The Guru WBIT Report: Villanova Tops Saint Joseph’s in Revenge Win; Penn State Also Advances to Face Each Other in WBIT Final Four

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

VILLANOVA — Back in December when Saint Joseph’s ended a seven-year drought beating Villanova at home in Hagan Arena to become the difference maker for a 4-0 sweep to the Big Five title the triumph became another highlight in a season of history that set program records for best start and most wins (28-6).

Little did neither team, both targeting the NCAA tournament at the time, realize that an encore to one of the City Series’ top rivalries lay ahead in their future.

Thanks to a combination of a new 32-team second tournament, the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBIT), launched by the NCAA, and stumbles down the stretch in the Big East by ‘Nova and in the Atlantic 10 by the Hawks, the two collided Thursday night in the third round here before an energetic crowd of 2,415 here in the Wildcats’ Finneran Pavilion where the home team avenged the earlier loss with a 67-59 win.

The victory sends ‘Nova (21-12) on to the national semifinals Monday afternoon (2:30 p.m., ESPNU) in Butler’s Hinkley Fieldhouse in Indianapolis against a third local in the field, Penn State, which came alive in the fourth quarter at home in the Bryce Jordan Center to defeat Southeastern Conference representative Mississippi State 92-87.

On the other side of the bracket a potential all-Big Ten final exists (Wed. 7 p.m., ESPN2) if Penn State (22-12) prevails along with Illinois, which won on the road at Tulsa 69-61.

But first the Illini (17-15) must beat Washington State (21-14) of the soon-to-be diminished Pac-12, which edged Mid-American Conference representative Toledo 63-61 at home on Bella Murekatete’s jumper with three seconds left in regulation.

Toledo (28-6) lost a chance to get into overtime when Quinesha Lockett missed a layup as time expired.

The game here evolved much differently than one would have predicted.

For one, Lucy Olsen, third in the nation in scoring behind Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and Southern Cal’s star freshman JuJu Watkins, got two quick fouls and was scoreless in the first half.

But senior Bella Runyon, the daughter of former Eagle John Runyon, known more for defense, put on a dazzling offensive display, tying a career high with 16 points, setting a personal high with a perfect 4-4 from deep.

Olsen came back with 16 in the second half, while Christena Dalce double doubled with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Zanai Jones also scored 10 points.

 

Being her last home game and the rivalry had Runyon energized for this one.

“Right when we found out that we were playing them, we were like let's go, revenge game,” she said. “This game is usually in November, December, when you're a completely different team and that's what you saw tonight, and that's what we felt going into this game.

“We've learned so much, grown so much since that game, let's get it back.”

Of Runyon, Wildcats coach Denise Dillon said, “I joked with the team after the game, I said '4-for-4 from three, why didn't you get her more looks?’”

Villanova also handled the Hawks’ three-headed front-court attack.

Talya Brugler had 20 points but no rebounds, Laura Ziegler had one if her worst nights, shooting 1-14 with five points, though she dealt five assists and had nine rebounds. Mackenzie Smith had 13 points and seven rebounds, Davidson transfer Chloe Welch ended her productive season with eight points and freshman Gabby Casey scored 11.

Villanova blocked eight shots, though the Hawks seemed they might come back as the previous game between the two, whose campuses are only a few miles apart, when they moved within three points with 6:39 left in regulation.

But then Olsen scored seven straight to regain control.

“Same thing as last time,” Runyon said. “We were up, they inched back, but this time you see the growth and how much we've matured that we were able to sustain that lead.”

Hawks coach Cindy Griffin, completing her 23^rd season at her alma mater, noted of the rivalry played this time of year, familiarity had it positives and negatives.

“Villanova wins their first two games by 15 because they’re unfamiliar opponents and they're better,” she said. “We are more familiar, and we knew what to expect, we just didn't get the production from all of us and we needed that tonight.”

Saint Joseph’s a year ago got upset in the conference quarterfinals and then lost at Seton Hall in a WNIT opener.

The Hawks then worked hard in the offseason, producing one of the finer program efforts, and most everyone returns next season.

Griffin said of Casey, “She's a competitor, she's a gamer,” Griffin said. “Just the growth for her over the course of the year, she gave us so much energy, and she changes the game when she comes in. We're expecting big things from her next year.”

