LIVE: Selection Sunday Reactions & March Madness Bracket Breakdown

Summary

Podcast Summary: No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: LIVE: Selection Sunday Reactions & March Madness Bracket Breakdown
Date: March 16, 2026
Hosts: Zena Keita, Laysha Clarendon, Sabrina Merchant, Chantel Jennings, Eden Lawsey

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Overview of the Episode

This special live Selection Sunday episode dives deep into the unveiling of the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament bracket. The regular No Offseason crew—Zena, Laysha, Sabrina, Chantel, and bracketology specialist Eden—provide expert analysis, hot takes, and behind-the-scenes stories while breaking down every aspect of March Madness: surprising seedings, upsets to watch, tricky regions, and the paths ahead for favorites and dark horses. The show retains its energetic, conversational, and insider tone, with lots of back-and-forth, personal insights from former players and analysts, live chat questions, and a communal build-up to the biggest month in women’s hoops.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Immediate Bracket Reactions & Top Seeds

• Top Seeds Announced: UConn, UCLA, Texas, South Carolina
  • UConn as the number one overall seed is agreed on as “the most balanced team” (Laysha, 02:44).
  • UCLA is noted to have “the hardest road”—with Duke or LSU potential matchups looming early. Some speculate the committee “does not like UCLA” (Laysha, 03:03).

"If you take one player off that [UConn] team, they're still pretty freaking good, right? Versus UCLA is good and solid, but you take Lauren Beth off that team, it's a different story."
— Laysha Clarendon (02:44)

• South Carolina perceived to have the “potentially easiest road,” having lost to Texas but possibly benefiting from it, giving them a chip on their shoulder (Laysha, 04:17).
• General consensus: “UCLA and UConn will have to work for theirs” (Zena, 06:26).

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Insider: What the Tournament Means for Players

Laysha shares personal experience as a former player:

"There's so much pressure once you do get there because it's one and done. You lose, and you're going home."
— Laysha Clarendon (11:05)

She contrasts teams that “know they’re going to dance” with those just happy to be in, and highlights the special pressure—and magic—of March.

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Bracketology Breakdown with Eden Lawsey

(13:18–18:58)

• How the tournament field is constructed:
  • Top 16 teams host first/second round games.
  • Last four in (bubble teams) explained, with matchups involving Virginia, Arizona, Nebraska, and Richmond (14:03).
  • Selection logic: Automatic bids from smaller conferences fill the 16-seed lines, while Power conferences crowd the bubble.
• Key matchups Eden’s watching:
  • Fairfield–Notre Dame: “Fairfield can shoot... if you get hot in March, it's easy to advance.”
  • Richmond/Baylor or Nebraska/Baylor: First Four winners gaining momentum can threaten higher seeds.

"You win a game, you feel good, you go up against a Baylor team ... I think that playing in those first four could help Nebraska and Richmond kind of get their feet under them."
— Eden Lawsey (16:37)

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Conference Strength/Road Analysis

• Committee’s bias: They seem to favor the SEC and Big Ten over the ACC, as shown by seeding decisions like giving Michigan a 2-seed over Iowa (25:15).
• Michigan’s strength lies in “nearly beating” top teams like UConn and UCLA.
• Debate on regional “easiest path”—most panelists think Texas has it easier than South Carolina; UCLA and UConn face more landmines.

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Upset Watch & Potential Cinderellas

• Duke as a top Cinderella candidate (despite being a 3-seed)—their late-season form and combination of experience and guard play are noted (59:17).
• Mid-Major “royalty” picks: South Dakota State, Princeton, Green Bay. Look for highly experienced, senior-heavy mid-majors to play spoiler (27:28).
• Highlights from Sabrina: “It was a bad year for mid-majors … Only the Atlantic 10 got two teams in. We’re missing the surprises from years past” (37:26).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The committee loves storylines.” (Laysha, 09:01)
• “I love a hot take, so I'm not afraid to be wrong.” (Laysha, 20:14)
• “If you try to sit back and guard UConn in the half court, they don't get disrupted. You have to try for the entire 94 feet.” (Sabrina, 35:11)
• “I'm already sweating. This is amazing. We've just gotten started on our live stream.” (Zena, 11:08)
• “I always try to make one pick that just makes me a little uncomfortable.” (Chantel, 65:30)

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Deep Dives: Regions, Matchups, Systemic Trends

• South Carolina Region: “Looks pretty simple … no one has the same level of resolve or experience as South Carolina” (Zena, 05:35).
• UCLA’s Sacramento Region: Widely agreed as “the bracket of death”—packed with tough teams, shifting dynamics, and potential for upsets (50:07).
• Texas Region: Considered the easiest by Sabrina and Zena; both think the Longhorns “should not be scared” of anyone on their side (43:27).

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Chat Questions & Bracket Filling Strategies

• Debate around importance of experience vs. talent—“in late close games, experience is toward the top, but overall talent is number one” (Eden, 28:48).
• Free throws and guard play flagged as critical for upsets in tight games (65:30).
• Panelists share their own bracket hesitations, scratch-outs, and the emotional process of making bold picks (63:08, 65:30).

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Predictions: Final Four & National Champion

(80:17–86:28)

• Most Predict: Chalk—UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, Texas as Final Four.
• Championship Picks:
  • UConn is the overwhelming favorite to win it all, cited for depth, coaching, and “being UConn.” (Chantel, Zena)
  • Sabrina toys with Texas but also defaults to UConn.

“I think it's going to be UConn, Texas, and UConn wins it." — Zena Keita (85:33)
"Sarah Strong is incredible. If we had a one on one of UCLA’s starting five vs UConn’s ... who knows, but together UConn is just better." — Chantel Jennings (83:44)

• Potential disruptors: Michigan favored for a deep run by Chantel (75:22), but most predict the powerhouses will hold.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19–03:26: Opening & Top Seeds Reaction
• 09:01–11:08: Player Mindset on Selection Sunday
• 12:09–19:41: Bracketology with Eden Lawsey
• 25:15–26:11: Michigan over Iowa seeding controversy
• 35:00–37:26: How to beat UConn, full court pressure
• 39:49–40:44: “Messiest matchup” chat & committee drama
• 50:07–51:14: Analysis of the “bracket of death”
• 62:38–65:30: Boldest first round picks & bracket-filling stress
• 80:17–86:28: Final Four and Title Predictions

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Key Takeaways

• The bracket is “chalky”—not many surprises this year, especially for a women’s field.
• UConn is universally seen as the most complete team, almost “unbeatable” in current form; key to challenging them is pace, disruption, and “getting them out of character.”
• UCLA’s region is most dangerous; South Carolina and Texas have relatively easier paths by consensus.
• Mid-majors have fewer opportunities this year, but South Dakota State, Princeton, and Green Bay are flagged as must-watch for upsets.
• Experience, free throws, and veteran guard play remain huge March X-factors.
• The No Offseason crew, live and interactive, sneak in jokes, live bracket advice, and lots of real talk about the emotional ups and downs of March Madness—on and off the floor.

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For Further Engagement

• Print brackets, follow along with the hosts at theathletic.com
• Participate actively in The Athletic’s digital bracket challenge for community interaction
• Next live shows Thursday and Friday—deeper first/second round breakdowns

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“We want the drama. We want the upsets. That’s all we want.” – Zena Keita (87:25)

Let the Madness begin!

Transcript

[Eden Lawsey]

Foreign.

[Zena Kaeda]

Hello, everyone, and welcome to no Austin, presented by Sam's Club. I'm Zena Kaeda.

[Lazia Clarendon]

And I'm Lazia Clarendon.

[Zena Kaeda]

And the sun is shining on my face right now because we are live on selection Sunday. March madness is upon us, baby. It's finally here. The brackets are out. Tournament picture is set, and, you know, we got plenty to break down tonight, so we got to get into it. We got Sabrina and Chantelle that will be joining us a little later once their written pieces are up on the site. You know, we have to serve the public first, and then once Chantel's official bracket picks are locked in, she'll be able to join us as well. Our resident bracketologist Eden Lawsey will be stopping by to, you know, help us make sense of everything. I know there was someone that was on the, like, ESPN selection show that helped break things down from the committee, but Eden, you know, she's been doing this work for us all season, getting ready for this moment all season long. And so I'm very excited to hear her thoughts on how the selection committee actually played out and solidified that final bracket. Leija, first and foremost, hold up. This is your first time on no offseason. Welcome. How excited? I'm excited. I'm pumped.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I'm very excited. Let's do it. We're always talking about how we're always doing this behind the scenes in the green room with the Valkyries. And now we're in Pause.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes. That is. That is important to know. For those of you that don't know, Leija and I out in the bay covered the Valkyries together as analysts last season, and it was so fun, not only because the Valkyries were phenomenal, but there's just one for me to learn from a pro. 11 years in the WNBA, knows the game inside and out, does a lot of X's and O's.

[Eden Lawsey]

You play.

[Zena Kaeda]

Been doing some really cool, unrivaled stuff in the meanwhile, and we were like, hold up. We gonna pull you in, especially as March Madness gets going and WNBA season is hopefully, fingers crossed, right around the corner.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Broadcast, man, I got thrown in the fire, and I'm like, I don't even know.

[Zena Kaeda]

I. I know. So I do want to make sure we say hello to all of y' all in the chat, everyone watching. Thank you so much for tuning into our live stream. We are very excited for this. So let's go ahead and just, like, jump into it. Just off the top Lazer, the brackets officially out. We've got UConn as the number one overall seed, followed by UCLA, then Texas, and then South Carolina. So thinking about these top seeds, we know there was a battle back and forth. Who should be the top seed? Is it UCLA? Is it UConn, et cetera, et cetera. Where did you land on all of this? What stood out to you when the bracket was revealed?

[Lazia Clarendon]

Oh, number one thing that stood out to me was, I agree, UConn, number one overall seed. That's fine. They're great. They're the most balanced team. They're dominant. If you take one player off that team, they're still pretty freaking good, right? And versus UCLA is good and solid, but you take Lauren Beth off that team, it's a different story, Right?

[Eden Lawsey]

So number one.

[Lazia Clarendon]

But my second point was, does the committee not like ucla? Because I think they have the hardest road. So for them to be arguing one and then get in the, what, Sacramento Region and have to have go through Duke potentially or lsu? To me, that was like, oh, almost like they got.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, does. I mean, I'm looking at. I'm looking at UConn side and I mean, they got. They got banner built to meet up with potentially Ohio State, you know, and not quite the same. Not quite the same as a Duke or lsu, but

[Lazia Clarendon]

Duke's defense, like, how

[Chantelle Jennings]

good Duke can be.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, I know.

