Guru’s WBB March Madness — IV: An NCAA Women’s Tourney Like No Other Gets Under Way

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

And so it begins Sunday at noon  — an NCAA women’s basketball tournament like no other before in terms of the Lone Star State can be renamed the Together State because the entire 64-team field is all in the same general area of San Antonio as the men’s field, which has been under way in Indianapolis.

Beginning at noon and non-stop through midnight before picking up the rest of the first-round pace on Monday are 16 games, each day.

For the first time in several decades, as part of the ESPN platforms, two will be on a broadcast ABC channel — perhaps credit the viewership last summer when the network aired WNBA games from the “Wubble,” near Tampa, Fla. ESPN will air six, ESPN2 gets five and ESPNU gets 3.

Because the clock is ticking, the Guru will dispense for now catching up to the issues, and as a public service, concentrating just on Sunday, like the NFL, the Guru offers the TV schedule in different configurations to help you with your choices.

The NCAA says the way the schedule is set up it is now possible to watch any game at any time from any part of the country, instead of a regionalized set up.

On Sunday, while there will be overlaps, four pairs of two will have common tip times.

With the past 16 home-court setups in the early rounds no gone, and with the region cities this year out of the way, four sectors are named after local cultural/historical attractions — The Alamo, The Mercato, the Hemisphere, and the River Walk.

So first, by Region, here is the viewing availability on Sunday.

BY REGION VIEWING ABILITY ON SUNDAY

River Walk Region By Tip Time (EDT) — All Eight (others Monday when less than eight)

12 noon ESPN: 5-seed Iowa (18-9) vs. 12-seed Cent. Michigan (18-8) at Alamodome-S

12 noon ESPNU: 7-seed Virginia Tech (14-9) vs. 10-seed Marquette (19-6) at Texas State

2 p.m. ESPN: 4-seed Kentucky (17-8) vs. 13-seed Idaho State (22-3) at Alamodome-N

2 p.m. ABC: 3-seed Tennessee (16-7) vs. 14-seed Middle Tennessee (17-7) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

3 p.m. ESPN2: 6-seed Michigan (14-5) vs. 11-seed Florida Gulf Coast (26-2) at UTSA (Texas-San Antonio)

4 p.m. ABC: 2-seed Baylor (25-2) vs. 15-seed Jackson State (18-5) at Alamodome-S

5:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Syracuse (14-8) vs. 9-seed South Dakota State (21-3) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

8 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed UConn (24-1) vs. 16-seed High Point (22-6) at Alamodome-S

Mercado Region By Tip Time (EDT) —  2-games (others Monday)

4 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed North Carolina State (20-2) vs. 16-seed North Carolina A&T (14-2) at Texas State

9:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed South Florida (18-3) vs. 9-seed Washington State (12-11) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

Hemisphere Region By Tip Time (EDT) — 4 games (others Monday)

4:30 p.m. ESPNU: 5-seed Georgia Tech (15-8) vs. 12-seed Stephen F. Austin (24-2) at St. Mary’s

6 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed South Carolina (22-4) vs. 16-seed Mercer (19-6) at Alamodome-N   

7:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oregon State (11-7) vs. 9-seed Florida State (10-8) at Texas State

8 p.m. ESPNU: 4-seed West Virginia (21-6 vs. 13-seed Lehigh (10-5) at St. Mary’s

Alamo Region By Tip Time (EDT) — 2 Games (others Monday)

1 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oklahoma State (18-8) vs. 9-seed Wake Forest (12-12) at St. Mary’s

10 p.m.: ESPN: 1-seed Stanford (25-2) vs. 16-seed Utah Valley (13-6) at Alamodome-N

BY SEED (1-8) VIEWING ABILITY ON SUNDAY

4 p.m. ESPN2: 1-seed North Carolina State (20-2) vs. 16-Seed North Carolina A&T (14-2) Mercado Region at Texas State — overall No. 3

6 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed South Carolina (22-4) vs. 16-seed Mercer (19-6) Hemisphere Region at Alamodome-N — overall No. 4

8 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed UConn (24-1) vs. 16-seed High Point (22-6) River Walk Region at Alamodome-S — overall No. 2

10 p.m.: ESPN: 1-seed Stanford (25-2) vs. 16-seed Utah Valley (13-6) Alamo Region at Alamodome-N — overall No. 1

4 p.m. ABC: 2-seed Baylor (25-2) vs. 15-seed Jackson State (18-5)  River Walk Region at Alamodome-S

2 p.m. ABC: 3-seed Tennessee (16-7) vs. 14-seed Middle Tennessee (17-7) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

2 p.m. ESPN: 4-seed Kentucky (17-8) vs. 13-seed Idaho State (22-3) at Alamodome-N

8 p.m. ESPNU: 4-seed West Virginia (21-6 vs. 13-seed Lehigh (10-5) at St. Mary’s

12 noon ESPN: 5-seed Iowa (18-9) vs. 12-seed Cent. Michigan (18-8) at Alamodome-S

4:30 p.m. ESPNU: 5-seed Georgia Tech (15-8) vs. 12-seed Stephen F. Austin (24-2) at St. Mary’s

