The women’s NCAA Tournament’s Round of 64 suggestions off on Friday, and the recreation has arguably by no means been stronger. While Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is rightfully the headliner, she’s not the solely participant deserving your consideration.
Here are six others to watch this March.
Note: NCAA Tournament area and seed quantity are in parentheses.
Cameron Brink, Stanford (Portland 4, No. 2)
The Cardinal’s 6-foot-4 ahead is in the dialog for the greatest defensive participant in the event. This season, Brink led the nation in blocks per recreation (3.5). Per Her Hoop Stats, amongst 2,081 players who common not less than 20 minutes per recreation, her 24.4 % complete rebound fee is the greatest in the nation. The Associated Press First-Team All-American ahead additionally averaged 17.8 factors per recreation on 51.2 % taking pictures, main to Brink posting the highest participant effectivity score (46.7) this season.
Paige Bueckers, UConn (Portland 3, No. 3)
Bueckers returned for the 2023-24 season like she by no means left. After struggling a torn ACL that compelled her to miss the total 2022-23 season, Bueckers led UConn in scoring this season and ranked twelfth in the nation (21.3 factors per recreation). The 2021 AP Player of the Year is taking pictures 42.4 % from past the arc, coming into March Madness. In the Big East Tournament, Bueckers shot 12-of-24 from deep (50 %) and averaged 27.7 factors per recreation.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame (Albany 1, No. 2)
Outstanding freshman guard Hidalgo wasted no time acclimating to the school recreation. She scored 31 factors in her debut in opposition to South Carolina on Nov. 6 and 20 or extra factors in 21 of her first 23 video games, together with a 10-game stretch in convention play from Jan. 11-Feb. 11. As sturdy as Hidalgo has been offensively, her disruptiveness on the defensive finish actually makes her particular. Hidalgo leads the NCAA with 4.6 steals per recreation this season, propelling her to declare the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year {hardware}.
Aneesah Morrow, LSU (Albany 2, No. 3)
Angel Reese rightfully will get the headlines for the Tigers, however overlook Morrow at your personal peril. Having proved herself as one among the recreation’s prime scorers at DePaul throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, Morrow transferred to LSU this previous offseason for an opportunity to lead the program to consecutive NCAA titles. She’s masterfully match into LSU’s second-ranked scoring offense, choosing and selecting her moments to be aggressive. Morrow is a double-double machine with 20 this season, together with 4 in her previous 5 video games. In her one earlier NCAA Tournament look, Morrow had 28 factors, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks and two steals in an 88-57 loss to Dayton in 2022.
Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina (Albany 1, No. 1)
It speaks to how proficient the Gamecocks are that it is tough to single out only one participant on the solely undefeated staff in the nation. Center Kamilla Cardoso is a difference-maker at heart, guard Raven Johnson is a wonderful perimeter defender, and freshman Milaysia Fulwiley carved out a significant function for herself in the rotation regardless of solely enjoying 18.7 minutes per recreation. However, when a participant makes almost 50 % of her three-point makes an attempt, as Paopao does, it is unattainable not to concentrate.
After three seasons at Oregon, Paopao transferred to South Carolina throughout the offseason and has shot 47.1 % from deep on 5 makes an attempt per recreation. Per knowledge from Her Hoop Stats, 55.4 % of her shot makes an attempt are from past the arc. The Gamecocks must be in nice form if these pictures proceed to fall.
JuJu Watkins, USC (Portland 3, No. 1)
Another excellent freshman, Watkins led the Pac-12 with 27 factors per recreation, together with a 51-point effort at Stanford on Feb. 2. She’s wonderful at drawing contact, along with her 8.2 free throw makes an attempt per recreation the most in the nation. At 6-foot-2, Watkins has the size to be an element on the glass, with seven 10-rebound video games. Her dimension additionally helps on the defensive finish; this season, Watkins is averaging 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per recreation.
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