It's a Sweet-16 Stop on the Road to Tampa Bay

By Joey Johnston

So far, the Road to Tampa Bay has been smooth and practically devoid of potholes. As the countdown continues for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four, set for April 4 and 6 at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, we have reached the Sweet 16.

By late Monday night, we will finally have four — the powerhouse centerpieces for Tampa Bay’s historic fourth crack at hosting the Women’s Final Four.

Here’s how it shapes up for the two regional sites (Birmingham and Spokane):

Birmingham 2 Regional

No. 2 Duke (28-7) vs. No. 3 North Carolina (29-7), Friday, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Duke-North Carolina? As good as it gets on the rivalry scale — and it’s the first time the schools have met in an NCAA Women’s Tournament game. The two ACC teams split their regular-season meetings and if Duke has its way, it will be another rugged, defensive-minded duel.

No. 1 South Carolina (32-3) vs. No. 4 Maryland (25-7), Friday, 5 p.m. (ESPN) — The defending national champion Gamecocks enter on a nine-game winning streak (including double-digit victories against SEC opponents Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Texas — all still alive in the Sweet 16). Maryland was pressed unbelievably in a 111-108 double-overtime win against Alabama in the second round. Will the Terrapins have enough stamina to stay with uber-deep South Carolina?

Spokane 1 Regional

No. 2 NC State (28-6) vs. No. 3 LSU (30-5), Friday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) — LSU won the regular-season meeting, 82-65 in Baton Rouge on Nov. 27, when the Tigers destroyed the Wolfpack on the boards (44-24). That was an eternity ago and NC State has a star in Madison. But few teams can match LSU’s trio of Flau’Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams.

No. 1 UCLA (32-2) vs. No. 3 Ole Miss (22-10), Friday, 10 p.m. (ESPN) — The Bruins began the season 23-0 and suffered a pair of defeats against crosstown rival USC (before beating the Trojans 72-67 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game). Ole Miss has no one to match up against UCLA 6-foot-7 All-American Lauren Betts (19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 64.3-percent shooting) — what team does? — but the Rebels are accustomed to big-time challenges in the SEC and were fueled by a 69-63 win against Baylor in the second round.

Birmingham 3 Regional

No. 2 TCU (33-3) vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (28-5), Saturday, 1 p.m. (ABC) — It’s a fantastic region semifinal. TCU has unreal firepower with Hailey Van Lith (17.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists) and 6-7 Sedona Prince (17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds). Notre Dame features the dynamic Hannah Hidalgo (24.1 points, four 30-point games). TCU prevailed 77-68 in the Cayman Islands on Nov. 29.

No. 1 Texas (33-3) vs. No. 5 Tennessee (24-9), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (ABC) — Two of the women’s basketball all-time blue-bloods (orange-bloods?) will match up here. Texas has the look of a national-championship team, led by the do-everything Madison Booker and a withering defense. But if Tennessee clicks with its rapid-fire 3-point shooting and full-court defense, could the Lady Vols recapture some past glory after losing three of their last four games before NCAA play?

Spokane 4 Regional

No. 2 UConn (33-3) vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (27-7), Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN) — UConn has won 23 of its last 24 games — with the closest winning margin at 11 points — so Coach Geno Auriemma’s Huskies might have the stuff for a Tampa trip (where they won the 2015 national title). UConn’s Paige Bueckers (19.2 points) is the best player on the floor. But Oklahoma, if its takes care of the ball, could create problems with its rapid pace of play.

No. 1 USC (30-3) vs. No. 5 Kansas State (28-7), Saturday, 8 p.m. (ESPN) — We can’t bury the lead. USC is reeling after the season-ending injury to superstar JuJu Watkins (23.9 points) in the second round. Can the Trojans recover from that emotional gut-punch? There’s no margin for error, particularly against a K-State squad that is 20-1 with 6-6 center Ayoka Lee in the lineup.