3 p.m. ESPN2: 6-seed Michigan (14-5) vs. 11-seed Florida Gulf Coast (26-2) at UTSA (Texas-San Antonio)

12 noon ESPNU: 7-seed Virginia Tech (14-9) vs. 10-seed Marquette (19-6) at Texas State

1 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oklahoma State (18-8) vs. 9-seed Wake Forest (12-12) at St. Mary’s

5:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Syracuse (14-8) vs. 9-seed South Dakota State (21-3) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

7:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oregon State (11-7) vs. 9-seed Florida State (10-8) at Texas State

9:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed South Florida (18-3) vs. 9-seed Washington State (12-11) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

BY ESPN/ABC PLATFORMS VIEWING ABILITY ON SUNDAY

ABC

2 p.m. ABC: 3-seed Tennessee (16-7) vs. 14-seed Middle Tennessee (17-7) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

4 p.m. ABC: 2-seed Baylor (25-2) vs. 15-seed Jackson State (18-5)  River Walk Region at Alamodome-S

ESPN

12 noon ESPN: 5-seed Iowa (18-9) vs. 12-seed Cent. Michigan (18-8) at Alamodome-S

2 p.m. ESPN: 4-seed Kentucky (17-8) vs. 13-seed Idaho State (22-3) at Alamodome-N

6 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed South Carolina (22-4) vs. 16-seed Mercer (19-6) Hemisphere Region at Alamodome-N — overall No. 4

8 p.m. ESPN: 1-seed UConn (24-1) vs. 16-seed High Point (22-6) River Walk Region at Alamodome-S — overall No. 2

10 p.m.: ESPN: 1-seed Stanford (25-2) vs. 16-seed Utah Valley (13-6) Alamo Region at Alamodome-N — overall No. 1

ESPN2

1 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oklahoma State (18-8) vs. 9-seed Wake Forest (12-12) at St. Mary’s

3 p.m. ESPN2: 6-seed Michigan (14-5) vs. 11-seed Florida Gulf Coast (26-2) at UTSA (Texas-San Antonio)

4 p.m. ESPN2: 1-seed North Carolina State (20-2) vs. 16-Seed North Carolina A&T (14-2) Mercado Region at Texas State — overall No. 3

5:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Syracuse (14-8) vs. 9-seed South Dakota State (21-3) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

7:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed Oregon State (11-7) vs. 9-seed Florida State (10-8) at Texas State

9:30 p.m. ESPN2: 8-seed South Florida (18-3) vs. 9-seed Washington State (12-11) at Texas-Erwin Center, Austin

ESPNU

12 noon ESPNU: 7-seed Virginia Tech (14-9) vs. 10-seed Marquette (19-6) at Texas State

4:30 p.m. ESPNU: 5-seed Georgia Tech (15-8) vs. 12-seed Stephen F. Austin (24-2) at St. Mary’s

8 p.m. ESPNU: 4-seed West Virginia (21-6 vs. 13-seed Lehigh (10-5) at St. Mary’s

BY SCHOOL VIEWING ABILITY ON SUNDAY (EDT)

Baylor 4 p.m. ABC

Central Michigan 12 noon ESPN2

Connecticut  8 p.m. ESPN

Florida Gulf Coast 3 p.m. ESPN2

Florida State 7:30 p.m. ESPN2

Georgia Tech 4:30 p.m. ESPNU

High Point 8 p.m. ESPN

Idaho State 2 p.m. ESPN

Iowa 12 noon ESPN

Kentucky 2 p.m. ESPN

Jackson State 4 p.m. ABC

Lehigh 8 p.m. ESPNU

Marquette 12 noon ESPNU

Mercer 6 p.m. ESPN

Michigan 3 p.m. ESPN2

Middle Tennessee 2 p.m. ESPN

North Carolina A&T 4 p.m. ESPN2

North Carolina State 4 p.m. ESPN2

Oklahoma State 1 p.m. ESPN2

Oregon State 7:30 p.m. ESPN2

South Carolina 6 p.m. ESPN

South Dakota State 5:30 p.m. ESPN2

South Florida 9:30 p.m. ESPN 2

Stanford 10 p.m. ESPN

Stephen F. Austin 4:30 p.m. ESPNU

Syracuse 5:30 p.m. ESPN2

Tennessee 2 p.m. ABC

Utah Valley 10 p.m. ESPN

Virginia Tech 12 noon ESPNU

Wake Forest 1 p.m. ESPN2

Washington State 9:30 p.m. ESPN2

West Virginia 8 p.m. ESPNU

THE SKINNY — GAMES OF INFORMATION SUNDAY VIEWING CHRONOLOGICAL VIEWING  (EDT) (Seed numbers not AP ranking slots)

Early Afternoon

12 noon ESPN No. 5 Iowa vs. No. 12 Central Michigan — Hawkeyes finished runner up in Big 10 and Caitlyn Clark, a freshman, has been scoring in the 30s a bunch. Central Michigan won the Mid-American Conference.