[Lazia Clarendon]

And then lsu, like, they're gamers, right? LSU is not a team I want to see. I don't care how well they've played throughout the year. Good or not. Pee not. I don't want no part of that if I'm on the other end in a tournament game. When you got Kim wearing God knows what, doing Kim things, right? Like, she knows how to win, she knows how to coach, she knows how to motivate. And so agreed to me was like, ooh, I think UCLA has the toughest road. I think South Carolina has the potentially easiest road to get to the Final Four.

[Zena Kaeda]

And that's what I was going to say.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Losing to Texas actually helped them, Right? And yes, they have to travel out west to Sacramento, right? But if they win, they go right onto Arizona. So they're actually making their way west. But for them, that loss actually was beneficial, I think, to have to kind of get bumped down and then potentially that chip on the shoulder. I don't want it like South Carolina with a chip on the shoulder.

[Eden Lawsey]

People don't even.

[Zena Kaeda]

Do they create chips on their shoulders. They're very much. There's like this essence of, like, we're talking about the WNBA in a sense that you've covered them for so long. But the same vibe that you felt for the Las Vegas Aces coming back and win that championship where they almost create this chip on their shoulders. South Carolina has a very, very similar vibe to them and I agree with you. I'm like looking at that Fort Worth.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Fort.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes, it's Fort Worth. We have a typo on the site. We're going to fix that. But Fort Worth 4 section, I was the only one that I'm like could really be a threat because we know that Oklahoma beat South Carolina in that overtime game. Double overtime game was crazy. Aaliyah Chavez hit that shot but that was an out of character game for South Carolina. They definitely want their revenge and that opportunity to get that lick back. So I'm looking at that four, four, four and I'm like it's looking pretty simple for them, but I don't know

[Lazia Clarendon]

sleep on in Iowa either. I think tcu.

[Zena Kaeda]

I was TCU in Iowa. Yeah. Yeah. But I still don't think anyone's got the there's no one in that bracket to me that has the same level of resolve that South Carolina has, but also the experience. We cannot deny that being in being able to have been in these positions, being in Final Fours, being able to consistently get back to levels of excellence within the tournament year after year after year in having Don Staley as a coach, like it's just really hard to bet against Don Staley ever. So that Fort Worth 4 looks pretty simple. The Texas and also the fact that you know, as you mentioned, they're going to stay out west. They're going to go to South Carolina. That sucks. Sure. But it is easier to once you get to that three hour whatever it is for them, it's going to be. They get to just exactly. And that will be fine.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Beautiful California weather.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right. I actually think the the Fort Worth, Texas situation for three I personally think their road might be a little easier. Even though Michigan is incredibly tough, they're incredibly solid. We know those three sophomores that have been leading the way for them all year. Olivia Olson has been killing it especially as towards the end of the season I I feel like between Michigan and Louisville, Texas feels pretty solid in my opinion in comparison to those. So I would say I know some folks even in our chat are saying that South Carolina might have the easiest road. I see Zigzag Zara said that as well as I saw the Jemima Jemima 61 Gigi also with the Gamecock emojis got an easy road. But I'm looking at Texas. And I'm like, don't sleep on them. I really do feel like that might be an easy road as well. Either way, it seems like UCLA and Yukon will have to work for theirs. That's in comparison to Texas and South Carolina. But let's. I want to take a step back really, really, really quickly, and we're going to get into seedings, and we're going to get into particular matchups. But before we even get into that, I want to talk to you, Leigh. You got to take us into the mindset of all the young women that we just saw on the selection Sunday. And so hype with their teammates. They're still playing in March. This was. This was not. Okay. They're still dancing in March. This was not my experience. Okay. The music was cut off pretty early in my college experience. Okay. I got no shade in it. I got no shade. By the way, y', all, I. I'm pretty sure that lay's team, like, whooped on Yale my freshman year. I'm pretty. I'm pretty certain of it. We went out to ucla. No, not ucla. We went out to California. We played UC Davis, and we played UC Berkeley, and we got. And if y' all don't know that UC Davis has like, a. A well known, like, back, like, fake pick situation thing that cut the F out of you.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes, though. Backdoor. It's a thing, guys. It's like a play. We literally.

[Lazia Clarendon]

There's, like, nightmares about having to guard their system.

[Zena Kaeda]

Correct. Their system is a thing. So we play UC Davis, we play Berkeley, and lay lit one against us at Yale years ago. But you've been to the tournament. You've been in these women's seats. What is it like to prepare for the big dance and get to hear who your matchup is going to be?

[Lazia Clarendon]

Oh, I mean, there's a couple different realms. There's one, the teams who know they're going to make it. Right. You can see in some of the reactions, some of the teams were like, we've been here, we expect. I thought it's interesting to watch all the reactions. Having been there. We didn't make it my first two years, we did the NIT one year, second year. Then my junior and senior year, we made it, went on to play Notre Dame in South Bend. And then my senior year, we go into the Final Four through the Spokane region. But so my senior year, this is why I think this South Carolina storyline is so interesting, because we lost. We were the number two seed in the country at the time. The highest Ranking Cows, like ever been. It was like, wow. Imagine us being like that good. We're number two in the country and we lose in the PAC 12 tournament to UCLA. I think is the semis. And we're like, dang, that's like gut punching. We're supposed to win the title. We won the regular season, but it helped us for our region, actually. So we dropped. We ended up being a two seed overall and we end up being in the Spokane region with Stanford because the committee loves storylines. So we're like. So we're like, all right, yeah, Georgia's in there, LSU's in there. We had like a pretty tough road and so we're kind of already looking ahead a bit, but also kind of having a reflection of the fact that we do sometimes those late in the season losses help you, they do benefit you. And it hurt at the time, but it really helped us in the long run and end up having that road to the Final Four. Georgia ends up beating Stanford. So we don't even face Stanford. We played Georgia in the semis. We had to get through lsu. So the anticipation, the sitting there waiting, we knew we were going to dance. And that was such a nice feeling from, like earlier years in my college career where we were just like sitting at home and everyone's dancing in March. That's what you do it for. Like you're not doing it to lose. Like, you want to win, you want to dance. This is the epitome me. And that's partly what I love it for these younger teams or these mid major teams who write, the only way they get in is they have to win their conference tournaments and then they get this opportunity to have this magical experience. So it was beautiful, it was fun. And then there's so much pressure once you do get there because it's one and done. Like, you lose and you. You're going home like it is.

[Zena Kaeda]

There's so much pressure.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yes.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah. Okay. I. I love, I love. I'm already sweating. This is amazing. We've just gotten started on our live stream. Shout out to all of you joining us on Selection Sunday, presented by Sam's Club. We are about to start getting into the nitty gritty of this bracket. We've got Eda Lossie, our bracketology expert, coming up right after this break. In the meanwhile, if you are in the chat, drop us some questions. We want to be able to get some of your questions answered. I see some already sprinkling in, but make sure you drop those because later on, Eden's going to Be with us. Sabrina is going to be joining us and Chantel is going to be joining us. But as someone said in the chat, and I love this and they gotta do their homework first. All right, we'll be right back after this break. We've got Eden Lossy. Now joining us, our resident bracketologist. Eden, how are you feeling? The work that you have been building up to for so long is now out there. The selection committee has made their selections and I want to know how are you feeling right now?

[Eden Lawsey]

I'm thrilled. All day I've been saying 10 hours to the bracket, five hours to the bracket, and now we finally have it. And I'm really excited to get into it with you guys.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yay. Okay, so I'm dying to get your reactions to the bracket and I want to kind of step back for a bit, though for some of the listeners that might be. Not be. That might not be as familiar with March Madness as a whole and what's about to play out for the next few weeks. So for those of you who aren't as familiar, let's walk our listeners through how the tournament works. Eden, can you lay out the field for us?

[Eden Lawsey]

Absolutely. So first we're going to do the first four. So those are going to be when we were doing our double watch and we talked about the last four teams in. Two of those teams will play in the first four and then two 16 seeds as well. And then or sorry, two matchups will be those last four in and others will be 16 seats. And then we move on to the rest of the fields. And of course, in women's basketball, we know the top 16 teams host. So that was announced on Saturday. So none of those teams should have been a surprise other than perhaps the order that they came in. And then after that, we're just kind of getting into it.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay, so here's something that I have always like, I get it. But something bothers me about it and I'm sure some of you might be listening and might be thinking about this. The four the last four in always feels like it should be the. The last four in like, AKA you barely were almost there. It always feels weird to think that there are people that are going to be matching up for this. In this case this year, it's going to be Virginia, Arizona and Fort Worth four and Nebraska and Richmond and Sacramento, too. Like, these four teams were really good all year. Why are they in the last four in? How does that work where it's not everyone's battling for a 16th seed.

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah. So the Reason that happens is because of course we have the teams on the bubble and those are often going to be power four teams. We do have some mid majors in there as well that maybe didn't have as good of a record or they lost some games they shouldn't have or they upset a couple teams and it was surprising. Those 16 seeds and most of those lower seeds are going to be reserved for teams that won their conferences. Right. So, you know, ideally you want the number one seeds to be playing the worst team that they'll play in the tournament in the first round. That's not necessarily the case all the time, of course. You know, we have had one lovely 16 seed over a one offset in

[Zena Kaeda]

the past shout out to one of you babies.

[Lazia Clarendon]

They can never live that down.

[Eden Lawsey]

So because of that, right, we don't want to see, let's say one of our last teams in Nebraska. We don't want to see Nebraska matching up with the number one seed in the first round because that kind of ruins the point of that number one seed, you know, earning that spot and getting a chance to play one of those lower seed teams. Does that make sense?

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, it does make sense. And it feels like with the automatic bids, like you're going to have those already slotted in and that's why if Nebraska, Richmond, Virginia, Arizona State not winning their conferences tournaments outright, they forfeit that automatic bid. And now they are on the bubble as you mentioned. So those four games, those first four, they're the last four in, but they're called the first four. I know it is confusing, but yes. And they're eight technically, but yeah. So the first four begins on March 18th through the 19th, those games and then the first and second rounds will be beginning on March 20th to the 23rd. And then it just keeps going week by week. Final four will take place in Phoenix starting April 3rd, Friday we will be there. I'm so excited with the championship game on April 5th. Let's, let's go ahead and figure, get into the nitty gritty of all of this. First and foremost, Eden Laser laid out like what stood out to them about the tournament. And just looking at who got that number one overall seat, you were on the same page. UConn. I think we're all on the same page. UConn deserved it. This observable component was a major factor, just the eye test, et cetera. With your observable component of this entire bracket. What stood out to you?

