No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show – Episode Summary
Episode: Selection Sunday Reactions
Release Date: March 18, 2024
Introduction
In the "Selection Sunday Reactions" episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show, hosts Zena Kada, Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman, and Mark Schindler dive deep into the outcomes of the latest Selection Sunday for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Aimed at providing comprehensive insights, the episode covers initial reactions, surprising selections, bracket analyses, impactful players, and final predictions for the tournament's progression toward the Final Four.
Reactions to Selection Sunday Results
General Reactions
The episode begins with Zena Kada expressing her excitement and slight exhaustion from the intense week leading up to Selection Sunday. She introduces the panel, highlighting Mark Schindler's role as the bracketology expert.
Mark Schindler shares his feelings of emptiness now that the bracket submissions are complete, having maintained a running spreadsheet since early January. Despite an automatic loss due to an unexpected Drexel win, Mark is pleased with the accuracy of about 60-68% of at-large bids he predicted.
"It's kind of like not having it anymore. But I'm excited to just, like, watch everything play out." [07:38]
Biggest Surprises and Snubs
Sabrina Merchant points out the surprising inclusion of Gonzaga as a host despite their loss to Portland in the West Coast Conference final. Additionally, she highlights the unexpected elevation of Notre Dame to the fourth spot and Colorado's relatively lower placement as a five.
"Arizona making the field is a signal of the PAC12 strength, but for them to do that and Colorado not be higher was just like a weird collection of events for me." [08:41]
Ben Pickman identifies Region 2 as particularly strong, citing teams like Iowa, Princeton, West Virginia, and the reigning champions LSU. He emphasizes the depth and familiarity of matchups within this region, making it one of the toughest paths to the Final Four.
"All the legitimate Final Four contenders in that region. It's just eye-popping." [10:32]
Mark Schindler expresses his surprise at Auburn's high seeding given their strong late-season performance and competitive play against LSU. He hints at possible committee oversights in prioritizing conference tournament performance.
"I was shocked that they like number one, that they were a playing team, but also that they were in that spot behind Texas A&M was really surprising to me." [10:45]
Analysis of the Bracket
Toughest Regions
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Region 2 (Albany 2): Dominated by high-caliber teams with significant star power and deep familiarity among the programs.
"There's just a lot of familiarity in this region... good coaches and programs that know each other really, really well." [12:30]
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Region 3 (Portland 3): Noted for its defensive prowess, featuring teams like Syracuse and Duke with strong defensive strategies.
"They are a team to me, they're short on depth and so that might hurt them in terms of making as long of a run as people come to expect." [20:24]
Notable Snubs and Sleeper Teams
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Snubs:
- Miami: Despite being a solid team, Miami's non-conference performance didn't impress enough for inclusion.
"I don't think that there were any teams. I was more surprised that Columbia got in rather than Miami not getting in." [16:45]
- Miami: Despite being a solid team, Miami's non-conference performance didn't impress enough for inclusion.
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Sleeper Teams:
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Iowa State: With standout player Audi Crooks, Iowa State has the potential to disrupt higher-seeded teams if key players perform exceptionally.
"Audi Crooks can do, you know, 19 points per game, seven and a half rebounds, eight rebounds per game." [20:25]
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Kansas State: Highlighted for their star player Aika Lee and defensive capabilities, Kansas State is seen as a dark horse with Final Four potential.
"Kansas State is a team that ranked as high as number two earlier this year... Aoka Lee in the middle, you know, she's just a matchup problem for pretty much everyone." [24:19]
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Columbia: Making its first NCAA tournament appearance, Columbia is viewed as a significant surprise with a passionate coach advocating for their inclusion.
"Columbia makes their first NCAA tournament appearance. And Megan Griffith, their coach... were just going to be exciting." [42:27]
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Key Matchups and Middle Tier Excitements
Middle Tier Matchups (Seeds 5-8 vs. 10-13):
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UNC vs. Michigan State: Anticipated to be a thrilling encounter with both teams showcasing strong defensive strategies.
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West Virginia vs. Princeton: A highly anticipated game highlighting Princeton's defensive toughness and West Virginia's ability to challenge elite guards.
Notable Conversations:
Ben Pickman expresses enthusiasm for matchups like Duke vs. Richmond, emphasizing Duke's defensive prowess and Richmond's consistency.
"Duke is not a team that I would want to play against... They play like a five seed more often than not." [20:24]
Sabrina Merchant is particularly excited about Utah vs. South Dakota State, citing their unique offensive systems and defensive challenges.