Added Brugler, “I'd say we're ready to start tomorrow. We're excited to get right back at it. We know what this is like and we want more, we have a lot of people returning on our team so that will definitely fuel our fire.”

In the Penn State game, the Lady Lions got 24 points from transfer Ashley Owusu while Makenna Marisa scored 22 points and Leilani Kapinus had a career-high five blocks.

The 22 wins are the best since gaining 24 in 2013-14 a decade ago.

PSU shot 58 percent from the field.

“Really proud of our team,” Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger said. “Excited we got to send our seniors out with their last game in the BJC being a W. Our practices have been elite. Just extremely proud of our leadership, our camaraderie, or chemistry and where this program is headed.”

The tournament was constructed that the first four teams not making March Madness would be the top four seeds in the WBIT and allowed home games the first three rounds leading to the finals.

Three others in each quad were seeded – the Hawks were third but on Sunday won at Cal-Berkeley after beating Seton Hall in the opener.

The only one seed not advancing was James Madison, which replaced Miami, which declined for lack of healthy players.

Ironically, Washington State was here a year ago when the Wildcats hosted the first two rounds in the NCAA tourney as one of the top 16 seeds, but the two teams did not meet.

The Cougars and Oregon State will play the next two seasons in the West Coast Conference, but the school football teams will remain as the only two still under the Pac-12 brand.

The WNIT still exists with a reduced 48-team field, but no locals were involved. 

Here is the complete summary of all the rounds in the WBIT, with Thursday’s games repeated at the bottom.

WBIT RESULTS/SKED

(Thurs-Thurs results – updating Round 3 Results, Finals Schedule)

Way down below the third round Thursday schedule repeated for easy tracking

VILLANOVA QUAD

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

VCU (26-6F) at No.1 Villanova (19-12) W:75-60

7 p.m.

High Point (20-112F) at No. 4 Virginia (16-15) W:81-59

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

2 p.m.

No. 4 Virginia (16-16F) at No. 1 Villanova (20-12) W:73-55

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

Seton Hall (17-15F) at No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (27-5) W:54-47

10 p.m.

Hawaii (20-11F) at No. 2 California (19-14) W:65-60

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

4 p.m.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-5) W:63-61 at No. 2 California (19-15F) 

 

THIRD ROUND (THURS: 3-28-28 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-6) at No. 1 Villanova (21-12) W:67-59

 

 

PENN STATE QUAD

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

6 p.m.

George Mason (23-8) at No. 1 Penn State (20-12) W:84-80 ovt.

4 p.m.

Belmont (26-8) W: 77-59 at No. 4 Ball State (28-6F)

 

SECOND ROUND (Mon: 3-25-24 ESPN+)

6 p.m.

Belmont (26-9F) at No. 1Penn State (21-12) W:74-66

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

North Texas (23-9F) at No. 3 TCU (21-11) W:67-58

7:30 p.m.

Georgia Tech (17-16) at No. 2 Mississippi State (22-11) W:84-47

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

No. 3 TCU (21-12F) at No. 2 Mississippi State (23-11) W: 68-61

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

6 p.m.

No. 2 Mississippi State (23-12F) at No. 1 Penn State (22-12) W:92-87

 

JAMES MADISON QUAD

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

Stony Brook (28-4) W:81-70 at No. 1 James Madison (23-12F)

7 p.m.

Missouri State (23-10F) at No. 4 Illinois (15-15) W:74-69

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

Stony Brook (28-5F) at No. 4 Illinois (16-15) W:79-62

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

Arkansas (18-15F) at No. 3 Tulsa (24-9) W:80-62

10 p.m.

Georgetown (23-11) W:64-56 at No. 2 Washington (16-15F)

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

3 p.m.

Georgetown (23-12F) at No. 3 Tulsa (25-9) W:73-61

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

7:30 p.m.

No. 4 Illinois (17-15) W:69-61 at No. 3 Tulsa (25-10F)

 

WASHINGTON STATE QUAD

9 p.m.

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

9 p.m.

Lamar (24-7F) at No. 1 Washington State (19-14) W:66-46

9 p.m.

