning its first regular season and AAC tournament titles. Coach Jose Fernandez, however, must be unhappy again with an unfavorable slotting. #9, 12-11 Washington State may not be a titan of an opponent, but #1 seeds have a terrific track record of making the Sweet 16. Still, the Bulls are tired of moral victories and plan on bringing a pair of scissors industrial lawnmowers to destroy brackets.
Hemisfair Region
#1 Seed: South Carolina
The lady Gamecocks won the 2017 National Title but; hold up. There’s a but when you win a national championship? Ridiculously, yes, because the (notably not in this year’s tournament) lady Mississippi State Bulldogs stole the glory with a semifinal upset. Thankfully, spectacularly motivated and focused coach Dawn Staley has USC prepared for another long run. The Gamecocks didn’t have their best regular season at 22-4 but won the SEC tournament again to improve its seeding. Sophmore Zia Cooke leads USC in scoring at 15.9 tallies game, and she leads Staley’s roosters with a firm goal: six wins, no more, no less.
Best Story: #7 Alabama
Since 1999, the Crimson Tide’s football team may have won a few games. However, the lady Tide didn’t make a single NCAA appearance. Thankfully, coach Kristy Curry, coaching for her sixth school, knows that no one wins any games by giving up. With Alabama’s starting five missing a combined four games, the Tide have a short bench perfect for a three-weekend sprint.
Last night, we 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓭! 🎉
Today, it's back to 𝙒𝙊𝙍𝙆!#ncaaW #GritAndGratitude #RollTide pic.twitter.com/USr92Hn7ka
— Alabama Women’s Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) March 16, 2021
Most Lovable Underdog: #16 Mercer
I know what you think. “A 16 seed? They have a troll’s chance in on-the-court heck!” However, the Bears are a mid-major force. 21-year Iowa Coach Lisa Bluder reacted furiously when the Hawkeyes played the #15 Bears in 2019, and Iowa escaped by a mere five points, despite 15 seeds’ combined 0 wins. Junior Jaron Dougherty’s 240 boards (almost ten a game!) prove that Mercer is no walkover. The women’s lamb slaughterhouse is full of sacrifices, but Mercer may write a new thriller about a wooly rebellion.
63 Shining Moments
The lesser men’s tournament annually plays a song about a shining moment. However, the ladies know better. Only a handful of teams have a realistic chance at winning, but every team earns lifelong memories from the epic contest. And for teams that lose? Adversity in college prevents horrible mistakes in real life and bonds women closer to their families (and what is a team but also a sports family?) Sunday at Noon eastern, Central Michigan and Iowa tip-off the big dance. For three weeks, thousands of fans and hundreds of players grab their slippers. Whatever their shoes’ size or color, every woman earned her moment in the NCAA’s most honorable event.
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