UConn is the No. 1 overall seed in the 2015 NCAA tournament.(Photo: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
1. Connecticut
Nickname: Huskies. Location: Storrs.
Record: 32-1, 18-0. Bid: American champ.
Last appearance: 2014, national champion.
Coach: Geno Auriemma, 97-17 in 26 appearances.
Overview: Where to begin? The Huskies lead the nation in scoring offense (89.7 points a game), scoring defense (47.7), scoring margin (42.1), blocked shots (8.1 a game), field goal percentage (54.2%), field goal percentage defense (30.1%), thee-point percentage (40.6%), etc. As for the lineup, there’s 6-4 junior Breanna Stewart (2014 player of the year), 5-11 senior Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (who hits 51% of her threes, 104-for-204), etc. Where it ends? Another national title.
Twitter: @UConnWBB
Did you know? The Huskies will be going for their third consecutive national title and the 10th for Auriemma, which would match John Wooden for most for any coach.
2. Kentucky
Nickname: Wildcats. Location: Lexington.
Record: 23-9, 10-6. Bid: SEC at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Baylor in Sweet 16.
Coach: Matthew Mitchell, 12-5 in five appearances.
Overview: The Wildcats had four players averaging double figures in points, but they lost junior point guard Janee Thompson to a broken leg. Still, Kentucky has 5-10 sophomore guard Makayla Epps (14.5 points a game) and 5-6 senior Jennifer O’Neill (14.4), plus 5-8 sophomore Linnae Harper (11.4) in a guard-oriented offense. The Cats can go cold from the floor, and they are below average defensively.
Twitter: @UKHoopCats
Did you know? Epps is the daughter of former Wildcat Anthony Epps, who played at Kentucky from 1994-98 and was the starting point guard for the 1996 national championship team.
THE BIG LEAD
The 1995 Connecticut Huskies: The Team That Made Women’s Basketball
3. Louisville
Nickname: Cardinals. Location: Louisville.
Record: 25-6, 12-4. Bid: Atlantic Coast at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Maryland in Elite Eight.
Coach: Jeff Walz, 18-6 in six appearances.
Overview: It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Cardinals, but it didn’t take long with Jude Schimmel and freshman Mariya Moore. Schimmel is second in the league in steals (2.19 apg) and fourth in assists (3.87), and Moore leads the team in scoring (13.8 ppg).
Twitter: @UofLWBB
Did you know? The University of Louisville is the oldest city-supported college in the country.
4. California
Nickname: Bears. Location: Berkeley, Calif.
Record: 23-9, 13-5. Bid: Pac-12 at-large.
Last appearance: 2014,lost to Baylor in second round.
Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb, 6-4 in four appearances.
Overview: The Bears rely on senior leadership. Guard Brittany Boyd (13.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and forward Reshanda Gray (17.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) lead the team in scoring and rebounding. The two are also up for the Wooden Award.
Twitter: @CalWBBall
Did you know? Boyd and Gray are nicknamed “Corn Flakes and Milk.”
USA TODAY SPORTS
USA TODAY Sports
5. Texas
Nickname: Longhorns. Location: Austin.
Record: 22-10, 9-9. Bid: Big 12 at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Maryland in second round.
Coach: Karen Aston, 1-2 in two appearances.
Overview: After a strong start, the preseason favorite in the Big 12 struggled once conference play began — the Longhorns opened 13-0 and closed 9-10. Some of the struggles can be traced to the loss of leading scorer Nneka Enemkpali, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 19. Texas is deep — 10 players average at least 11.6 minutes a game — athletic and balanced.
Twitter: @TexasWBB
Did you know? Bevo, the famous Longhorn steer, was not the original mascot. The original was actually a dog, a pitbull mix named Pig Bellmont.
6. South Florida
Nickname: Bulls. Location: Tampa
Record: 26-7, 15-3. Bid: American at-large.
Last appearance: 2013, lost to California in second round.
Coach: Jose Fernandez, 1-2 in two appearances.
Overview: The Bulls’ success starts with 5-8 junior guard Courtney Williams, who averages 20.2 points a game (24th nationally). Next, South Florida keeps its opponents off the offensive glass (the Bulls rank sixth overall in defensive rebounding and 16th in rebound margin). Williams gets help from 6-1 junior Alisia Williams, who averages double figures in scoring (12.9) and rebounding (11.6, 10th overall). Three of the Bulls’ losses came to Connecticut.
Twitter: @USFWBB
Did you know? Terry Gene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, attended the University of South Florida.
USA TODAY
USA Today | Sports | NCAAW
7. Dayton
Nickname: Flyers. Location: Dayton, Ohio.