BYU (16-17) at No. 4 Santa Clara (25-8) W:60-59

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

4 p.m.

No. 4 Santa Clara (25-9F) at No. 1 Washington State (20-14) W:73-47

 

FIRST ROUND (Thurs: 3-21-24 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

St. John’s (18-14) W:79-60 at No. 3 Florida (16-16F)

7 p.m.

Cleveland State (29-6F) at No. 2 Toledo (27-5) W:76-68

 

SECOND ROUND (Sun: 3-24-24 ESPN+)

2 p.m.

St. John’s (18-15F) at No. 2 Toledo (28-5) W:72-71

 

THIRD ROUND (Thurs: 3-28-24 ESPN+)

9 p.m.

No.2 Toledo (28-6F) at No. 1 Washington State (21-14) W:63-61

 

Repeating Thursday Third Round Schedule and Tip Times

 

THIRD ROUND (THURS: 3-28-28 ESPN+)

7 p.m.

No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-6F) at No. 1 Villanova (21-12) W:67-59

6 p.m.

No. 2 Mississippi State (23-12F) at No. 1 Penn State (22-12) W:92-87

7:30 p.m.

No. 4 Illinois (17-15) W:69-61 at No. 3 Tulsa (25-10F)

9 p.m.

No.2 Toledo (28-6F) at No. 1 Washington State (21-14) W:63-61

 

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS

Monday, April 1

Hinkle Fieldhouse

Indianapolis, Indiana

2:30 p.m. ESPNU

No. 1 Villanova (21-12) vs. No. 1 Penn State (22-12)

4:30 p.m. ESPNU 

No. 1 Washington State (21-14) vs. No. 4 Illinois (17-15)

 

Championship

Wednesday, April 3

7 p.m. ESPN2

No. 1 Villanova or No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 1 Washington State or No. 4 Illinois

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Guru’s WBIT Report: Penn State Rallies Again Completing a Local Sweep After Saint Joseph’s and Villanova Had Made It to the Elite Eight

Note: Total updated WBIT scorecard in separate post below.

By Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

A day after the rest of round two was completed in the NCAA inaugural 32-team Women’s Basketball Tournament (WBIT), Penn State, one of the top four seeds, pulled another second-half rally, this time winning 74-66 over visiting  Belmont (26-9) of the Missouri Valley Conference Monday night at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College to advance to the Elite Eight.

“We wanted to start and play 40 minutes, obviously we didn’t do that to the best of our ability,” Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger said. “Just got to keep teaching and keep showing up and keep battling.”

All three locals in the field are still alive and two of them Thursday night at 7 p.m. will engage in a pseudo-Big 5 rematch when No. 3 Saint Joseph’s (28-5) takes a short trip up Montgomery Ave. and visits No. 1 Villanova (20-12) at the Wildcats’ Finneran Pavilion.

In December, the Hawks at home in Hagan Arena beat Villanova for the first time in a long while on the way to a 4-0 sweep of the City Series.

The four top seeds, who were the first group not taken into the NCAA tournament, were guaranteed home games in the first three rounds by advancing and three succeeded with Washington State on the Western side also moving forward while James Madison, now in the Sun Belt Conference, was upset opening night last Thursday.

Penn State will host No. 2 Mississippi State (23-11) in the Lady Lions’ quad at 6 p.m.

In the West, 4^th seed Illinois (16-15) of the Big Ten will be at 3^rd seed Tulsa (25-9) of the American Athletic Conference, Temple’s league, at 7:30 p.m.

The fourth game features No. 2 Toledo (28-5) of the Mid-American Conference at No. 1 Washington State (20-14) of the Pac-12 at 9 p.m.

All the games through this Thursday have been on ESPN+ while Monday afternoon’s national semifinals (2:30 p.m.)  will air on ESPNU and the title game at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN2, both days from Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the NCAA’s headquarters city.

Thursday winners advance to Indy, insuring one will be a Big 5 team, and if Penn State advances, that will be one of the doubleheader matches, insuring one will play in the championship.

Despite the new tourney, the traditional WNIT is continuing but with a reduced field of 48 teams from 64 in recent seasons.

