The NCAA has made a lot of progress with women’s sports in recent years, but it still falls short when compared to the men. What are your thoughts on how far we’ve come? Is there anything else that needs to be done for equality within the games?
The “ncaa women’s basketball tournament schedule 2022” is the upcoming NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be held in March of 2022 and will have 64 teams competing for the title.
The Sweet 16 for the 2022 women’s NCAA tournament is decided, but it’s not the roster most people expected following one of the most surprising second-round days in recent memory. For the first time since 2016, a pair of top-two seeds were eliminated in the first two rounds, and for the first time since 2018, the regional semifinals will have at least two double-digit seeds. Caitlin Clark of the Iowa Hawkeyes and NaLyssa Smith of the Baylor Bears, two of the main prospects for national player of the year, are both out of the tournament. Sunday was an eventful day.
The 10th-seeded Creighton Bluejays got things rolling by shutting down the nation’s finest offense and knocking off red-hot Iowa. The No. 10-seeded South Dakota Coyotes then took control of the game from tip to end, dominating Baylor.
The 11th-seeded Villanova Wildcats and Princeton Tigers, as well as the No. 12-seeded Belmont Bruins, play Monday, tying the NCAA tournament record of eight victories by double-digit seeds in the first two rounds established in 2018.
Now that the women’s NCAA tournament games have begun, check your bracket. Challenge yourself to a Tournament
Charlie Creme, Alexa Philippou, and Mechelle Voepel talk down all of Sunday’s biggest topics, including the South Carolina Gamecocks’ offensive woes and whether we’re seeing increasing parity in the women’s game, and look forward to Monday’s action as the second round concludes.
For a comprehensive list of Monday’s games, which are being broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, click here. Check your Women’s Tournament Challenge bracket at this website.
What happened to Iowa’s No. 2 seed against Creighton and Baylor’s No. 2 seed against South Dakota?
Follow this link for a complete review of the Bluejays’ 64-62 win against Iowa and what’s next for both teams.
Follow this link for a breakdown of the Coyotes’ 61-47 victory against Baylor and how far South Dakota may go in the bracket.
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South Dakota trounced Baylor to knock them out of the tournament, according to Monica McNutt.
In the first two rounds, double-digit seeds have won eight times, equal the record achieved in 2018. Is this the beginning of the parity we’ve been discussing for so long?
Voepel: I believe we’ve seen more parity in recent seasons than most people realize or credit the game for. Consider that in the Sweet 16 in the 2019 tournament (the 2020 tournament was a bit different because it was all played in the San Antonio region), there was a No. 11 seed (Missouri State), as well as a No. 5 and two No. 6 seeds. In 2018, the regional semis included two No. 11 seeds (Buffalo and Central Michigan), as well as a No. 5 and No. 6. A No. 10 seed (Oregon) and a No. 12 seed (Quinnipiac) made it to the final four in 2017, along with a No. 5. In 2016, a No. 7 seed (Washington) advanced all the way to the Final Four for the first time.
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Every year, it seems like a lot of people forget about the parity problem, as if it’s something completely new. I believe the game has been constantly improving throughout. Is there a different level of intensity when two No. 2 seeds lose on the same day, and when there have been eight triumphs by double-digit seeds so far? I’m hoping it gets noticed. Because this event has shown how difficult it has gotten to get beyond the preliminary stages.
Consider Iowa State, which has been consistently successful for a quarter-century under coach Bill Fennelly but hasn’t been the Sweet 16 since 2010. The Greensboro No. 3 seed Cyclones snapped the skid with a 67-44 win against No. 6 Georgia in the second round on Sunday. Iowa State, on the other hand, has recently been on the receiving end of this; as a No. 3 seed in 2019, the Cyclones were eliminated in the second round by the aforementioned Missouri State group. That happened on the home court of Iowa State.
“The first two rounds have turned into… a challenge. It should be difficult, “Fennelly said. “The NCAA tournament is all about that. You must convince your staff of the importance of the situation. It’s over after one horrible shooting night. It’s hardly a four-out-of-seven situation.”
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With less than 15 seconds left, Lauren Jensen shoots a huge 3-pointer to put Creighton ahead of Iowa.
Voepel is correct, Creme. Most people don’t like to admit it, but there has been more parity in the game than most people want to admit. What has occurred thus far in this tournament has been entertaining and unique, but it is not unusual. Multiple double-digit seeds have previously appeared in the Sweet 16. It was just four years ago when Central Michigan and Buffalo accomplished it. No. 2 seeds have also lost in the second round. When Arizona State and Maryland were upset in 2016, this occurred.
