Anyone watching the other side of the NCAA tourney? The men saw all number one seeds make the final four and the women may see the same. Up next: Today: #1 UNC vs. rookie coach Van Chancellor's #2 LSU and #1 Maryland takes on #2 Stanford. Tomorrow: Candace Parker and Pat Summit's #1 Tennessee vs. #2 Texas A&M and #1 Connecticut's rookie phenom Maya Moore face #2 Rutgers. It looks like the bracket was well built with the top two seeds all making the Elite Eight. Will the women follow the men's example into the final four or will someone pull off an upset? Last year's finals runner up Rutgers and long time western power Stanford have a chance...LSU and Texas A&M have a bit more of a challenge.
Well, Stanford did advance to the final four with the help of Candace Wiggins second 40+ point tournament. Surprisingly, LSU upset UNC as well behind its star Sylvia Fowles sending both of yesterday's #2 seeds to the final four. We have seen the expected #2 (Fowles) and probable #3 (Wiggins) draft picks carry their teams. The #1 overall (Parker) will play today. Will Tennessee and Connecticut fall today as well or will Parker and Connecticut's freshman star Moore carry their teams to the next level?
OK, of the four Final Four games I watched this weekend the two women's games were by far more interesting than the men's games. Like the men's finals, it will be a game of pace and style... Can Tennessee's defense and rebounding slow down the fluid Cardinal offense? Does Stanford have anyone to match up with Parker in the post even with a gimpy shoulder? Parker scored 13 points on a dismal 6 for 27 shooting effort against the stifling defense of Sylvia Fowles...what is she going to do when the level of competition in the post drops down to level of Stanford's offensively focused posts? They won't score as much against Parker's defense and no one is going to be able to stop her. If the defense collapses on her then Hornbuckle and Bobbitt can shoot away. I am torn between wanting Tennessee to win and seeing Wiggins turn the tables on the Lady Vols.
Defense and rebounding wins championships. I guess that is why Summitt has eight national championships and more wins than any coach in NCAA history for men or women.