However, though Columbia after being first out of the NCAA a year ago and advancing to the title game of the WNIT, the Ivy League ruled against participation this time, likely costing Harvard and Penn bids.

And Temple, with a late season surge, applied to the WBIT for consideration as a back-up, but did not apply to the WNIT, where the Owls surely would have been picked, perhaps cost factors the reason.

In the WBIT, this has been a redemption tour for all three local teams. 

Villanova suffered a bunch of narrow losses on the non-conference schedule after holding leads, took two tough hits at Providence and home against Butler in the Big East, besides letting St. John’s emerge victorious in the conference opener in Madison Square Garden and then fell in the Big East quarterfinals by two to Marquette after winning the two regular season games to be omitted.

Despite the loss of all-timer Maddy Siegrist to graduation and the WNBA, Villanova has had an ample replacement in Lucy Olsen stepping up to be among the nation’s top scorers behind Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark. 

Saint Joseph’s, powered by Talya Brugler and Lauta Ziegler with a strong supporting cast, set a record with the best start in program history besides now having the most wins but in the last week of the regular season the Hawks were upset at home by Fordham and then were upset in the Atlantic Ten quarterfinals by preseason favorite and sixth seed Rhode Island, costing a bid.

Penn State, which has now equaled its best win total since 2016-17, also the last time advancing that far in the postseason, was having its best run in years, especially early on the Big Ten slate, having almost upsetting eventual NCAA top seed Southern Cal of the Pac-12, beside taking eventual NCAA two-seed Ohio State into overtime in their first of two Big Ten meetings.

 But the Lady Lions went into a six-game tailspin after Virginia transfer point guard Tay Valladay suffered a season-ending injury at Minnesota on Jan. 31.

On Monday night two Lady Lions reached milestones – Leliani Kapinus scored her 1,000^th point and transfer guard Ashley Owusu grabbed her 500^th rebound.

Kapinus scored 11 in the contest. Makenna Marisa scored 18, 16 came in the second half, with three assists and two steals and Owusu had 16 with five boards. Jayla Oden scored 10.

“Scoring means a lot,” Kapinus said of her achievement. “I think of this moment since a little kid, so to be able to do it on a big stage like this is a dream come true.”

Though Marisa has carried the scoring load into her fifth season until Owusu stepped into active duty in January to help, until now she was already working on preseason workouts for November.

“It’s really cool and special,” she said. “Especially with this team - I love this team. I love playing with them.”

Belmont got 20 points from Kilyn McGuff, the daughter of Ohio State women’s coach Kevin McGuff.

On Thursday in the opener, Penn State trailed George Mason most of the night before rallying and forcing overtime to win 84-80.

On Monday, it was catch-up time again, the home team visitors were close in the first quarter and tied 14-14 when it ended.

In the second, Belmont stayed in front, but by no more than six points at times and took a 32-29 lead into the break.

Late in the third Marisa put PSU ahead 51-43 but Belmont had it down to six with one quarter left.

Penn State, however, stayed in front the rest of the way.

“We have to show and prove we can win in March, and this is an awesome opportunity for us to do that and learn and fail forward and keep propelling ourselves,” Kieger said. “And I think our team has done a really good job of that.”

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Guru’s NCAA Tracker: Running Bracket Including Results/AP Rankings/Regional Pairings/ Breakout Repeat Regional Weekend at Bottom

NCAA 2024 Women’s Tournament by Bracket Pairings

 (Round 1+Round 2 Results/ Sweet 16 Pairings. Elite 8/Final 4 Dates)

   (Regional Weekend Matches/Dates/Times/TV Repeated at Very Bottom)

   

 ALBANY REGION 1

 

First Four – South Carolina Hosting

Wednesday, March 20

Colonial Life Arena

Columbia, S.C.

7 p.m. ESPNU

No. 16 Sacred Heart 24-10F vs. No. 16 Presbyterian 21-14 W:49-42

 

First Round – South Carolina Hosting 

Friday, March 22

Colonial Life Arena

Columbia, S.C.

2 p.m. ESPN

No. 16 Presbyterian 21-15F at No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 33-0 W:91-39

11:30 a.m.

No. 8 North Carolina 20-12 W:59-56 vs. No. 9 Michigan State 22-9F

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 24

Colonial Life Arena 

Columbia, S.C.