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah, absolutely. I think there are a few things that stand out to me. One is that we have observed those top four teams being the top four teams pretty much all season. Vanderbilt kind of jumped in a little bit there, but Overall it was UConn, UCLA, Texas and South Carolina all season. So that was big. And then another thing that has really stood out to me as well with a couple of these first round matchups I find really interesting. I think the Fairfield Notre Dame matchup could be interesting just given that Fairfield is an experienced team. They can shoot the ball really well. If you get hot in March, it's easy to advance. And then Notre Dame, of course, as we know, goes where Hannah Hidalgo goes. So she has an odd game. Pennsylvania's way to shut her down again, I think. One loss situation. Right. And so if you're the lower seed who should win, you're in there and you know you should win and you're going to tighten up a little bit if you're playing close. So that one is interesting to me. The same with a potential Richmond and Baylor matchup or Nebraska and Baylor matchup. And this is a case where I think that playing in those first four could help Nebraska and Richmond kind of get their feet under them. You win a game, you feel good, you go up against a Baylor team. Both Nebraska and Richmond are really talented. You know, I did say that I wasn't sure Nebraska could get in. That doesn't mean I don't think they're good. This is a good team. They just played in a really good conference, so they had a rough time of it. And then Richmond, of course we have Maggie Dugan who we saw go absolutely crazy last year. She was one of the best players on the floor against ucla. They ended up losing, of course, but she was incredible. So that's a player that would be a mismatch. So I love those two first round matchups. I'm so excited. I don't know if you can tell,

[Zena Kaeda]

but I'm like buzzing right now.

[Lazia Clarendon]

That NC State Tennessee matchup and then the potential to meet Louisville right away like that ACC second round, that to me was spicy.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes.

[Eden Lawsey]

I was like, ah, no, that is really exciting. And I think Tennessee is a team that a lot of people will be interested to see how they do. Right. They had an absolute slide at the end of the year here. But again, Tennessee is a team that has a lot of talent. So if they can put the pieces together and I think they'll be feeling good about that matchup, this is a team they know they can beat. And then like I said, you get a first round win, suddenly you're feeling pretty good going forward.

[Lazia Clarendon]

All right, I'm going to put you on the spot. You think Louisville can beat Texas, make it to the Final Four? That's my hot take of potential. Not, oh, she gets a nose.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Potentially.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Not Texas not making it to the Final Four like Louisville's. Let me. You answer first, and I'm gonna give you my. My hot tea.

[Zena Kaeda]

I would love to hear from you

[Eden Lawsey]

because obviously, you know, you're the player in this situation, so you probably have a better idea. But for me, do I think it could happen? Yes. Do I think it will happen?

[Zena Kaeda]

No.

[Eden Lawsey]

I think I've been really impressed with Texas, and I think the thing that really makes Texas stand out this year compared to how they played last year is that sophomore class. I love Jordan Lee. I think she's the absolute. The X factor for this team.

[Zena Kaeda]

She's a big change.

[Eden Lawsey]

Has been unbelievable as well. She's such a mismatch in a way that I don't know that a lot of teams have somebody that can guard her if she's playing really well. And I think Bri Creston could be huge, too, off the bench as that backup point guard. So I don't know. But I would love to hear what you have to say because I've also been really impressed with Louisville. I think Barry is on her way to being a breakout star. You know, she's, I think, one of the best guards that people don't know about. See what she gets up to. But, yeah, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I mean, I think Texas has found some offense this year, and that's been the big question of, like, I love defense, but, like, at the end of the day, teams are too talented. Like, you got to be able to score the basketball to win in a final Four to win a national championship. So I agree with you with, like, things they've added. They're much more consistent offensively. But I mean, one, I love a hot take, so I'm not afraid to be wrong. So I'm like. And I like Level one for their experience. Right. We've talked about that somewhat earlier in the pod is experience. So Jeff Walls knows how to coach in big moments, and I like how balanced their squad is. The problem with them that I do find is, like, not having one star to take the shot.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

They're so balanced sometimes. Like, it is Taj Roberts, but is she quite ready to really, Is she like an A list? Put her name next to every big player. I want to take that shot at big moments. I'm not exactly sure. Laura Ziegler is really good. They defend the three really well. They space the floor really well. They're one of the best benches in the country, and that's their strength and can be the strength for that second unit is really, to your point, Barry, that squad, they basically have folks who are starters, who they come off the bench in order to, like, have that seven, eight man, consistent rotation. And that's why I really like them. And they're dangerous, and they. They're a program who's had excellence throughout years. And so I think in that way, I'm like, I don't sleep on Lululac. I would not be surprised if they really turn.

[Eden Lawsey]

I think those are all great points. Can I tell you one potential upset that I have that I think would be an interesting game? So in the second round, we could potentially get Washington and tcu, and I find that to be a very interesting one. And the reason being is there have been games this season where TCU just has not looked like their chemistry is there. I think one of the issues they tend to have is Olivia Miles is so good. Let's just let Olivia Miles do her thing and then everyone else is kind of standing around. I do think they're very talented, and if they play well, they could go really deep. But Washington had some really good guards, you know, Xavier Sellers, Avery Howell. So I think this one would come down to who could dominate the paint. And I find that to be a very interesting matchup.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Okay, so question. Is this the easiest region to get to the Final Four? I argued South Carolina has the easiest road to get to the Final Four, and that makes me question it, because you just basically tcu, not Shane.

[Eden Lawsey]

No. Yeah, I actually. I think they probably do have the easiest path.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay.

[Eden Lawsey]

Just looking at it again, everything's nuts. So we never really know what's actually going to go down. But just based on what I'm looking at, although, yeah, I definitely think that is true because UCLA had some really tough people in there, and committee seems to be obsessed with ucla, LSU playing each other. I think this would be the third

[Lazia Clarendon]

year I said, is ucla? Did the committee not like UCLA because they don't get the number one over lc, then they get the toughest.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, how are you. They like storylines, you know, that they like the drama. Speaking of the drama, I do want to get into some snubs, some surprises, and I see a comment Zigzag. Zara asks, what do you think tipped the scale for the committee to put Duke as Number three instead of number two. This feels like it could be a little bit of a snub. Duke cleaned up their act at the end of the season. That, that final game going into or winning the regular season outright against UNC being able to win the tournament. Like they. They feel like they should have been a number two, particularly for what have you done for me lately? That recency bias the selection committee seems to have. They feel like they put on a performance for that. Did you feel like that was a snub or that was. That was right. And in inputting them at number three, LSU deserve that number two.

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah, I do think I had them as a two seed, Duke as a two seed. I also had LSU as a two. The team that I didn't have was Michigan. I had them as a three. So that was interesting to me. But I think what this is a case of the committee recognizing that the SEC and the Big Ten are stronger than the ACC was this year. You know, Duke played really great down the stretch, but I just think when you look at the teams that, you know, the SEC teams and the Big Ten teams had to play day in and day out, I just think that they were challenged a little bit more. And I think that the committee tends to value that. So I think that's probably why they got in as a three instead of a two.

[Zena Kaeda]

So that actually leads perfectly into Elena Axon 8036 who said, why on earth was Michigan seated over Iowa? As a Michigan fan, lol. So even. Even Elena's like, hold up. I thought my team was good, but not that good. How do we feel about that for Iowa?

[Eden Lawsey]

Well, look, I think unfortunately for Iowa, their last game was a 51 point loss, and that's going to be in the back.

[Zena Kaeda]

That's not fair, though.

[Eden Lawsey]

It's not, but that's how it goes. It's not fair, but that's the reality. And I think another thing that really helped Michigan is, you know, Michigan played the top two teams, so they played UConn and UCLA to three points both of those games. And when we were talking about, you know, the committee was on the, you know, selection show speaking about how that, you know, visual component was really huge to them when picking UConn over UCLA. So if that's so major in that regard, it's going to be major down the line. And we've seen Michigan as a team that can really compete with top teams. So I think that combined with the kind of bitter taste of that loss, as unfair as it is, is probably what got Them seated higher than Iowa.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay. Okay. Was there anyone else of like, how

[Lazia Clarendon]

do you match up against UConn?

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah, they've earned that kind of respect. That that is going to be something that people are talking about. You know, that game happened so early in the season and I spent a year talking about it. So like, obviously a lot of people are going to put weight into that.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah. I'm wondering if I'm looking at my bracket. By the way, guys, my bracket is on my iPad down here. So if you look, see me looking down, it's not because I'm not. I'm not entertained by the drama of all of March Madness, but I'm just looking and I'm curious if you thought that there were any surprises in terms of those closer matchups. We've already talked about the NC State, Tennessee matchup. That's going to be, I personally think, incredibly interesting that South Dakota State, Washington matchup. South Dakota State is a team that, you know, I would say Sabrina, put me on a little bit more in terms of them being a team that could make it through the first round. Could be an upset type of team. Rhode island as well, being one of those as well. Are there any teams that you're like interested about potential upsets or potential surprises in that regard?

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah, I think we have pretty much the three, like best mid major teams. When you talk about mid major royalty, to me, South Dakota State, Princeton, Green Bay have been in there for years.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, yeah.

[Eden Lawsey]

These are teams that know what it takes. You know, we've seen Princeton win games in this tournament. They also have a really good first round matchup that I think plays really well for them against Oklahoma State and then, you know, South Dakota State. Again, they're very experienced. Brooklyn, my or their center is one of the best players, not just mid major players, but one of the best players in the country. I remember years ago when she was a freshman, she's a senior now, but she played incredibly in one of her first games of her career against South Carolina. So that's the kind of player that she is. She was ready from the jump, so she's not going to be afraid of anyone. So I think that's a really great matchup as well. And then again, anyone who's going to be playing Green Bay is going to be having a team that knows how to win. They've been to an insane amount of tournaments. Like I said, mid major royalties, so.

[Zena Kaeda]

And they have a lot of seniors.

[Eden Lawsey]

Exactly. And experience does matter. Right. Like I said, you know, it's a One loss situation. So if you get people that start getting nervous out there, those mistakes can compound.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Where would you rank experience in the scale of, I guess, talent, experience, coaching system?

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah, I think this is going to be an annoying answer, but I do think it kind of depends. I think if we're in a late game situation and it's a really close matchup, I think that experience is probably going to be towards the top just because, you know, nothing really to lose, especially for those, you know, mid major teams that aren't supposed to win their games and if they have more experience, ultimately I do think the overall talent is going to be the number one and then, you know, coaching, if you can out scheme somebody, you're in good shape.

[Zena Kaeda]

All right, Ian, we got, we're going to wrap up with you. We got Sabrina coming in soon. But what are your last thoughts before you get into the dancing of March Madness? From this side of the bracket, not on the court, but from this side. Any last thoughts before you go?

