With no major upsets in the women’s NCAA Tournament so far, the Sweet 16 is primed for compelling matchups among high seeds. Some teams have been overlooked while others are on upset watch when the tournament resumes Friday.
Here are three high seeds that could lose in the Sweet 16.
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No. 1 USC Trojans (-1.5) vs. No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats
After confirmation that USC star sophomore JuJu Watkins (23.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.4 APG) suffered a torn right ACL in Monday’s Round-of-32 win over No. 9 seed Mississippi State, the path for the Trojans (30-3) to their first national title since 1984 became much more difficult.
While a potential showdown with the No. 2 seed UConn in the Elite Eight could await — assuming the Huskies defeat No. 3 seed Oklahoma on Saturday — the fifth-seeded Kansas State (28-7) will not be an easy out. The teams will play Saturday.
Kansas State senior center Ayoka Lee (15.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG), the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, has battled through multiple injuries, including a foot fracture that kept her out of action for nearly a month. But she has played in each of the Wildcats’ two NCAA Tournament games, posting a double-double against No. 12 Fairfield (17 points, 10 rebounds) .
No. 1 Texas Longhorns (-7.5) vs. No. 5 Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Saturday’s meeting between Texas and Tennessee will be the second for the teams this season. The Longhorns won 80-76 on Jan. 23, courtesy of sophomore Madison Booker’s 26 points.
That was one of nine losses this season for the Lady Vols, but eight of those defeats have been by single digits, including losses by a combined 19 points to each of the other four SEC teams still dancing. Tennessee (24-9) enters the Sweet 16 as the highest-scoring team in Division I (87.5 PPG) and ranks fifth in bench production (30 PPG).
Texas (33-3) only allows 55.8 points per game and has not given up more than 70 points in a game since Tennessee scored 76 in the first meeting. The Lady Vols have familiarity with the Longhorns and nearly took them down two months ago. If Tennessee can get that kind of offense generated once again, Texas could be in trouble.
No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (-5.5) vs. No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels
When the rivals play Friday, it will be their third meeting this season (each team has won a game). If you are a fan of offense, this game may not be for you, considering the winning team failed to reach 70 in either game this season.
Each program enters the Sweet 16 allowing fewer than 60 points per game. North Carolina (29-7) ranks 28th in the country with an average of 12.9 turnovers per game, while Duke (28-7) is 20th with 20.66 turnovers forced per game.
Tar Heels senior Alyssa Ustby (10.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG) has 10 double-doubles this season, including one in the Jan. 9 win over Duke. If North Carolina can limit its giveaways, it will likely have a shot at the upset.
