Postseason basketball action is underway with three Division I women’s tournaments. The early rounds of the NCAA Tournament have not provided any big surprises, but the possibility looms as some high profile players, including JuJu Watkins of USC and Olivia Miles of Notre Dame, have sustained injuries.
Miles sustained an ankle injury in Notre Dame’s 106-54 victory over Stephen F. Austin last Friday but will be ready to go Saturday versus TCU in what should be one of the tournament’s most competitive games thus far as the women’s postseason has reached the Sweet 16. Conversely, Watkins’ injury is crushing to USC and the entire sport of basketball.
The sophomore sensation, arguably the best women’s player in college, and whose popularity transcends sports, tore her right ACL on Monday night in USC’s 96-59 win over Mississippi State. She is out for the remainder of the season and faces months of grueling rehab. The Trojans entered the tournament as one of the favorites to capture the championship but without Watkins their odds have been greatly diminished.
There were some historical moments for teams from New York and New Jersey. In its second tournament appearance, Columbia won its first-ever game, defeating Washington 63–60 in the First Four. The Lions fell to West Virginia 78–59 in the first round.
“This is what March is about,” said Columbia head coach Megan Griffith. “It’s about getting this experience, but we didn’t just come here to come here. That’s a really valuable lesson that the rest of our program has learned today and will continue to learn.”
Princeton fell to Iowa State 68–63 in the First Four. In their debut NCAA Tournament appearance, Fairleigh Dickinson lost to TCU 73–51 in the first round. TCU, the #2 seed in their regional, then defeated Louisville in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. Also, advancing to the Sweet 16 is Tennessee, the only school to have played in every NCAA Tournament since its inception in 1982.
As for the two HBCU schools in the NCAA Tournament, Southern lost to San Diego State in the First Four and Norfolk State put up a ferocious battle before succumbing 82–69 to Maryland in the first round. Shortly after, it was announced that Larry Vickers, the head coach who has brought Norfolk State to MEAC supremacy, will be leaving to take the head coaching job at Auburn. While this is no doubt a blow to the Spartans, it is further proof of the growing respect that HBCU programs have.
“Throughout the search process, one name continually rose to the top — Larry Vickers,” said Auburn athletic director John Cohen, as reported by WAAY TV. “He demands excellence from his student-athletes, while fostering an environment for young women to succeed.”
In WBIT action — a post-season tournament launched by the NCAA last year — Seton Hall won their opening game versus Quinnipiac 57–40 before succumbing to Portland 61–55 in the second round. Rutgers won its first game in the WNIT tournament defeating Army 71–60. The Scarlet Knights take on Charleston this evening.