[Eden Lawsey]

My last thoughts are just that I'm really excited. I think we've got a great bracket here. I think overall the seating is kind of what I expected it to be and I'm just excited to get started. But first, I'm excited to hear what Sabrina has to say.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, yeah, same. I think we all are. There's people in the chat like, where's Sabrina and Chantelle at? Well, yeah, Sabre, get on out of here.

[Eden Lawsey]

So no, you're heard.

[Zena Kaeda]

You're good. I do want to ask you before, before you leave final two, what are you predicting?

[Eden Lawsey]

It's been a crash course all year. I don't think it'll surprise anyone to hear me say UCLA UConn.

[Zena Kaeda]

It does sound like it might be that it will be very surprising if it isn't. But you know, it's not surprising. Eden, Lassie doing her job all year for us and getting us prepared for this bracket to come out. Thank you so much, Eden, and appreciate you. We'll have you back on throughout the tournament but super excited. Thank you so much for joining us. All right, y', all, we're going to of course, y', all, we're going to take a quick break and Sabrina is going to join us really quickly. Don't go anywhere, guys. Oh, there she is. The magic magic of livestream. Oh, she can't hear us just yet. Okay, so we're going to pause here. By the way, we're going to let Sabrina jump off and figure out sound really quickly and then in the meanwhile we're Going to just look at our chat really quick to see what folks are saying. And I actually want to take this question really quickly from Jemama61. Gigi, what do you think it's going to take to beat UConn? Lajah friend, I'm getting so mad. Great question. The only team, the only team that made it feel like it could be possible was Tennessee. And that. That when they were up at the half, I can't remember what day it was that they played earlier this season, UConn stormed back in the second half and it really was Tennessee speeding UConn up. And I think for any team that is as dominant and as elite as UConn is and as solid in all these positions, whether it's their point of attack, whether it's their size inside between az, but and Sarah Strong, obviously being the two anchors of that team, but then everyone around them being kk, Arnold, Astra, Shade, like there's so much size. And then don't get me started on Blanca Quinones coming in, helping things out. But Sarah Williams, like, all the bigs that are available on that team as well, all. The only thing that feels, it feels like you have to focus on is trying to get them out of character.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Getting them to speed up, to do things in a. In a manner that they're not used to. And the thing is that UConn is so good at dictating the pace, dictating the tempo, dictating the physicality, dictating everything. And so I feel like that's the only thing that you can anticipate is if you try to beat UConn, you have had to have done something that makes them look unlike themselves or feel unlike themselves. What are your thoughts?

[Lazia Clarendon]

I mean, you nailed it. I think getting them off kilter is something. And then if you do, the problem is they're also very well coached.

[Zena Kaeda]

So. Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Like, they have the ability to adjust in the moment. So you see some of these coaches or these moments where you, you have game plan A. Right. You come out, you're prepared, but then how do you adjust? And Gino is one of the best at X's and O's and adjusting throughout his career, throughout halftime.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Like I was thinking, I was working studio at that Tennessee game and I was like, oh, they're up. Oh, wait, it's time. Oh, my God. How are they down? Segment we came back and I was like, how. How is the span that big? And it's because they're disciplined, they're talented, they're well Coached. They're. They have great scouting. So the problem with the physicality is they normally bring the physicality to you. But we saw what Tennessee does, right? Like their ability to speed you up. So have a team. Is there a team that's good enough to sustain that level of effort? Because they also play extremely hard. They're demanded to play hard. Even when they're up 25, they should be up 45.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Like, the bar is just so ridiculously high. God, it's like. Yeah, it's is.

[Zena Kaeda]

It is so high. And you know what? I want to shout out Lisa Stanfield, 7930, for just reminding me. You are absolutely right. Michigan did get closer to beating UConn. And the reason why that Tennessee game just stands out in my mind is because literally, Tennessee started strong. And UConn does have a tendency of, like, you know, they. They can get a little bit comfortable in the first half and then realize, oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, where UConn?

[Lazia Clarendon]

I get that.

[Zena Kaeda]

And so the fact that Tennessee got out early on UConn makes you think, like, oh, that's what you want to do. But it was Michigan that actually bought back in that second half. I think they got back to, like, it was like a 15, 17 point rally. You know who could probably remember this a little bit better than I can? Lejea, our resident expert, Sabrina Merchant. Yeah, Sabrina Merchant, come back onto the show. Hello. Remind me of that Michigan UConn game.

[Sabrina Merchant]

What?

[Zena Kaeda]

How did Michigan get back in that game against UConn when they lost? It was 72. They ended up losing 69. 72 to UConn. But it was a close one at the end.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah, I think what you guys are talking about, like, speeding up UConn, getting them to turn the ball over, full court pressure is, like, one of the only things we've seen all season that really has any chance of just disrupting what you can is going to do. If you try to sit back and guard them in the half court, they don't get disrupted. Like, you have to try to disrupt them for the entire 94ft. And then you just have, like, an incredible perimeter shot maker in Silo Swords who got on a bit of a heater. And like, sometimes when you have a player who takes shots that the defense wants you to take, like, that's the only way I can think of Yukon really getting in trouble because, like, I'm sure, you know, their coaching staff had no problem with, like, what Michigan was doing offensively. It didn't look entirely pretty. It Just happened that oh Silas making these shots and like at a certain point you stop getting her the ball. But yeah, I think individual heater that, you know, just full, full court disruption trying to get them to turn the ball over because I think Yukon's offense is just too good in the half court to let them. Yeah you know get there. You have to stop them from there's location. I think like Texas seems like the team that would be best suited, you know to get in their space because they have that full, full court defense that like UCLA doesn't play that way. South Carolina doesn't really play that way. I mean South Carolina can dial it up sometimes but it's not their bread and butter. Whereas like Texas starts in that defense. Right. I think there was that stat that Texas has forced 28 like 5 second violations just inbounding the ball this season which is 13 more than any team in the NCAA. So like that's how early they start defending you, right?

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yes. No big shape. You come out of the locker room

[Zena Kaeda]

and you're playing Texas, you're defending the security guards on the way to the court.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I still have nightmares about being a cow when they were, when Sidney Carter and Colson and he was at Texas A and M and we played them and I was like oh like you, you get by one defender and it's just a wall. Like it's okay.

[Zena Kaeda]

So Sabrina, we got you on. I'm telling you, you got a fan club in here girl. Okay. People were clamoring for Sabrina so we are so happy we got you here. Agreed. TY ZV5 we the goat of women's basketball podcast. Agreed, agreed, agreed. We got the goat right here. Sabrina's here to tell us a little bit more about what she thinks around this bracket. So what were your first impressions when you saw everything go out?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Let's see. I'm trying to make this not as nerdy as possible but I really think it was a bad year for the mid majors. Like I look at just all of the teams that got in like lower, lower seated teams and like the sec, the acc, the Big ten who made their way in. And meanwhile there's one mid major conference that got two teams in the Atlantic 10 which got Rhode island and Richmond. You know you didn't see any of like the two Ivy League. We had I think three bit Ivy a couple of years ago. Yeah, there was three teams from the Atlantic 10 last year. You know sometimes you see like a South Dakota State get in as an automatic like a at large. If like there's an automatic qualifier from their conference. And like none of the mid major conferences had like an exceptional year either. I think the only one to like exceed the 11 line was Princeton. You know, like you look at Gonzaga, who's usually a lot better. I mean Fairfield I don't think was quite as good this year as they were last year. So it's just like I'm looking at the bottom and like there's a playing game on the 10 line because there's so many automatic qualifiers are just below them. Like they didn't have enough to like actually move the plane. Came back down to the 11 line where it usually is. So that was just one thing that stood out. Like this is just a lot of the same conferences and so we're going to get matchups that I think we've seen before just because at a certain point, like the SEC teams are going to meet up with other SEC teams and like Big Ten teams are going to meet up with other Big Ten teams. So I can't necessarily say that I think that the committee did a bad job not including like North Dakota State or, you know, I don't know, Columbia or Quinnipiac or whatever. But like it just didn't feel like. Sorry, it just didn't feel like a great year for the mid majors. And as someone who enjoys like the, you know, the surprises of March and like getting to see school, not familiar with seeing on a regular basis, like it's kind of a bummer. But again, I don't think that like any team that was deserving of getting in necessarily found its way on the outside.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, I'm, I'm with you. I mean, we have someone in the chat saying, game Griot, Game Griot is really what it is. So sad by George Mason girl, he didn't make it in. They had another really good season. Agreed. There's. It does feel like there's in some ways the committee loved the same old storylines or kind of like, you know, dredging up the storylines that we've been seeing build over the course of the few years of all of these. I have a question. What do you think could potentially be the messiest of matchups?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Oh, see, this is the problem. We didn't get the messy matchups. We didn't get TCU versus Notre Dame in the second round. Like, where is that? TCU is a three, Notre Dame is a six. How are they not in the same region? I don't understand.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Understand.

[Zena Kaeda]

I know that.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Who is denying us of Olivia Miles versus, like that is all I wanted to see coming into this tournament.

[Zena Kaeda]

Facts, facts. I do like the fact that Maryland. No, even that we don't get. Never mind. I was gonna say, like, trying to

[Sabrina Merchant]

get Ohio State vs. Ole Miss, which I understand Ohio State played its way into the three line. You can't have a three versus five. It would have been four, five. Like, I'll. I'll give that one. But, like, when I saw Notre Dame showing up against Ohio State, I think I, like, just zoned out for the next five minutes because that's the committee loves mess. We've had Haley Van Lith in the Louisville bracket for the last two years.

[Zena Kaeda]

I thought they made it happen twice.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And we couldn't get.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right now, Olivia versus Hannah would have been.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Probably would have fed families. Come on.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah. Yay. Fed families is exactly right. Okay, so there's a lot of great questions in the chat, so I want to go ahead and just, like, go towards some of these. But I have questions I'm supposed to ask you.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Sorry, sorry. I'll talk about the actual thing.

[Zena Kaeda]

No, you're fine, you're fine, you're fine. Which region do you think has the most depth, has the most potential for upsets?

[Sabrina Merchant]

You want to go first leisure or you want me to take this one?

[Lazia Clarendon]

No, this is you, the people.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I think the Sacramento regions are both very deep. South Carolinas and UCLAs are both pretty deep. I think. I mean, stopping for sounding like a homer, but I think Duke is the best three seed and they're in UCLA's region. Although, like, I assumed Vanderbilt was going to end up with ucla, so for them to get lsu, I think is

[Zena Kaeda]

kind of a win.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I don't know. I don't know that there's, like, a market difference between Vanderbilt and lsu. Uh, and then South Carolina.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Like, you don't think in terms of tournament experience?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Well, I do, but I just think Vanderbilt was, like, significantly better than LSU during the regular season.