1 p.m. ABC

No. 8 North Carolina 20-13F at No. 1/AP1 South Carolina 34-0 W:88-41

 

First Round – Indiana Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

Bloomington, Ind.

1:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 13/AP25 Fairfield 31-2F at No. 4/AP14 Indiana 25-5 W:89-56

4 p.m. ESPNN

No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast 29-5F vs. No. 5/ AP18 Oklahoma 23-9 W:73-70

 

Second Round 

Monday, March 25

Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

Bloomington, Ind.

6:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 5/AP18 Oklahoma 23-10F at No. 4/AP14 Indiana 26-5 W:75-68

 

First Round – Oregon State Hosting

Friday, March 22

Gill Coliseum

Corvallis, Ore.

8 p.m. ESPNU

No. 14 Eastern Washington 29-6F at No. 3/AP12 Oregon State 25-7 W:73-51

10:30 p.m. ESPNU

No. 11 Texas A&M 19-13F vs. No. 6 Nebraska 23-11 W:61-59

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 24

Gill Coliseum

Corvallis, Ore.

 4 p.m. ESPN

No. 6 Nebraska 23-12 at No. 3/AP12 Oregon State 26-7 W:61-51

 

First Round – Notre Dame Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Purcell Pavilion

Notre Dame, Ind.

4:45 p.m., ESPN2

10 Marquette 23-9F vs. 7 Ole Miss 24-8 W:67-55

2:15 p.m. ESPN

No. 15 Kent State 21-11F at No. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 27-6 W:81-67

 

Second Round

Monday, March 25

Purcell Pavilion

Notre Dame, Ind.

2 p.m. ESPN

No. 7 Ole Miss 24-9F at No. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 28-6 W:71-56

 

Sweet 16

Friday, March 29

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

5 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1 /AP1 South Carolina 34-0 vs. Nos. 4/AP14 Indiana 26-5

2:30 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 28-6 vs. Nos. 3/AP12 Oregon State 26-7

 

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 31

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-4 vs. Nos. 2-3

 

PORTLAND REGION 4

 

First Round – Texas Hosting

Friday, March 22

Moody Center

Austin, Texas

3 p.m. ESPNU

No. 16 Drexel 19-15F vs. No. 1/AP4 Texas 31-4 W:82-42

5:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 8 Alabama 24-9 W:82-74 vs. No. 9 Florida State 23-11F

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 24

Moody Center  

Austin, Texas

6 p.m. ESPN 

Nos. 8 Alabama 24-10F at No. 1/AP4 Texas 32-4 W:65-54

 

First Round – Gonzaga Hosting

Saturday, March 23

McCarthy Athletic Center

Spokane, Wash.

7:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 31-3 W:75-56 vs. No. 13 UC Irvine 23-9F

10 p.m. ESPNU

No. 5/AP21 Utah 23-10 W:68-64 vs. No. 12 South Dakota State 27-6F

 

Second Round 

Monday, March 25

McCarthy Athletic Center

Spokane, Wash.

10:30 p.m. ESPN2

Nos. 5 Utah 23-11F at No. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 32-3 W:77-66

 

First Round – NC State Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Reynolds Coliseum

Raleigh, N.C.

2:30 p.m. ESPNU

No. 14 Chattanooga 28-5F at No. 3/AP11 NC State 28-6 W:64-45

12 p.m. ESPN

No. 11 Green Bay 27-7F vs. No. 6 Tennessee 20-12 W:92-63

 

Second Round

Monday, March 25

Reynolds Coliseum

Raleigh, N.C.

4 p.m. ESPN

No. 6 Tennessee 20-13F at No. 3/AP11 NC State 29-6 W:79-72

 

First Round – Stanford Hosting

Friday, March 22

Maples Pavilion

Stanford, Calif.

7:30 p.m., ESPN2

10 Maryland 19-14F vs. 7 Iowa State 21-11 W:93-86

10 p.m., ESPN2

No. 15 Norfolk State 27-6F at No. 2/AP5 Stanford 29-5 W:79-50

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 25

Maples Pavilion

Stanford, Calif.