"They run what they run. They're a little bit different from everybody else, but they're so specific." [23:02]
Impactful Players Spotlight
Sabrina Merchant highlights Juju Watkins from USC as a pivotal player expected to make significant impacts throughout the tournament, especially given USC's favorable seeding.
"There's just gonna be a lot of eyes on Juju Watkins over this next couple weeks." [31:04]
Ben Pickman focuses on Lauren Betts from UCLA, emphasizing her critical role in UCLA's potential deep run due to her defensive and rebounding capabilities.
"Lauren Betts is a sophomore... UCLA has a really, really deep roster, but they don't have someone who can easily swap in and be replaced with the 6 foot 7 center in the middle." [33:04]
Mark Schindler brings attention to Raven Johnson from South Carolina, noting her exceptional passing and defensive skills that could propel South Carolina to the Final Four.
"Raven Johnson is their most important player... she is arguably the best passer in the country, right behind Caitlin Clark." [34:27]
Strategies for Filling Out the Bracket
Sabrina Merchant advises focusing on teams with a singular strength when predicting upsets, such as dominant guards or specific defensive advantages.
"I like to have one predominant strength that they can really lean on." [43:53]
Mark Schindler emphasizes understanding the challenges associated with seed placements, particularly the difficulty of being a 5 or 6 seed, which often come with tough regional paths.
"It's really hard to be a 5 seed because you are generally the team that was closest to hosting but had the most trouble making it happen." [38:49]
Ben Pickman highlights the importance of free throw shooting and veteran leadership when considering bracket predictions, particularly for teams with strong freshman leaders.
"Free throw shooting, I think is really important. And veteran guard, player, two things that really jump out to me." [43:57]
Final Four and Championship Predictions
Mark Schindler predicts South Carolina, Kansas State, and Southern California out of Region 2, with reservations about Iowa and West Virginia's defensive challenges.
"I'm going to say Kansas State... I think West Virginia, Princeton is awful." [48:47]
Sabrina Merchant selects South Carolina, Texas, UCLA, and UConn for the Final Four, emphasizing their strong performances and key player impacts.
"South Carolina over UCLA." [50:48]
Ben Pickman opts for South Carolina, Stanford, and USC, highlighting Stanford's key player Kikuri Rice and Juju Watkins' potential impact for USC. He foregoes UConn due to concerns about depth and health.
"I have South Carolina going on to the Final Four... I like Stanford out of Portland 4." [51:20]
Zena Kada chooses South Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, and UCLA for the Final Four, focusing on defensive strengths and impactful players.
"South Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, UCLA." [51:08]
Championship Game Predictions:
- Mark Schindler: "South Carolina versus Southern Cal." [55:26]
- Sabrina Merchant: "South Carolina over UCLA." [55:48]
- Ben Pickman: "UCLA to beat South Carolina." [55:53]
- Zena Kada: Aligns with the group consensus, primarily supporting South Carolina's advancement. [No direct quote]
Upcoming Content and Conclusion
As the tournament progresses, the hosts outline their plans for ongoing coverage, including power rankings, player profiles, and thematic pieces. Mark Schindler will continue developing power rankings and covering deep tournament analyses. Sabrina Merchant prepares to attend key games, offering on-the-ground insights, particularly focusing on standout players like Juju Watkins and Lauren Betts. Ben Pickman plans to release in-depth articles on LSU's path, coaches' polls, and daily game briefings.
The episode concludes with a lighthearted acknowledgment of their differing predictions and a shared enthusiasm for the tournament's progression. Zena Kada thanks listeners and encourages them to engage with upcoming content for comprehensive tournament coverage.
Notable Quotes
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Mark Schindler:
"It's kind of like not having it anymore. But I'm excited to just, like, watch everything play out." [07:38] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"Arizona making the field is a signal of the PAC12 strength, but for them to do that and Colorado not be higher was just like a weird collection of events for me." [08:41] -
Ben Pickman:
"Kansas State is a team that ranked as high as number two earlier this year... Aoka Lee in the middle, you know, she's just a matchup problem for pretty much everyone." [24:19] -
Zena Kada:
"We're hoping that we're going to help you learn some stuff. We'll help you see some stuff. We'll help you pay attention to some stuff." [05:35] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"I like teams that are good at one particular thing... having some fun at this time." [43:53]
This episode of No Offseason provides a thorough analysis of the Selection Sunday outcomes, offering listeners a nuanced understanding of the tournament's landscape. Whether you're a seasoned bracket enthusiast or new to women's basketball, the hosts deliver valuable perspectives to enhance your tournament experience.