[Zena Kaeda]

So.

[Lazia Clarendon]

But in a big moment of one

[Zena Kaeda]

game, that's where no LSU shines on a big stage.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And yet when have they won the big games other than 20, 23.

[Zena Kaeda]

You know what we are. We do have a little bit of recency bias in a way where we're just always like lsu big moments, they up. But you're right, it's been a while up.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And then they don't win. Like, every game against South Carolina is a good game.

[Zena Kaeda]

I'll give you a really good game.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And then they don't win.

[Zena Kaeda]

They're like, danger.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I don't know. It don't matter. You never know. Catch me on the right day. It's the right day.

[Zena Kaeda]

Let's. Let's keep it going. Sorry, I think we cut you off, but regional depth, you think Sacramento, both sides of Sacramento. Do you think that South Carolina has the easiest path?

[Sabrina Merchant]

I don't know. I think there's more depth on those sides. I think Texas has the easiest path.

[Zena Kaeda]

I agree. Yeah, I agree. I think.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I thought Michigan was going to fall off of the two line because of how badly they lost to Iowa in the Big Ten tournament. They stayed at number two. I don't think Louisville is the strongest of the three seeds. And, you know, like, it's a. It's a good group of teams, but, like, if I'm Texas, I'm not scared of West Virginia's press. Like, I see that in practice every day, you know? Yeah, I'm not scared of that. They've done very well. Well, against Kentucky and Alabama during the regular season. Right. Like, I mean, this is nice as possible, you know, like NC State. Fine. You know, I feel the same. Doing anything to Texas.

[Zena Kaeda]

I feel the same. Agreed. I'm with you. Go pack.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I'm like, I would be stunned if the Longhorns did not make it to Phoenix.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, that's exactly how I felt.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I'm not gonna say that, like, Yukon's not gonna make it either, but, like, the. The draw is really nice for Texas this year, especially because they're playing in Fort Worth. Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Who's the hardest road then?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah, I mean, I. I don't know if it's UCLA or South Carolina. I kind of think it's ucla.

[Zena Kaeda]

But do we like to be convinced

[Sabrina Merchant]

that South Carolina is the hardest? Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay. Well, we were. We're all on the same page that we think that. Oh, you think South Carolina is the hardest?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah, I mean, I was really good team.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay, this is interesting. Our chat was saying that South Carolina may have the easiest road to the Final Four. Yeah, right. And I was like, okay, I love the different basketball minds. See it differently all. All around. What are we thinking about some of the potential rematches from. During the season? Of course, to me, that South Carolina, Oklahoma meeting up in the Elite Eight could be really, really interesting. What stands out to you in terms of potential rematches from the year?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Duke, LSU stands out to me because when we saw Duke play them the first time in the ACC SEC Challenge, they were still in that rough 3, 6 start to the season. And I think they're just dramatically different than they were then. Even though they did lose that game. So I think they deserve to be below LSU on the seed line because of that head to head loss. But I'm not necessarily sure that Duke is worse than LSU at this point. And I think that could be a really fun game.

[Zena Kaeda]

That was a fun game. Just them. Duke was up and down the floor.

[Sabrina Merchant]

They were up big early.

[Zena Kaeda]

They were just big early collapsed. So I'm imagining that's going to be a good rematch there. Trying to think of Leija, any rematches that you're excited to look at throughout this year to revisit? I mean, I think the person that wants a rematch the most is Iowa. They just want to get to the championship and be like, listen, ucla, give us one more chance. There's one more opportunity. We look at, we're looking.

[Sabrina Merchant]

You gotta get through South Carolina and UConn to get there.

[Zena Kaeda]

So you gotta go through a lot. Yeah.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I'm curious about the Vanderbilt, UConn potential just from the Shay Ralph, knowing Gino, like in terms of coaching, high level experience, like being inside of a system for so many years, like, I don't know if there's an upset there or not, but that's just an interesting storyline, I think. And like totally not many people just coach at that high, high of a level. Like there are other coaches, but that is like, like, does she have the. Can she get in his head? Like, is there some secret thought? You know, we talked about knocking Yukon off kilter. Like I wonder if she gives him a little pregame, you know, like that. I know, you know, when you're that intimately in a coaching situation with someone, like, you know, the things that make them tick.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

You know, like you're the one who was their right hand person. So I think about all the psychological games within the game that you play and like, is there, you know, that stuff happens between coaches too? They don't talk about that, but they'd be doing a little handshake. They have their moments. Like. So I'm just kind of, I'm like low key peeping that one too.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, okay, the coaching matchup. And I think that that's, that's a really great point. Whenever we're talking about the tournament in general, of course we talk about matchups, we talk about the teams. The battles between the coaches are really interesting. The battles between the players. Of course we talked about Olivia Miles, Hannah Hidalgo just being some of it. Like there's also opportunities for players to write their names in the stars, like just become these massive storylines. Just from the way that they play. We know Michaela Blaze put up some numbers. We know Sarah Strong. Is that. That's really where we all got. We didn't get introduced to Sarah Strong in the moment, like, but that's when I think watching her in the Final Four and the championship game, we were like, oh, she's going pro and she, she can go pro tomorrow if she would like. But I'm just thinking of players that are going to probably have amazing tournaments and have the opportunity to like, put the teams on their back type of thing. Cody McMahon is one that definitely stands out to me. Feels like she has a chip on her shoulder a little bit for Ole Miss and wanting to prove that. But what are some of the players or who are some of the players that you think may have a phenomenal tournament or. We should be watching.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I mean, that's the fun thing about this is that they sort of surprise you. Right. Like, obviously Sarah Strong, I don't think it's a huge shock that she had an excellent tournament, but like Sarah, Ashley Barker having that big game, you know, for Alabama, I don't think that was on a lot of people. Yeah. And then, yes, that. I mean, I think that turned her in, like into a first round pick in the WNBA draft. Like, you know those things.

[Zena Kaeda]

They got it to the league.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah. Got it to leave.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I think, you know, I'm looking at that South Carolina region again and like, you know, Oklahoma's been on national TV a lot. But I think this is a good time, you know, for Aliyah Chavez to be like reintroduced. Right. To if they can have a good game against Idaho and then like that Michigan State, Colorado State game. Kennedy Blair has been super fun to watch this season. You know, she could pop off for Michigan State. Let's see, who else do I like?

[Zena Kaeda]

And Kenny Blair is just a sophomore, isn't she?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Only a sophomore. That's right.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

So that's what's really exciting. I'm looking at. There's also some obvious names like Hannah Hidalgo. It's. There are certain teams that will not advance if these players do not play well. Right. And just they don't have the depth necessary. And Hannah Hidalgo as a name overall, but particularly just like what she's going to do to try and will her team to win, I think is another one that is really, really interesting. Okay. Want to keep going. Speaking of the bracket of death. Right. We've seen these type of things in the World cup coming up, actually. There's different groups of death and things of that sort. Bracket of depth. Depth. Actually this could be depth. Because it does. If you have depth, you probably are in the bracket of death as well because these are the teams that can just beat you with their starting five, their backup five, their whatever you want. Sections that we think are actually the worst or the hardest to get through. You said South Carolina Leisure. We didn't necessarily talk about hardest, though. For you, which one do you think is the hardest one and why?

[Lazia Clarendon]

For me, the hardest bracket to get through. I think it's Sacramento. Is that one or two? The UCLA bracket?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah. The numbering is going to get confusing. I think it's. I think it's Fort Worth 1, Sacramento 2, Fort Worth 3, Sacramento 4.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I don't like it. We can tell the committee that I think it's the UCLA bracket because I

[Sabrina Merchant]

think being almost as a five is tough too.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes.

[Lazia Clarendon]

We haven't talked about this.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I don't know how I mean that 5. Lisa 48. Like Gonzaga's doing some things, but I don't know that they'll get through. But I think just when you look at those big name teams and particularly how well like Duke has played later in the season, like they have covered them in the ACC and like they were that team last year, it's like you could see their youth on display of like, oh, they got there and they just kind of fell apart in big moments. And now starting the season the way they started, they've been challenged.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right.

[Lazia Clarendon]

They know what it feels like to be a shitty team to start the year. And also like they were, you know, they had a tough schedule. So it's like they've been really tested this season. Know the ACC wasn't quite as good as SEC this year. Right. But it was down a bit. But I still think for that, for me, Duke is like that team where I'm like, if I'm ucla, I'm like, damn, how did I not get the number one overall? And how did I end up with Duke and LSU in my bracket? Yes, lsu. Sabrina doesn't always show up in the moment, but they still have that potential. Star power.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah. I mean, there's only like what, four coaches in this tournament who have won a national title? I think it's Kim, Don Staley, Brenda Freeze and Gino. Right. So one of them is in UCLA's bracket.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah. I'm happy you brought a Brenda for these. Let's talk over Fort Worth 1, because thinking of like bracket of deaths, it feels like when you're evaluating that you can look at that number one seed, but you can also. You're looking at the talent underneath and the team. Whereas in Fort Worth, one, it's kind of like you look at UConn and you don't really give as much credit to anyone else because you're just like, who's going to beat UConn? What's it going to take to beat UConn? And I feel like there's going to be so many amazing. I think if there's a team that's not necessarily the bracket of death, but there is a bracket of stress. This team is going to give me stress. This bracket is going to give me stress. I'm looking at potential Maryland UNC in a second. Second round matchup. I feel like that's going to be a lot of fun. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Jelani Cambridge against Hannah Hidalgo. Like, I feel like that's going to be crazy. I don't know. Like, even if Vanderbilt ends up going up against, oh, Ohio State, which we've seen that. I thought this was. This is. I mean, Iowa State, too. They've been up and down. They had injuries throughout the year that also impacted their ability to show up in places. But I feel so bad they could possibly be done in, like, in the first round.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Honestly, they could lose.

[Zena Kaeda]

They could literally lose in the first round as well, so. But I feel like this is the bracket that's going to give us the most overtimes. It's going to be the one that we're going to be staying up for.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Like, every matchup is.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, I just feel like every single. Every single bracket is gonna be crazy. By the way, Haley Frye, 7108, is doing the people's work. Shout out to Michael B. Jordan, winning best actor in Sinners.

[Eden Lawsey]

Okay.

[Zena Kaeda]

Thank you for that, Holly Fry. That is amazing. I will be watching that back. I just heard of the performance. Like, they did a. They did the song dance scene from Sinners, so I just saw just like, a clip of that, and Missy Franklin closed it out. Woo. Missy. Weird.

[Sabrina Merchant]

You're thinking of the swimmer, right? Missy Copeland.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes. I just literally thought of the swimmer.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Sorry.