Record: 25-6, 14-2. Bid: Atlantic 10 at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Florida in first round.
Coach: Jim Jabir, 1-7 in seven appearances.
Overview: The Flyers delivered a strong season but just couldn’t get past league champ George Washington. Three of the Flyers six losses were to the Colonials, including the Atlantic 10 title game. Dayton is one of the nation’s top scoring teams (75.77 points a game, 20th overall), led by 5-9 senior guard Andrea Hoover(17.6 ppg). The Flyers are accurate from behind the three-point arc (37.6%, ninth in the nation, led by Hoover’s 44.9%) and usually control the boards. Dayton has size and depth.
Twitter: @DaytonWBB
Did you know? Sportscaster Dan Patrick is a Dayton alum.
8. Rutgers
Nickname: Scarlet Knights. Location: Piscataway, N.J.
Record: 22-9, 12-6. Bid: Big Ten at-large.
Last appearance: 2012, lost to Gonzaga in first round.
Coach: C. Vivian Stringer, 42-25 in 25 appearances.
Overview: Last year’s WNIT champion is back in the NCAA tournament with a veteran team. The Scarlet Knights finished fifth in their first season on the Big Ten. Rutgers is led by a trio of double-digit scorers, 6-1 junior Kahleah Copper (16.3 points a game), 6-0 senior Betnijah Laney (15.9 points, 10.9 rebounds) and 5-9 sophomore Tyler Scaife (14.6). Syessence Davis, a quick 5-7 senior, is a lockdown defender and was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year (3.39 steals a game, fourth nationally). Stringer has good depth — nine players average at least 9.5 minutes a game — and experience, but the Knights are just average in most statistical categories.
Twitter: @RutgersWBB
Did you know? Stringer is the first coach to take three programs to the Final Four (Cheyney in 1982, Iowa in 1993 and Rutgers, in 2000 and again in 2007). She is tied for third in D-I women’s history with 951 wins.
GREENSBORO REGIONAL: South Carolina vying to make its first Final Four
OKLAHOMA CITY REGIONAL: Notre Dame looking for revenge in the championship game
SPOKANE REGIONAL: Maryland went unbeaten in the Big Ten, can it do the same in the big dance?
9. Seton Hall
Nickname: Pirates. Location: South Orange, N.J.
Record: 28-5, 15-3. Bid: Big East at-large.
Last appearance: 1995, lost to North Carolina in second round.
Coach: 0-1 in one appearance.
Overview: The Pirates won the Big East regular-season title for the first time in program history but stumbled in the tournament final to DePaul. Still it’s been a huge season for Seton Hall, which makes its first NCAA tournament appearance in 20 years. Guards Ka-Deidre Simmons (17.4 points, 5.6 assists) and Daisha Simmons (16.9), both grad students and first-team All Big East performers, and junior forward Tabatha Richardson-Smith (17.8 points, 6.9 rebounds) lead the way. Richardson-Smith made 2.81 three-pointers a game (tied for 17th in the country). Seton Hall ranks 18th in the country in scoring average, 75.8.
Twitter: @SHUWBB
Did you know? ESPN commentator and college basketball celebrity Dick Vitale graduated from Seton Hall in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration.
10. Iowa State
Nickname: Cyclones. Location: Ames.
Record: 18-12, 9-9. Bid: Big 12 at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Florida State in first round.
Coach: Bill Fennelly, 19-18 in 18 appearances.
Overview: The Cyclones are led by a trio of guards, 5-8 senior Nikki Moody (14.5 points a game), 5-10 sophomore Seanna Johnson (11.7) and 5-11 senior Brynn Williamson (11.6). Moody ranks seventh in the nation in assists, dishing out 6.9 a game. As a team, Iowa State doesn’t stand out statistically, except at the free throw line: 77.1%, fourth in the country.
Twitter: @CycloneWBB
Did you know? Junior guard Fallon Ellis is the cousin of Monta Ellis, a guard for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and Alisa Burras (a former WNBA player for Cleveland Rockers, Portland Fire, & Seattle Storm).
LSU Lady Tigers guard Danielle Ballard. (Photo: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
11. LSU
Nickname: Tigers. Location: Baton Rouge.
Record: 17-13, 10-6. Bid: SEC-at-large.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Louisville in Sweet 16.
Coach: Nikki Caldwell, 7-5 in five appearances.