12 noon ESPNU No. 7 Virginia Tech vs. No. 10 Marquette. Intriguing game. Hokies upset North Carolina State during the season. Marquette got to title game of Big East to face UConn.

1 p.m. ESPN 2 No. 9 Wake Forest vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State. One of those 8-9 even ups that could write their own story.

2 p.m. ESPN No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 13 Idaho State. Chance to watch Rhyne Howard, one of the national stars. Wildcats coach Krya Elzy, a former Tennessee star took over at start of season when longtime coach Matthew Mitchell had to retire for health reasons.

2 p.m. ABC No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 14 Middle Tennessee. Tournament returns to over-the-air first time in decades. State war. Tennessee, don’t have to tell you much. Coach Kellie Harper, former Lady Vol took over last year. Aislynn Hayes on MTSU one of the stars of CUSA. Team coached by Hall of Famer Rick Insell. Potential upset capabilities.

3 p.m. ESPN2 No. 11 Florida Gulf Coast vs. No. 6 Michigan. Could be a dandy. FGCU out of ASUN one of the top mid-majors while Michigan was hit for a long pause due to COVID-19 protocols. Wolverines coach Kim Barnes Arico former Saint John’s coach who made Michigan relevant again.

Late Afternoon

4 p.m. ESPN No. 1 N.C. State vs. N. Carolina A&T. Chance to look at one of the No. 1 seeds and the Wolfpack program built by the late Kay Yow that Wes Moore has restored to great heights.

4 p.m. ABC No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 15 Jackson State. Chance to get early look at one of the prime contenders and last to claim an NCAA title in 2019 with the coronavirus causing the tourney shutdown 12 months ago. Bears have owned the B ig 12 and longtime coach Kim Mulkey, former Louisiana Tech star who is a member of the delayed 2020 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class who will be inducted in May. SWAC champs Jackson State trying to pull the longest of long shot upsets.

4:30 p.m. ESPNU No. 5 Georgia Tech under Nell Fortner made the Yellowjackets competitive under Nell Fortner, a former Texas star. On the other side, No. 14 Stephen F. Austin, the Southland champs one of the great program names out of the past. 

Early Evening

5:30 p.m. ESPN2  No. 8 Syracuse vs. No. 9 South Dakota State. One of the great comeback stories on the Orange in Tiana Mangakahia, an Australian who fought breast cancer. On the other side, the Jackrabbits a great mascot and better mid-major. 

6 p.m. ESPN No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Mercer. Hey Philly peeps, Dawn Staley on the sidelines with the Gamecocks, another prime championship contender with one of the top All-Americans in Aliyah Boston, plus chance to watch the Olympic coach ahead of this summer.

7:30 p.m. ESPN2 No. 9 Florida State vs. No. 8 Oregon State. An even-up game between troublemakers out of the ACC and PAC-12. Brooke Wyckoff, a former WNBA Connecticut Sun performer, has filled in while Sue Semrau dealt family matters this season. On the other side Scott Rueck had to deal with long pauses due to COVID-19 protocols but at the end the Beavers sprung back to life. An even-up fun game.

Mid-to-late Evening

8 p.m. ESPN No. 1 Connecticut vs. No. 16 High Point. The contending Huskies have a myriad of storylines beyond your normal expected blowout. He’ll probably still get credit for the outcome though sidelined in quarantine for the first rounds but Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma is the second winningest coach of all time among Division I women. Longtime aide Chris Dailey, a Rutgers alum, will be running the show, though another member of the staff and former Husky in Shea Ralph was forced to fly back to New England on the side of caution when a family member tested positive.

Freshman Paige Bueckers one setting a standard for rookies and is in the hunt for also national player honors.

8 p.m. ESPNU Your chance in the Delaware Valley Region to cheer your only local team on the 16-game card tonight as No. 13 Lehigh, the surprise winner of the Patriot League after bringing down unbeaten Bucknell and Boston U., on the road no less, takes on No. 4 West Virginia, the runnerup Big 12 squad behind Baylor.

9:30 p.m. ESPN2 It’s No. 8 South Florida vs. No. 9 Washington State. The Floridians are holding their first American Athletic title now that UConn has shifted back to the Big East. The Cougars made all sorts of history under Kamie, a former Texas star who has guided them to their second NCAA berth and first in 30 years. New Zealand native Charlisse Leger-Walker was PAC-12 frosh of the year. 

10 p.m. ESPN No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 16 Utah Valley. The overall No. 1 seeded Cardinal is honing in to a title in a season spent mostly on the road due to stringent rules only recently relaxed in Santa Clara County in Northern California. Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer owns the record for most Division I women’s victories, several games ahead of UConn’s Geno Auriemma. The team is loaded and balanced. On the other side, Utah Valley is the Western Athletic Conference champion Cal Baptist, which is unbeaten, was ineligible for the NCAA tourney as it continues to migrate to full Division I membership, though it is challenging for the WNIT title. Thus, Utah Valley is the designate from the WAC.

We will do all this for the second 32 but time to pop a little brief rest as we start getting, though by remote, into NCAA coverage mode while maintaining our Delaware and Villanova locals in the WNIT.

And that’s the report.