[Zena Kaeda]

That'd be cool. Missy Copeland. Wouldn't that be crazy?

[Sabrina Merchant]

I love Missy Franklin.

[Zena Kaeda]

If she came out and started twirling, that would be insane.

[Sabrina Merchant]

No, Missy Copeland, I think another Cal legend, right? Legend.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I was like, yeah. She was like, yo, I'm in there.

[Zena Kaeda]

We are just shouting out the bay right now. It's all good.

[Eden Lawsey]

It's all good.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay, let's. Let's keep it going. I think Chantelle will be joining us very soon, guys. So, folks, in the comment that were asking earlier, we're very excited to get our fourth person onto the pod where. Oh, I'm, I'm jumping ahead, guys. I got questions. I want to make sure that we're getting to all of these here. First and foremost, it is important that you all know that you can get to our website and get the bracket and print it out and ensure that you've got your bracket nicely folded out. I actually like writing. I think it's helpful for the memory and the training of the mind. So make sure you get that. We're going to be getting our interactive bracket up later this week, so make sure you guys do that. You can print that out. And let's see if I've got any other announcements here. We're going to link both of those in the show notes and we'll keep you guys posted during the bracket, I mean, during the tournament on how our brackets are fair because we are all filling out brackets as well. So you let us know when we put our brackets up and we start talking about our brackets. Keep us posted in the DMs, in the comments, all the above, how you think we, you know, decided on things already. Sabrina and I are thinking that Texas might have the easier routes. Some of you guys think South Carolina might have the easiest route. We're looking at UCLA's bracket as probably being the toughest one. And UConn, I'm thinking, is going to UConn's bracket is going to have the most amount of stressor games outside of Whoever is playing UConn. That's where we're going to land on that. I think we might have two minutes left for Chantel. So let's take some questions from the chat really quickly and I want to scroll back up because there's quite a few that have been about surprises and snubs, et cetera. But I like this one from April Love4U who said, do you think all the number one seeds will make it to the Elite Eight? And Sabrina, I asked that question because or I don't ask that question. April, I love for you asked that question. Do we think that number one seeds will makes the Elite A? I like this question because of what you said when you first started, of what surprised you or what stood out to you when you looked at the bracket and you were like, man, this was kind of a bummer in terms of potential teams that could upset you or surprise you or, you know, being upset for the field overall. Do we think it's a nice slot. All the number one seeds just getting to the elite eight, right.

[Sabrina Merchant]

So if we look at UConn, I think we're pretty in alignment. They're going to make it to the Elite Eight. You got to get through Maryland. Carolina feel pretty confident they can do that. I think UCLA will probably have a time with Ole Miss. You know, That's a Sweet 16 matchup from last year, too. That Ole Miss just didn't have enough offensive firepower a season ago, and they obviously have Cody McMahon this year. UCLA, though, has a lot more offense firepower than they did last year with Charlie's Ledger Walker and Gianna Newkins. So, I mean, I. I would be pretty surprised if the number one seeds did not make it to the Final Four. We have seen, like you said, South Carolina lose to Oklahoma this season. South Carolina doesn't really lose two games in a row. Like, I don't think they've actually lost two games in a row since, like. Like the pandemic. But this isn't two games in a row, but it is two games of the same opponent, which kind of feels like the same spirit of the rule. So I don't see that happening again. Yeah, I. I would be pretty shocked if the number one seeds not make the Elite. I think I'm gonna just. Yeah, pencil that in right now, you know, before I fill in everything else beyond that.

[Lazia Clarendon]

If you had one seed to get upset, who would it be like making it to the Final Four? Road to the Final Four? One of them doesn't get there.

[Sabrina Merchant]

One of them doesn't get to the

[Lazia Clarendon]

elite potential to be upset out of all four.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Gotcha. I'd say probably ucla just because of the. The depth of that region versus the other ones.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, I wouldn't.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Like, I loved watching South Carolina and Iowa, you know, those two years in a row that they played in the tournament. But the reason that Iowa was so successful in those games is they had that uptempo offense that South Carolina wasn't used to seeing in the sec, and now they're, like, much more of a defensive team, which I don't think matches up quite as well with what South Carolina is trying to do. As much fun as it would be to see that again, I just. I think it would kind of end the same way that every other South Carolina. Or no, not every other. I would beat them in the Final Four. So that's true.

[Zena Kaeda]

Do we think, though, the size. The size that South Carolina has now added to their roster will completely change the matchup with Iowa? I Mean, we know Ava Heaton, Haydn. I always do that. Avaiden and Hannah, sulky. Like, they're athletic, they're big, they're physical down low. But we know how strong South Carolina is as a big. As a big team in general with Okot, Tony Bizet, Joyce Edwards. Like, they've got bodies on bodies on bodies.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah, I think I feel better about, like, a really good offensive team matching up against, you know, the likes of South Carolina other than a really good defensive team, which is what Iowa has turned into this year. Because, like, I mean, we've seen it against ucla. Like, the bully ball thing doesn't work against a team that has Medina, Okada or Lauren Bets. Right. Like, it's just challenge. So. Yeah, There's a good point in the chat, though. South Carolina did lose to UConn twice last year, so they could lose to the same team twice. I feel like UConn is like the exception to every rule, though.

[Zena Kaeda]

Great. I'm with that. I'm with that. Any. There's a. There was a comment in the chat here. I must have lost it. But Duke being the potential Cinderella team, and let's just be real, we are changing the definition of Cinderella. Okay. Because Cinderella is supposed to be some sort of like, low seated team.

[Lazia Clarendon]

They said as a higher seed. They did acknowledge that.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, they did acknowledge that. Exactly. But like Duke being a quote unquote, like, higher seated Cinderella, this is just a fascinating situation to think about where they were at the beginning of the season and like, now people being like, they could really do some things and disrupt some things, just how solidly they're playing. Did you see this all along, Sabrina?

[Sabrina Merchant]

No, I think I was pretty low on Duke when they were just, you know, losing to West Virginia with five players and getting their doors blown out.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, my God, that game was craz, guys.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Not even in the tournament field and they, like, crushed Duke. So it was real bad. The lineup has changed. I think Riley Nelson entering the starting five has been a big shift for them. Delaney Thomas, really coming into her own. Tyna Mare is having the best season of her career. Didn't really see that coming for her. So, I mean, I. I'm willing to adjust Cinderella for the women's tournament because, like, anybody lower than a three seed has never won the tournament. It's not like, on the men's side. So I guess we should just like, maybe move it down to like the four lines. So Duke can't quite be a Cinderella, but it's okay.

[Zena Kaeda]

But we'll allow it Okay, I got somebody coming to join us and the full crew is going to be here. Chantelle Jennings, come on in. And did you get your homework done?

[Eden Lawsey]

You get your homework done?

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yes, yes.

[Zena Kaeda]

Guys, here. Folks, we got the whole crew here. And before we get into it, Chantel, initial thoughts on the whole bracket.

[Chantelle Jennings]

It just feels so chalky, right?

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, my gosh. That's what Sabrina was saying.

[Chantelle Jennings]

It really does. Which is like such a bummer. Such a bummer. But it does, right?

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I'm looking at it and I'm like, like I have 13 seed in my Elite 8 and that's it.

[Zena Kaeda]

Wait, who's, who's is it?

[Chantelle Jennings]

Dude?

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, my God. We just said that.

[Eden Lawsey]

Okay.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, you never know. We could have been surprised.

[Chantelle Jennings]

You know, that spunky little group out of the ACC that won the regular season and the conference tournament Cinderella story

[Sabrina Merchant]

everyone loves at a 17 game winning streak during the regular season.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

These are the things. Okay, I had. For all of you listening, I had every intention to be like, what's going to be your boldest upset? Who are you picking to do, you know, just like the most dramatic of questions? But it does feel like this isn't the year for that. I'm still going to ask the question, though. What are you as you build out your bracket? Chantelle, let you start. Sabrina. I'll let you follow. I have actually. I have not filled out my bracket just yet, Sabrina. Have you? No, not yet. Okay. Lajah.

[Lazia Clarendon]

No. I've been here with you.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, this is perfect. We are literally.

[Sabrina Merchant]

What do you think Leisha's doing for the last hour

[Zena Kaeda]

hanging out with me? You never know. Some people can multitask. I am incapable. So let's just be real. I just wanted to make sure that we. I just wanted to check in and see if anybody had filled out their brackets. But this is great. Chancellor, we're just going to shoot off your paper. No, I'm joking. So what do you think? As you're filling out your bracket, what were you most unsure about? Let's start there.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Oh, I definitely have one. And actually called Sabrina about it as I was doing it, because I was like, can you please inform me exactly how insane this is? And I wish you guys can sort of see. I don't know if you can. There's here. It's like a bunch of scratch marks.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Who is that? Okay, so first I go Notre Dame. And I was like, I gotta do something. Notre Dame I picked last year. I forget, did I pick them to go to the Final Four? They Burned me. I remember that.

[Zena Kaeda]

I think we both did that. I think I did that.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Cross them out. I'm like Fairfield, I like a good mid major team every year to do something good. Richmond made the field again this year, but I don't think it's their year. Sweet sixteen feels a little bit dicey, but I'm also like Ohio State at home, they like to lose in the second round when they host. So if I'm going to pick a team to do this, I'm going to go with Fairfield. So I literally went Notre Dame and then cross it out. Fairfield called Sabrina and she's like, well, I'm not picking that. And I crossed out Fairfield. Notre Dame again.

[Zena Kaeda]

I mean it is fair to say. It is fair to say. Fairfield is.07 NCAA tournament games. They have not won just yet. However, I love the fact that you entertain this idea. What is like as you look through your bracket, what would give you the inkling to have someone tip over the edge? Is it offense? Is it defense? Because I remember asking you a very specific question, like a question like this last year and you, I think it was you. And then Ben Pickman, formerly on our show Shout out to Our Boy. Ben also mentioned free throws and free throw percentage being really important. Like someone that can at the end of the game be able to hit those shots. And we saw, we already mentioned what Sarah Ashley Barker did for Maryland. Not only did those free throws help advance her team, it leaked her, it got her to the league. You know what I mean? So I just, I just feel like, wait, Bama, Bama. Thank you. I just feel like there's something to be said about free throws. So I just want to know what were you looking at as you were making your decisions? What can maybe just push one team over the edge that you aren't expecting?

