The women’s NCAA basketball tournament has finally begun, as we enter the second day of the men’s first round. Follow along with frames and live scoresand check out our picks for Friday games we don’t want to miss (all time in the East):
women’s tournament
No. 8 South Florida vs No. 9 Marquette
11:30am, GAME2
The inaugural match of the women’s tournament featured South Florida and Marquette, who have played together in Conference USA and the Big East for 18 seasons but haven’t met since 2013. Marquette won with 21-10 in the season, including a win over UConn in February. South Florida won 15-1 in the United States Athletics Championships and won the regular-season championship for the second time. Start in this game: A date with the undefeated South Carolina.
#1 South Carolina vs. No. 16 Norfolk
2pm, GAME
Norfolk State is led by striker Kierra Wheeler and guards Camille Downs and Deja Francis. Team Sparta entered the tournament for the first time in 21 years after winning the Middle East Games. Their reward? The match against the defending champion South Carolina, the owner of a perfect 32-0 record and was led by defending national player of the year Aliyah Boston and coached by Dawn Staley. South Carolina needs six wins to repeat as champion.
#6 Michigan vs #11 UNLV
3 p.m., GAME
UNLV, one of the hottest teams in the country, is currently on a 22-game winning streak, including the Mountain West league title, even though the Rebels both lost to Michigan 0-2. UNLV is playing in a second NCAA tournament in a row after last playing in 2002. Michigan made it to the Elite Eight last year, so pressure is mounting on their Big Three, Leigha Brown, Laila Phelia and Emily Kiser, everyone has average scores. at least 16 points per game. The winner here will face number 3 LSU or number 14 Hawaii.
No. 8 Southern California vs No. 9 South Dakota
8 p.m., ESPN News
South Dakota State missed the tournament last year but became a fixture before that; this is the 11th trip in 18 years since joining Division I. The Jackrabbits have won over Louisville and Kansas State this year and ended the season on a 21-game winning streak. Southern California is back on the field for the first time since 2014. Forward Rayah Marshall is averaging a brace, with 12.6 points and 11.4 rebounds. The teams have played against each other twice before, but not since 2006.
No. 5 St. Mary’s vs. 12 Commonwealth of Virginia
2pm TBS
Mary’s drew with Gonzaga to win the regular season championship in the West Coast Conference, although the Gaels lost to the Bulldogs in the tournament finals. Mary’s was the 5th seed for the second NCAA tournament in a row, which remains the school’s top seed. The Commonwealth of Virginia reached the Finals in 2011, beginning a seven-year run in the tournament. The Rams haven’t had a losing season since 1998-99.
Number 4 UConn vs Number 13 Iona
4:30 pm, TBS
UConn started the season with 14 straight wins and ended with winning eight of its last nine, but the Huskies lost to Marquette in the Big East semi-final. Iona also went on a 14-game winning streak, ending the season with a win over Marist in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Iona is coached by Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, who has also coached at Kentucky, Louisville and Providence, as well as UConn NBA guard Jordan Hawkins predicted to be this year’s first-round NBA draft pick.
6 Kentucky vs 11 Providence
7:10 pm, CBS
Kentucky lost in the first round last year to 15th seed St. Peter’s, one of the biggest failures in the league. Are Wildcats Easily Annoyed Anymore? Kentucky ended the season with a loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament game. Providence was on a nine-game winning streak for the season and recorded two wins in extra time against both Marquette and Creighton. Modelers are giving Providence a better chance than public brackets, according to The Upshot’s framing engine.
Number 5 Miami vs Number 12 Drake
7:25pm, TBS
Although Miami took the crown in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season with a 15-5 record in the conference game, the Hurricane’s downsides included defeats to Georgia Tech and Florida State. . Miami could be without striker Norchad Omier, who injured his ankle during the ACC tournament. Drake has won 13 of the last 14 and is led by guard Tucker DeVries, who averages 19 points a game.