10 p.m. ESPN

No. 7 Iowa State 21-12F at No. 2/AP5 Stanford 30-5 W87-81ovt

 

Sweet 16

Friday, March 29

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

10 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1/AP 4 Texas 32-4 vs. Nos. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 32-3

7:30 p.m. ESPN

No. 2/AP5 Stanford 30-5 vs. Nos. 3/AP11 NC State 29-6

 

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 31

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-4 vs. 2-3

 

ALBANY REGION 2

 

First Four – Iowa Hosting

Thursday, March 21

Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, Iowa

7 p.m. ESPNU

No. 16 UT Martin 16-17 vs. No. 16 Holy Cross 21-12 W:72-45

 

First Round – Iowa Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, Iowa

3 p.m. ABC

No. 16 Holy Cross 21-13F W: 72-45 at No. 1/AP2 Iowa 30-4 W:91-6

5:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 8 West Virginia 25-7 W:63-53 vs. No. 9 Princeton 25-5F

 

Second Round

Monday, March 25

Carver-Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, Iowa

8 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 8 West Virginia 25-8F at No. 1/AP2 Iowa 31-4 W:64-54

 

First Round – Kansas State Hosting

Friday, March 22

Bramiage Coliseum

Manhattan, Kansas

4:30 p.m. ESPNN

No. 13 Portland 21-13F at No. 4/AP15 Kansas State 26-7 W:78-65

7 p.m. ESPNN

No. 12 Drake 29-6F vs. No. 5/AP18 Colorado 23-9 W:86-72

 

Second Round 

Sunday, March 24

Bramiage Coliseum

Manhattan, Kansas

2 p.m. ESPN

No. 5/AP18 Colorado 24-9 W:63-50 at No. 4/AP15 Kansas State 26-8F

 

First Round – LSU Hosting

Friday, March 22

Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Baton Rouge, La.

4 p.m. ESPN

No. 14 Rice 19-15F at No. 3/AP8 LSU 29-5 W:70-60

1:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 11 Middle Tennessee 30-4 W:71-69 vs. No. 6/AP23 Louisville 24-10F

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 24

Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Baton Rouge, La.

3 p.m. ABC

No. 11 Middle Tennessee 30-5F at No. 3/AP8 LSU 30-5 W:83-56

 

First Round – UCLA Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Pauley Pavilion

Los Angeles, Calif.

7 p.m., ESPNN

No.10/AP UNLV 30-3F vs. No. 7/AP24 Creighton 26-5 W:87-73

9:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 15 California Baptist 28-4F at No. 2/AP6 UCLA 26-6 W:84-55

 

Second Round

Monday, March 24

Pauley Pavilion

Los Angeles, Calif.

8:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 7/AP24 Creighton 26-5F at Nos. 2/AP6 UCLA 27-6 W:67-63

 

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 30

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

3:30 p.m. ABC

Nos. 1/AP2 Iowa 31-4 vs. Nos. 5/AP18 Colorado 24-9

1 p.m. ABC

Nos. 2/AP6 UCLA 27-6 vs. Nos. 3/AP8 LSU 30-5

 

Elite Eight

Monday, April 1

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-5 v. 2-3

 

PORTLAND REGION 3

 

First Four

 

Virginia Tech Hosting

 

Wednesday, March 20

Cassell Coliseum

Blacksburg, Va.

9 p.m. ESPNU

No. 12 Vanderbilt 23-9 W:72-68 vs. No. 12 Columbia 23-7F

 

Connecticut Hosting

 

Thursday, March 21

Gampel Pavilion

Storrs, Conn.

7 p.m. ESPN2

No. 11 Arizona 18-15 W:69-59 vs. No. 11 Auburn 20-12F

 

First Round – Southern Cal Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Galen Center

Los Angeles, Calif.

4:30 p.m. ESPN

No. 16 Texas A&M-CC 23-9F at No. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 27-5 W:87-55

2 p.m.

No. 8 Kansas 20-12 W: 81-72 ovt. vs. No. 9 Michigan 20-14F

 

Second Round

Monday, March 25

Galen Center

Los Angeles, Calif.

10 p.m. ESPN

No. 8 Kansas 20-13F at No. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 28-5 W:73-55

 

First Round – Virginia Tech Hosting

Friday, March 22

Cassell Coliseum

Blacksburg, Va.

3:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 13 Marshall 26-7F at No.4/AP13 Virginia Tech 25-7 W:92-49

6 p.m. ESPNU

No. 5/AP19 Baylor 25-7 W:80-63 vs. No. 12 Vanderbilt 23-10F

 

Second Round 

Sunday, March 24

Cassell Coliseum

Blacksburg, Va.

8 p.m. ESPN

 No. 5/AP19 Baylor 26-7 W:75-72 at No. 4/AP13 Virginia Tech 25-8F

 

First Round – Connecticut Hosting

Saturday, March 23

Gampel Pavilion

Storrs, Conn.

1 p.m. ABC

No. 14 Jackson State 26-7F at No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 30-5 W:86-64

3:30 p.m. ESPN2

No. 11 Arizona 18-16F vs. No. 6/AP22 Syracuse 24-7 W:74-69

 

Second Round

Monday, March 25

Gampel Pavilion

Storrs, Conn.

6 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 6/AP22 Syracuse 24-8F at No. 3/AP10 Connecticut 31-5 W:72-64 

 

First Round – Ohio State Hosting

Friday, March 22

Value City Arena

Columbus, Ohio

2:30 p.m. ESPNN

10 Richmond 29-6F vs. 7 Duke 21-11 W:72-61

12 p.m. ESPN

No. 15 Maine 24-10 at No. 2/AP7 Ohio State 26-5 W:80-57

 

Second Round

Sunday, March 24

Value City Arena

Columbus, Ohio

12 p.m. ESPN

No. 7 Duke 22-11 W:75-63 at No. 2/AP7 Ohio State 26-6F

 

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 30

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

5:30 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 28-5 vs. No. 5/AP19 Baylor 26-7

8 p.m. ESPN

No. 7 Duke 22-11 vs. Nos. 3/AP10 Connecticut 31-5

 

Elite Eight

Monday, April 1

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-5 vs. 7-3

 

Women’s Final Four

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Cleveland, Ohio

National Semifinals

Friday, April 5

7 p.m. ESPN

Albany Regional 1 Winner vs. Portland Regional 4 Winner

9 p.m. ESPN

Albany Regional 3 Winner vs. Portland Regional 3 Winner

National Championship

Sunday, April 7

3 p.m. ABC

Semifinal Winners

 

Repeating Regional Weekend

 

ALBANY REGION 1 – Fri./Sun.

Sweet 16

Friday, March 29

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

5 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1 /AP1 South Carolina 34-0 vs. Nos. 4/AP14 Indiana 26-5

2:30 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 2/AP9 Notre Dame 28-6 vs. Nos. 3/AP12 Oregon State 26-7

 

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 31

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-4 vs. Nos. 2-3

 

PORTLAND REGION 4-Fri./Sun.

Sweet 16

Friday, March 29

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

10 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1/AP 4 Texas 32-4 vs. Nos. 4/AP16 Gonzaga 32-3

7:30 p.m. ESPN

No. 2/AP5 Stanford 30-5 vs. Nos. 3/AP11 NC State 29-6

 

Elite Eight

Sunday, March 31

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-4 vs. 2-3

 

ALBANY REGION 2-Sat./Mon.

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 30

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

3:30 p.m. ABC

Nos. 1/AP2 Iowa 31-4 vs. Nos. 5/AP18 Colorado 24-9

1 p.m. ABC

Nos. 2/AP6 UCLA 27-6 vs. Nos. 3/AP8 LSU 30-5

 

Elite Eight

Monday, April 1

MVP Arena

Albany, N.Y.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-5 v. 2-3

 

PORTLAND REGION 3-Sat./Mon.

Sweet 16

Saturday, March 30

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

5:30 p.m. ESPN

Nos. 1/AP3 Southern Cal 28-5 vs. No. 5/AP19 Baylor 26-7

8 p.m. ESPN

No. 7 Duke 22-11 vs. Nos. 3/AP10 Connecticut 31-5

 

Elite Eight

Monday, April 1

Moda Center

Portland, Ore.

TBA TV-TBA

Nos. 1-5 vs. 7-3