Overview: The Tigers had an up-and-down season: Some great wins and some questionable losses. Caldwell has talent on her roster though. 5-9 junior Danielle Ballard (14.4 points a game), 5-10 sophomore Raigyne Moncrief (11.7) and 5-9 senior DaShawn Harden (10.9) lead the way in the guard-oriented offense. Harden does damage from three-point range (50-for-129, 38.8%). LSU is terrific at forcing turnovers, particularly with steals, but otherwise doesn’t have a lot of margin for error.
Twitter: @LSUwbkb
Did you know? Caldwell was a defensive specialist and three-point markswoman (168 career threes) as a player for Tennessee (1991-94). She was part of the Lady Vols’ 1991 championship team.
12. Western Kentucky
Nickname: Lady Toppers. Location: Bowling Green.
Record: 30-4, 16-2. Bid: Conference USA champ.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Baylor in first round.
Coach: Michelle Clark-Heard, 0-1 in one appearance.
Overview: The Lady Toppers high-powered offense averages 76 points a game and is led by Conference USA player of the year Chastity Gooch and fellow senior Alexis Govan. Sophomore guard Kendall Noble is the other double-figure scorer for the Lady Toppers. She also leads the team in assists, rebounding and steals.
Twitter: @LadyTopperHoops
Did you know? The Lady Toppers are making their 18th NCAA tournament appearance and have reached the Final Four three times.
13.Wichita State
Nickname: Shockers. Location: Wichita.
Record: 29-4, 17-1. Bid: Missouri Valley champ.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Penn State in first round.
Coach: Jody Adams, 0-3 in three appearances.
Overview: WSU claimed its third consecutive MVC tournament crown while once again setting a new school record for wins. After being a bit overwhelmed in their first NCAA appearance in 2013, the Shockers were much more competitive at Penn State a season ago in a six-point loss. This time they might be ready to stay longer. Four starters are back from the 2014 squad, led by senior G Alex Harden (16.8 ppg), the program’s all-time scoring leader and three-time MVC tournament MVP. She gets plenty of help in the back court from Jamillah Bonner (13.0 ppg) and Michaela Dapprich (12.4).
Twitter: @GoShockersWBB
Did you know? Adams’ name should be familiar to Tennessee Lady Vols fans. She was the starting point guard on the 1991 NCAA championship squad and helped Pat Summitt’s team to four SEC titles from 1990-93.
14. Brigham Young
Nickname: Cougars. Location: Provo, Utah.
Record: 23-9, 12-6. Bid: West Coast champ.
Last appearance: 2014, lost to Connecticut in third round.
Coach: Jeff Judkins, 5-6 in six appearances.
Overview: The Cougars, who finished fifth in the league, became the lowest seed to win the West Coast tournament, knocking off San Francisco 76-65 in the final. WCC tournament MVP Lexi Eaton, a 5-10 junior, has led the way all season for BYU, averaging 20.7 points (20th in the country) and 6.5 rebounds. She is 28th nationally in three-point percentage, 40.6%. The Cougars also have WCC player of the year Morgan Bailey (17.3, 10.5), a 6-2 senior.
Twitter: @BYU_WBBALL
Did you know? Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight series, is a BYU grad.
15. Tennessee State
Nickname: Lady Tigers. Location: Nashville.
Record: 18-12, 12-4. Bid: Ohio Valley champ.
Last appearance: 1995, lost to Oregon State in first round.
Coach: Larry Inman, 2-6 in six appearances.
Overview: Tennessee State upset Tennessee-Martin, who was undefeated in the conference, to win the OVC title and the automatic bid. and Tennessee State leads the conference in steals (average of 9.8 per game) and offensive rebounds (average of 15.8 a game). The Tigers are entering the NCAA tournament on a 10-game winning streak.
Twitter: @TSU_Tigers
Did you know? Oprah Winfrey graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in speech and performing arts.
16. St. Francis Brooklyn
Nickname: Terriers. Location: New York.
Record: 15-18, 9-9. Bid: Northeast champ.
Last appearance: First appearance.
Coach: John Thurston, first appearance.
Overview: Despite an unsightly regular season — the Terriers are just the 10th team to make the tournament with a losing record — they are on a roll. St. Francis Brooklyn has won eight of its past nine and won the NEC tournament with road upsets of Sacred Heart, top-seeded Central Connecticut State and Robert Morris.
Twitter: @SFBKTerriers
Did you know? Coach John Thurston was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft.
Capsule previews by Joe Fleming, Eddie Timanus, Tess Quinlan, Cooper Macklin, Justin Abrotsky, Cesar Brioso, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, Alex Ptachick and Jesse Yomtov.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.
USATODAY – Sports Top Stories
The post UConn head of class in NCAA women's tourney appeared first on MyFeedly.info.
