Monday, March 27, 2006

Now Pay Attention To The Women's Tournament

                   Ivory Latta

Talk shows will be a-buzz with all the shocking events in the men's NCAA tournament over the past few days.  There are plenty of stories to last us nearly a week before the next game is played.  But, there is some hoops left to watch while you veg out from the second straight year of stunning Elite 8 action.

No, not the NIT [but it's cool, too].  The women's bracket.

There are two awesome games out there to watch on Sunday.

TENNESSEE takes on NORTH CAROLINA for the Cleveland Region championship.  Tennessee is the elite program of women's hoops...and they take on the elite program of this season, Carolina.  The Lady Vols are looking to go to the Final Four for the 5th straight season.  Carolina is trying for it's first National Championship since 1994.  Needless to say, neither team will be too scared for this matchup.  Tennessee routinely plays the toughest sked in the nation [this will be their 8th game against a team ranked in the Top 10...second against the #1 team in the nation].  UNC has also played some heavyweights, including FIVE games against teams in the Elite 8. 

Also, you have the most talked about player, Tennessee's Candice Parker, against it's best player, Carolina's Ivory Latta.  Man, this should be fun!  I am picking UNC

Also that night, you get DUKE against CONNECTICUT.  Wow!  Duke has lost just 3 games this season.  Two to North Carolina and one to Maryland.  That's it.  Ah...but this game will be played in Bridgeport, CT...so will UConn have the advantage??  Maybe...but Duke looked awfully good spanking Michigan State while UConn barely got by Georgia.  Many thought the men would match up for the championship next Monday night....but this Tuesday, a great women's game will do just fine.  I will pick Duke

On Monday night, you have Utah-Maryland in the Albuquerque Regional final.  Maryland is the lone team to beat North Carolina this year....and is one of the most exciting and athletic teams to watch.  The Terps ended Baylor's reign as defending champs and may be the best team in the nation right now.  Utah has gotten here under the radar.  They are a stellar defensive club who also takes care of the ball on their own end.  The key will be if Utah can generate enought offense to stay with the Terps.  I think not.  Maryland wins. 

Out in the San Antonio Bracket, you get LSU facing off against Stanford.  LSU is trying to do what the men did and get to their own Final Four [they were also there last year].   Both teams have completely rolled into this game....leaving their opponents in their wake.   The men have Big Baby Davis...the ladies have Sylvia Fowles.  Watch her!!!  Well, try to when you aren't watching Seimone Augustus...who is the JJ Redick of the women's game [she has her own website..... Seimone33.com'].  Stanford is a scoring team....and LSU will have to deal with center Brooke Smith, who torched Oklahoma for 35 pts on Saturday.  Smart money is on LSU....but I'm taking Stanford

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