To take it to the next level and keep calling what we’re witnessing equal, I’d want to see more. South Dakota will be considered parity if they advance to the next round or possibly to the Final Four. For example, if Belmont and Princeton both win on Monday, we’ll have four double-digit seeds in the Sweet 16. Parity exists when teams other than the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds are present in Minneapolis.
In its second-round victory against Miami, South Carolina never appeared to get going offensively. What level of worry do you have for the Gamecocks?
Philippou: Because Miami is a defensive-minded team and South Carolina’s offensive woes are nothing new, I wasn’t surprised that the Gamecocks struggled to get going against the Hurricanes. However, Dawn Staley must be concerned about her team’s 29.5 percent field-goal percentage and 16 turnovers. Against a squad like Miami, you can get away with anything (even still, the Hurricanes cut the deficit to 10 in the fourth). I’m not sure how well it will hold up against teams in the tournament’s later stages that are equally solid defensively but have more offensive firepower than Miami.
You might argue that the fact that Aliyah Boston had an off night (4-for-15 shooting, 10 points) and the Gamecocks still won by 16 points is a positive indicator. But my main fear is that no one else is regularly stepping up to assist Boston, particularly in the backcourt. Destanni Henderson and Zia Cooke combined for 17 points on 6-of-21 shooting with eight turnovers. Cooke made two of three 3-pointers, while the rest of the squad shot 2-of-15. Henderson and Cooke combined for 11 points on 4-of-24 shooting (3-for-17 on 3s) against Howard in the first round.
At this pace, more teams will pack the paint, making life difficult for Boston and making the Gamecocks easier to defeat. And, in 2022, I don’t think defense and rebounding will be enough to win championships; yeah, you must defend, but you must also put the ball in the basket. And down the stretch of the season, South Carolina has been erratic at best in doing so.
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Aliyah Boston, who helped 1-seed South Carolina overcome 8-seed Miami, believes the Gamecocks must continue to play strong defense because the competition is just getting stronger.
The Gamecocks have been the top team in the nation since their victory over Stanford shortly before Christmas. That’s something I can’t say anymore. The defense is outstanding. South Carolina has allowed 54 points in two NCAA tournament games, breaking the previous record of 71. No championship favorite, on the other hand, scores just 49 points in a game.
I’m not dismissing South Carolina just yet. I’d be surprised if the Gamecocks didn’t make it to the Final Four now that Iowa isn’t in the Greensboro Regional. They have the power to suffocate any potential future adversary in the area. But against teams like NC State, Stanford, Louisville, Maryland, and UConn, that won’t be the case. Right now, the offensive isn’t good enough.
In the SEC tournament final game against Kentucky, the Gamecocks’ failure to score quickly and consistently in the half court hurt them. It came close to doing so against Ole Miss early in the season. The expectation was that such contests would be instructive. Nothing seems to have changed since Sunday, but the problem is wider than one or two games. The Gamecocks’ effective field goal percentage has only been over 50% three times in their last 12 games. On six times, it fell below 40%. The most accurate statistical measure of an offense’s real impact is effective field goal percentage, which gives 3-point shooting a weighted value. For comparison, Sunday’s monster killer Creighton had a 53.9 percent effective field goal percentage.
Even with the greatest defense in the nation, beating the other top teams in the country with an offensive efficiency at the level South Carolina is generating currently is improbable.
All-Americans and Player of the Year hopefuls were on the floor on Sunday. Who made the most impression on you?
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Emily Engstler dazzles the fans with a spectacular spin move for a beautiful fast break bucket.
Creme: Examining what occurred on Sunday with the finest players in the game and the guys who shone is another way to look at the parity concern. Sunday demonstrated the depth of the sport’s talent pool.
The three leading contenders for player of the year were on the field, and none of them were very impressive. Boston bounced back well, but her poor shooting performance was a major factor in South Carolina’s offensive woes. A tiny South Dakota defense thwarted Smith. Clark had one of her most difficult games to date.
Lexie Hull of Stanford, on the other hand, scored a career-high 36 points. Hull is regarded as the third-best player on her own squad, yet she scored the most points on Sunday.
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The big item near the rim belongs to Lexi Donarski.
Diamond Miller of Maryland, whose season had been delayed by injury and inconsistency, had a big game against Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday, scoring 24 points and grabbing nine rebounds. She has 47 points in two NCAA tournament games, and the Terps have been one of the most dominating teams in the tournament.