[Chantelle Jennings]

Well, the Fairfield thing, I try to make one pick every year. Again, the women's tournament tends to be chalkier than the men's, which is fine. But I always try to make one pick that just makes me a little bit uncomfortable. And so, and one of those things where I'm like, oh, this could, you know, that'll be the pick that people, if I were still on social media, they would message me and be like, you're an expert. You get paid to write about women's college basketball and you did this. Like I do that at least one time and probably one. And then I like lose sleep over it because I'm like, oh my gosh,

[Lazia Clarendon]

why did I do that?

[Chantelle Jennings]

So the Fairfield one is More of like we've seen Notre Dame have highs, highs and low lows this season. They had 11 threes a game, which I like. Trading threes for twos. You can do it. Notre Dame obviously has some good shooters. They have one named Tiana Hidalgo. So I'm aware of all of these things. But I think it's also the inconsistency there. Even if Notre Dame has sort of been on an upswing toward the end of the season. And again, Ohio State has lost the last two seasons at home. They're the only team to do that last two years. And so I'm just sort of feeling like if I'm going to do it somewhere, I'm going to do it there. I'd say the other move, you know, that and same thing. We talked about it on this podcast. A lot better in guard play. I think in the tournament. It's just so important. Fairfield has a junior guard. Larsenau, like, leading score. I just feel like those are things you can get behind. And it's. These are the things where you're like looking for reasons to make yourself feel good about it.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, yeah.

[Chantelle Jennings]

And then you're like, you know, I just gut checked myself. I picked Tennessee over NC State and then sent my bracket in and was like, holy, why did I do that? Reached out to my editor, was like, can I change this? Just published it. And I was like, cool. Just wrote 10 in the last 12 games. What was I thinking?

[Sabrina Merchant]

I mean, Tennessee only lost to NC State by three at the start of the season. It was very close game.

[Zena Kaeda]

And I'll say this, though, that season opener game had me thinking NC State was going to be something this season. It was quite NC State. I know I'm a little bit of a homer in that way, but yeah, I was like, camille Pierre, sign me up. You know, like, I am locked.

[Sabrina Merchant]

That hasn't stopped all year.

[Zena Kaeda]

Don't worry that that has it. Also, a new announcement, not related to basketball, but thank you. Elena. Accent, best picture. One battle after another. Which is a great title for Selection Sunday. Yes, Elena? What? Sign up to be on our marketing team. Because that is elite. That is elite. I love that.

[Lazia Clarendon]

I feel like you guys brought up a good point about free throw percentage, which makes me kind of question our picking Duke to be like our Pope Cinderella team. Toby Forney's not the best free throw shooter. Still, she gets there quite a bit. But that in the moment, they have some really good veteran guard play. But in the big moments when you need to make free throws, them and UNC Also, UNC's improved throughout the year in the free throw percentage. But still, it's like that could be

[Sabrina Merchant]

a very nervy finish if we get Duke, LSU in the sweet 16 because we've seen both those teams struggle. Free throws down the stretch.

[Lazia Clarendon]

It'll box out and get the rebound.

[Sabrina Merchant]

There will be rebounds to be added, actually.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Who's the best rebounding team?

[Zena Kaeda]

That's the right thing to look at. And you know what? LSU will probably find a way. I don't know that that is actually this is LSU and Duke is so interesting. They're both transition capable teams. They're both, you know, teams that could put the ball up and score really well. It's just who. I don't know what's going to happen. This is why it's March Madness. This is crazy. Okay, Sabrina, I'm going to turn to you really quickly. You haven't filled out your bracket just yet, but as you are looking at the bracket and you're thinking about maybe trying to choose something that isn't so chalky, what would be your boldest pick? Who should we be looking at to be a little bit out of the box?

[Sabrina Merchant]

That's a great question. You know, I brought this up last week. I really like South Dakota State. I love Brooklyn Meyer. Just such a fun player to watch. I don't know that Washington necessarily has somebody like size to guard her with. They've got Julia Graviskaya who's I'm necessarily sure she has the, the lateral mobility to stick with. Brooklyn Meyer. Their freshman has come along quite well of late. Bryn. Bryn McGowey. But that could be a like, fun little upset pick there. If Jack rabbits have been in the tournament the last four years. Washington still fairly young. So if the threes aren't quite falling

[Lazia Clarendon]

for The Huskies, a 611 upset.

[Sabrina Merchant]

611.

[Eden Lawsey]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Can I just say that. Sorry, Leysha, I want, I just want to say that what I love is that I'm on this podcast with an 11 year WNBA vet, a college basketball player, and Sabrina, who watches so much basketball, she has forgotten more about basketball than I will ever know. And anytime you guys say something that I believe, I'm like, God, I'm so smart. I'm good at my job. I'm so glad I picked South Dakota State over Washington in the first round. Leisha, you're up.

[Zena Kaeda]

You did? Yeah.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I feel pretty good about myself.

[Lazia Clarendon]

You've been.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, I know that's a good upset.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Well, thanks. Yeah, I got that one.

[Zena Kaeda]

But, well, so we we actually talked about this a little bit with Eden. I told Eden that I got put on to South Dakota State as, like, a team to look out for because of Sabrina. And so I do feel like that's a possible, really good option there. But, Chantelle, are you holding out on any other upsets that you're looking at right now?

[Chantelle Jennings]

Well, I feel like Leisha should answer that question first and then you can come back to me. I'm looking at my bracket currently 1970s clipboard.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I was gonna say it looked like you had a cutting board. And just like, I literally thought that.

[Zena Kaeda]

I thought it was a cutting board. I'm not even joking.

[Sabrina Merchant]

It's a very pretty clipboard, I'll tell you that.

[Zena Kaeda]

And on that note, on that note, it is perfect timing to bring up tmac, the number one comment. As a parent of a young one, I appreciate Chantelle being able to make it despite potential sleeping difficulties. Yes, you did that. And finding a cutting board to fill her brackets. It's a clipboard. It's a clipboard. All right, Sorry.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Keep going.

[Zena Kaeda]

Leija, who. Who are you looking at to potentially be a big time upset or just think outside of the box?

[Lazia Clarendon]

Ah, I'm not afraid to have, like, a wild bracket because, like, you know, I feel like I'm. I get paid to have an opinion. I don't get paid quite to be, you know, as much I'm an expert. I do my things. But, like, I mostly covered the ACC this year, so I'm very biased just in terms of, like, my knowledge of them. That's who I worked mostly. And I worked a ton of these tiny. Like, I worked the Mac conference or the WAC conference, which I love. Like, you know, I don't think Cal Baptist is going to beat ucla, but I just worked them. And I loved watching Philippa Barrows play. Like, she's a really solid Portuguese point guard. Almost had a triple double. She leads her team in rebound. So I have, like, the ACC and then these, like, really random small schools. Like, I did Ohio, Miami, and they were really fun to work. So I don't think they're gonna upset and send that same kind of parody. But so I really. More of my expertise and knowledge, which I don't like to speak on things I don't know. Right. So some of my random upsets are gonna be me being a fan and just being like, that'll be fine. Like, y' all think it's chalky. I'm just gonna, like, throw it out there. Like, let's see what Happens. So I don't think, like, on the men's side, the 5:12 is such an exciting matchup. And I think that's when I wish, like, I just worked against. I got a game, the wcc, and they ended up winning the tournament. And I, like, I want to pick them over Ole Miss. Like, will I actually in my bracket? No, I can't. But I think I'm picking more of, like, the higher Cinderella seeds. Like, I. I'm kind of picking Texas to get upset. Like, I'm not. They're not going to the Final Four for me.

[Zena Kaeda]

They're out.

[Eden Lawsey]

Where.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Where are you picking the talent?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Also not having text.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I'm also in the Final Four.

[Zena Kaeda]

Guys, guys. Holding out.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yes.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay, break it down.

[Sabrina Merchant]

This sounds like somebody had to play against Jeff Waltz in college, I gotta tell you.

[Lazia Clarendon]

No, that's. That's actually Vic Schaefer for me. And I like Texas and I love Sidney Carter.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like, we were teammates.

[Lazia Clarendon]

So it's like, nothing against Texas. I think they're great, but just because I watched the ACC a ton this year and Jeff Falls did feed us to go to the. I give him crap about that this year to go to the Final Four and eventually lose to Stewie. Everyone lost the Stewie, so it doesn't matter. We're all losers.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I never lost the Stewie.

[Sabrina Merchant]

It's like the title of her biography.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Everyone lost to Stewie.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yeah.

[Sabrina Merchant]

So that's kind of.

[Lazia Clarendon]

My random upset is like, I don't. I don't have it being the exact Final Four as last year. Like, I think somebody is. I'm holding out for the hope of, like, but I am holding out for the west because, like, that's also something I feel like someone from the West. It's like, I hate that the PAC 12 got disbanded because, like, we've lost. Stanford's in their kind of rebuild, and we've lost, like, our big time talent out West. And so, like, for me, I was you.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Personally upset that ucla, I think, has one of the toughest roads because I'm like, damn, we already don't have a lot of great squads out west, and now we have a potential for them to not make it. And so that's me, like, thinking regionally, too, on the greater landscape of women's basketball and big California bias. Of course.

[Zena Kaeda]

That's very real. Okay.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Where do y' all have Texas getting upset? Chantel and Serena.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Oh, I have Texas in my Final Four.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, you do? Okay, okay, okay.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I haven't decided about them against ucla. Yet, but we'll get there.

[Eden Lawsey]

Okay.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay. Chantelle.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I picked Michigan over them, and it is not a homer pick.

[Zena Kaeda]

People are gonna think it's a homer pick. Okay, everyone.

[Chantelle Jennings]

So, I mean, it's. It's like unavoidable with this sort of stuff. I just want to remind people that when I went to Michigan, Michigan was bad at sports. Like, so bad at sports. And then I wrote for the paper and so you really didn't become a sport. Like, my first game as a student was when Michigan football lost to App State. So that set the stage.

[Zena Kaeda]

Whoa. Goodness.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Okay, then Oregon the week after that.

[Zena Kaeda]

You're not just. I mean, I'm not even just talking about you trying to. I'm talking more regionally.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Yes.

[Zena Kaeda]

You trying to show up for Michigan here.

[Chantelle Jennings]

But so I'm just saying, I think. And I would be curious again, Leisha, you were saying that your feelings on Vic is sort of the like, oh, man, he must. I can't imagine. Great coach. I just feel like they could get in a situation and they've obviously gone through the SEC schedule not hitting a ton of threes. They can find success and they do have players that can hit that we've seen. But I just feel like Michigan, even though they haven't, they've had so many, like three point losses to great teams so far this season. And I just.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Right.

[Chantelle Jennings]

And that's the like, where all of

[Sabrina Merchant]

you guys are like.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Yeah, that's why you don't pick them to go to the final three of

[Sabrina Merchant]

them for ucla, Michigan, and Yukon. Yeah, yeah, right.

[Chantelle Jennings]

No, they've been there and I'm thinking they're like, they're still sophomores. They're gonna get over that hump. An extended March run could be that path.

[Zena Kaeda]

And we're all three of those comebacks. Yeah, I'm trying. I think they were all three comebacks too.

[Sabrina Merchant]

That, wow, like, Silas Swords is just

[Chantelle Jennings]

like lethal with some of those like late game shots. Like ice in her veins. So fun to watch. Olivia Olsen, I will add, like, that's

[Sabrina Merchant]

a real homer for Chantel. I just, I was like in the first place round as usual, and it's like now they're playing Minnesota. Can't happen.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Yeah, it's. No, it's. It's not even the university. I just root for everyone who is from Minnesota. Although I didn't pick Richmond and their coaches from Minnesota.

[Eden Lawsey]

So.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Sorry, Aaron Russell. I just. Rude for everyone for Minnesota.

[Zena Kaeda]

I have a few quick questions before we wrap up and it's a really good question because These are the ones that are really close. These are the ones where you can get an upset. The 8, 9 matchup in all the brackets, Iowa State and Syracuse in Fort Worth. 1 thoughts on who's going to win that one? Drop your thoughts, Sabrina, what you think?

[Sabrina Merchant]

I like Syracuse over Iowa State. Their rookie is O.J. it's pretty awesome. And like, I think it's gonna be really fun to watch her against Audie. So I think, I think Syracuse kid upset, so to speak. Nine versus eight.

[Zena Kaeda]

You know, I see Chantelle looking over at her bracket. What do you thought?

[Chantelle Jennings]

I know I'm like, shoot, I picked Iowa State. I just feel like the.

[Sabrina Merchant]

It doesn't matter. They're gonna lose Yukon. It's a one one game thing.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, that's the one where it's like,

[Sabrina Merchant]

okay, you get to have some fun in those games, you know.

[Zena Kaeda]

Right. Okay.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Let's not bust your whole bracket.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, right. Let's get over to the other side. Oklahoma State, Princeton. Are my Ivy League girls gonna be able to do it against OK State? Chantelle?

[Chantelle Jennings]

I picked Princeton. I like Carla Ruby. I think they're a team and she's a coach who's been in the tournament before. They've been in this situation before. The Ivy's got one team in the tournament this year, so I sort of feel like they will be carrying the conference on their shoulders a little bit. So I do like that level, that like extended level of motivation for them.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay, let's go down to Virginia Tech, Oregon. Leija, any thoughts on them?

[Lazia Clarendon]

I'm working with.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I'm gonna go Virginia Tech.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Yeah, I worked them versus Cal. I thought they were solid, I think. And I'm again, I'm ACC biased and I'll just be biased about that because I literally watch them the most and that makes you biased. So I'm going with them. And I'm also going with Clemson over sc.

[Zena Kaeda]

Oh, no.

[Sabrina Merchant]

California.

[Lazia Clarendon]

But that hurts my heart to not go for a California school.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay. You know, it's actually the Oregon situation makes me think of a player that might have a breakout tournament or a breakout game. Katie Fiso at Oregon could have a really, really great performance. She's. She's kind of a spark plug type of player as well as a. To say over there at Oregon. Okay, I love it. You say, yeah. So, okay, let's. Let's go ahead and talk about the thing that we've been circling around and

[Sabrina Merchant]

that is the final prediction.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yes, the title prediction. The Final Four and a title prediction. So are we going ahead and Just going and putting the number one seeds in the final four slots.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Well, we know wizard and Chantel are not.

[Zena Kaeda]

No, they're not. They're. So I.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Unfortunately, I'm being real boring and I got four number ones.

[Zena Kaeda]

I ain't gonna lie to you.

[Sabrina Merchant]

They're really good teams.

[Zena Kaeda]

I ain't gonna lie to you. I think I'm the same. And the only person that I probably would. Would not have had that happen with is if Vanderbilt was in a different conference.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Exactly.

[Zena Kaeda]

Or different bracket. Excuse me?

[Sabrina Merchant]

Bracket. Right.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, that's. I feel that way. Okay. So with that all said, Lajah, I'm start with you. Who's in your final and who's winning?

[Eden Lawsey]

Oh, shit.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Can we go some?

[Zena Kaeda]

I said it because we've done it several times. I feel like we're always somewhat of a kids show, but that's okay. All right.

[Chantelle Jennings]

I mean, I think it's UCLA.

[Lazia Clarendon]

UConn. Yeah. Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay.

[Lazia Clarendon]

That was my own shit because I was like. And I hope it's a better matchup. I want it to be in, like, we know UConn's really good. So that was my, like, could Duke mess around? Like, I love a storyline. I want the drama. I want the like. And that's no shadies or any of these onesies. Like, I want to be sitting at home, like, so upset because my bracket got busted or so excited because, like, now I'm on the fan end of things, and I'm like, oh, my God, there's how fans feel. Like, I'm so invested. Like, why am I so upset watching this game? But that's, like, the spirit of being a fan. And now I really, really appreciate being on that side, so. But I think UConn, it's. It's a perfect season, I think, in, like, my actual analyst hat. And when I look at the skill set of them, I'm like, even on an off night, how do they get beat? Because they're that good.

[Zena Kaeda]

It.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Oh, I'm just the observable component.

[Zena Kaeda]

I know it is. Okay. Okay. Well, with that, I'm gonna turn my attention to you, Chantelle. Since you decided to step up there on your own, who is going to be in your final four and your final two?

[Chantelle Jennings]

So I have UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, and Michigan. Then I have UConn, UCLA in the title game and UConn as the champs. I think, you know, we've talked about it a lot on this pod. In terms of how many top 10 teams are there? I think there are two teams that are head and shoulders above everyone else. I think that's UConn and UCLA and I think it'll be a much better game than it was a year ago in the final four. But yeah, for all of us, all of our eyes. Let's hope that. But yeah, I agree. I think UConn is just. Sarah Strong is incredible. I think Geno had said last week that when you put like the sum of their parts is just so much more than them as individual players. And I think if. If we had a one on one competition of UCLA starting five or like top six against UConn's top six, you know, I don't know what way it goes necessarily, but I think when you put the five of them on the floor together and you roll the ball out, I do think this one goes to UConn.

[Zena Kaeda]

Okay. Okay. Sabrina, where are you at? You got the four number ones in.

[Sabrina Merchant]

I think I have Yukon over Texas in my final for now

[Lazia Clarendon]

over Texas.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Hey, Texas really just laid the smackdown on UCLA earlier this year. And I do think that ball pressure does some things. So Louisville or Michigan will upset them by that point. Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

For now, I think I am chalking in the number ones. And

[Sabrina Merchant]

this reminds me of when President Obama used to fill out his bracket and like for the women's side, they would just like put the Sweet 16 in there for him, you know, which is like the last three games.

[Zena Kaeda]

Yeah, pretty much. We're just gonna skip over the first three rounds. Two rounds. Yeah. This is tough because I don't like. I feel like I have. I don't like betting against Don Saley. I don't like. And I also really don't like betting against Raven Johnson as a leader, a veteran guard that we've been talking about as well. But UConn is UConn, baby.

[Sabrina Merchant]

And for the one UCLA pick every year.

[Zena Kaeda]

I know, right? I know.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Honorary pick.

[Zena Kaeda]

I'm gonna go. Yukon's gonna beat South Carolina, but it's gonna be close. Yeah, I think. Yeah. I also think it's going to be UConn, Texas, and UConn wins it.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Yeah.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Or

[Zena Kaeda]

what'd you say?

[Lazia Clarendon]

I said, does Texas score over 55 points in the final?

[Zena Kaeda]

They might be a 48, 46.

[Sabrina Merchant]

No.

[Zena Kaeda]

1.

[Sabrina Merchant]

Watch them against South Carolina just now in the afternoon SEC tournament final.

[Zena Kaeda]

They look dominant.

[Sabrina Merchant]

They look like Booker hits every single jumper that she takes on the baseline. Every single one.

[Zena Kaeda]

And they have.

[Chantelle Jennings]

It's so pretty.

[Zena Kaeda]

Like they have so much depth. I think. Yeah, I think it's going to be UConn, Texas and Yukon's gonna take it away. Alrighty, y', all, I see some folks dropping in the chat. I see an Jackson Carter952 says LSU is gonna come out the UCLA bracket, which is okay.

[Eden Lawsey]

All right.

[Zena Kaeda]

All right. Another person, tmac number one. Tmac the number one has Michigan over Texas and the rest over number one seeds. I like this game.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Grill.

[Zena Kaeda]

You're on the same page with us, Sabrina. And I think Huskies, Longhorns got a lot of thoughts around Texas, Yukon, potentially. Okay, this is interesting. Okay, well, let's make sure that you all know you can go to athletic.com right now, get your principal bracket. Make sure you fill that out. We will be filling out our brackets and talking about this all through March Madness. So make sure you stay tuned. Let us know if we are crazy for our picks. How have we missed it? We will have a digital interactive bracket live soon on the site. So make sure you're staying along and keeping up with that and make sure you're playing along with us. We definitely want to hear your thoughts as these games go on. Teams out there who are listening that are in the mid majors upset us, surprise us. This is your task. Make us look Fairfield.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Let's go.

[Lazia Clarendon]

We can regret it.

[Chantelle Jennings]

Talking to you, Kylie Tebow to don us. Let's go.

[Zena Kaeda]

Let us know. Just make us look silly. We want the drama, we want the upsets. That's all we want. And we want you all to keep listening to us. We appreciate you joining our selection Sunday show. Our live stream presented by Sam's club. Shout out to them for helping us bring the game to you. Sabrina, Chantel, Leija, Eden as well. Appreciate you guys joining on behalf of them and the athletic. I'm Xena Keda. Thank you all for joining in today. Make sure you get those brackets and we'll be back on Friday this week. I say, oh, is it gonna be Friday? Hold on, let me make sure I got this information right. Thursday I was like, oh, we were back. That's right. We're gonna be back on Thursday and Friday because Laysha has joined our crew. Guys, hopefully we're talking about.

[Lazia Clarendon]

Come on.

[Zena Kaeda]

Hopefully. I know tba. Hopefully. Yes. Hopefully there's some updates on that. But both sides have been working very hard and staying up very late. Just like we are up too late, clearly, because I don't even know what we do on this.

[Sabrina Merchant]

We're on the west coast cena. Yeah.

[Zena Kaeda]

And listen, we have had a long week, okay? I know it's true. It's only 8pm over here. Let me close this out. Y', all, thank you so much. We appreciate you joining. We had so much fun tonight. Enjoy the rest of your week, and let's get to dancing in March, baby.