Hailey Van Lith of Louisville has been as quiet, but she has scored 20 and 21 points in the Cardinals’ two victories. In South Dakota’s run, Chloe Lamb has hit half of her 3-pointers and is averaging 17.5 points per game.
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In the fourth quarter, Diamond Miller snatches the ball and lays it in to increase the Terrapins’ advantage.
Voepel: Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan is from the same hometown as Missouri State star Jackie Stiles, Claflin, Kansas, and was coached by Stiles’ father, Pat, in high school. The sophomore point guard understands she’ll have to deal with the opposition’s defense, but she’s not going to back down. On Saturday, she scored 15 points, nine assists, and six rebounds versus Georgia, while Lexi Donarski, another sophomore guard, had 20 points. Senior Ashley Joens has led the Cyclones all season, and she recorded a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds) on Sunday. But having such strong performances from its younger guards was also excellent news for Iowa State, particularly because the Cyclones will play a guard-oriented Creighton team in the Sweet 16.
Spokane is seeded second. In its win against Utah, Texas received a terrific performance from a rookie player. Aaliyah Moore, a freshman forward, scored 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor, which bodes well for the Longhorns’ Sweet 16 clash against either LSU or Ohio State.
Philippou: Although they weren’t All-American contenders, Liv Korngable, Chloe Lamb, and Hannah Sjerven of South Dakota deserve to be recognized. With a victory over Baylor, the three of great seniors combined for 42 of the Coyotes’ 61 points, clinching their program’s first Sweet 16 berth. South Dakota was able to pull off the upset because to the experience and chemistry of the three, according to Bears coach Nicki Collen.
Then there’s Lauren Jensen of Creighton, who transferred from Iowa and scored 19 points (3-of-7 from 3-point range), including the game-winning triple with 12.6 seconds remaining to send the Hawkeyes packing. That play is famous in and of itself.
Which Monday match-up piques your interest the most?
Creme: I’m a fan of offense, so the game between Oklahoma and Notre Dame (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2) drew my attention right away. The matches of No. 4 seeds vs. No. 5 seeds are always intriguing, and the atmosphere in Norman should be fantastic.
The Irish are ranked in the top 30 while the Sooners are the third best scoring team in the nation (82.3 PPG) (73.5 PPG). Aside from the stats, the different styles of play are entertaining to watch. To obtain as many easy points as possible, both sides want to play in transition. Oklahoma is second in the country in possessions per 40 minutes, and Olivia Miles is at her best when she has the ball in her hands and can create. Only Clark has more assists per game (7.3). Madi Williams (18.3 PPG) and Taylor Robertson (17.1 PPG) of Oklahoma are one of the best scoring duos in the country, with Robertson leading the country in 3-point shooting.
Both teams are expected to score in the upper 70s or 80s, according to most forecasts. The scores might go much higher if the shooting is superb.
Philippou: UCF is playing some outstanding basketball right now, and while being renowned for their hard, tenacious defense, the Knights put up a lot of points offensively against Florida in the first round on Saturday, with post Brittney Smith scoring a career-high 26 points. I’m interested to see how UConn handles that kind of defensive energy and aggression on Monday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN), particularly after the Huskies committed far too many turnovers early in their first-round game against Mercer. UCF has improved since UConn last faced it in the 2019-20 season (the Huskies, to be clear, are better, too).
Voepel: No. 3 seed LSU had to take it out of the flames on Saturday, surviving 83-77 over No. 14 Jackson State due to a late charge. When the Tigers face No. 6 Ohio State, the co-Big Ten regular-season champion, on Monday in Baton Rouge (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2), how will they react? In the first round, the Buckeyes beat Missouri State in a hard-fought game in which they were outrebounded by 18 but prevailed at the foul line.
Jailin Cherry and Khayla Pointer combined for 50 points against Jackson State, proving that LSU has been a guard-oriented team all season. With 17 points and 14 rebounds, center Faustine Aifuwa had a great game, and she might be a difference-maker again on Monday.
The “ncaa women’s basketball tournament 2022 selection show” is a television special that will announce the four teams that will play in the Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament 2022?
A: The NCAA Womens Basketball Tournament 2022 will be held in the state of North Carolina.
Where are the NCAA basketball tournament sites 2022?
What is the schedule for March Madness 2022?
A: For the 2022 March Madness, it is scheduled to take place on March 21-27.
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