Is Virginia Tech in position to win the ACC Tournament?
There was one Top 25 NCAAW game yesterday, in which No. 23 UNLV pummeled Utah State 104-44. UNLV had only one conference loss to New Mexico, and two overall, the other being to Seton Hall in non-conference games. I would say that UNLV is probably poised to win their conference, barring some upset, which, as we’ve seen all season, is always possible.
Here are a few teams worth watching over the course of conference tournament play, when teams surprise other teams, and sometimes themselves. No. 11 Virginia Tech has lost their last two games, losing Elizabeth Kitley along the way. As of this writing, we don’t yet know about Kitley’s status. If she plays, then VT has some hope, but it is going to have to be a complete team effort. Both Kitley and Georgia Amoore have led the way, but this is tournament time, and the rules change. It’s a new season.
The ACC has five ranked teams, and conference play could have a direct impact on seeding for the NCAA Tournament. No. 14 Notre Dame is on a five-game winning streak, and No. 10 NC State has won their last two. Both No. 20 Syracuse and No. 24 Louisville lost their last game and will be looking to make a strong showing.
Oklahoma and UConn shined in NCAAW conference play this season
No. 19 Oklahoma won the BIG 12 regular season NCAAW conference title, but No. 6 Texas is breathing down their neck. The same can be said about No. 16 Kansas State, Iowa State, winning their last four, and No. 17 Baylor, winners of their last five. Oklahoma is a tenacious team, but with an overall record of 21-8, they can be vulnerable, and the rest of the conference will be on the lookout for any weaknesses.
No. 9 UConn swept the BIG EAST NCAAW conference season, and are generally picked to win the conference tournament. It seems that only No. 21 Creighton might be a challenge, but the Huskies are in tournament mode, which means they are not looking beyond the current game. Right now, both Marquette and Villanova are on the bubble. A strong effort in tournament play could affect their chances for March Madness.
The SUN BELT conference and the HORIZON LEAGUE each started their conference championship games yesterday. The BIG TEN, SEC, ATLANTIC 10, ACC, OVC, PAC-12, BIG SOUTH, and the SEC all starting today. Some conferences have yet to finish their regular seasons.
South Carolina and Stanford are favorites in upcoming conference tournaments
While No. 1 South Carolina is expected to sweep the SEC, they could potentially face No. 8 LSU, who will definitely be looking for redemption. Neither team is the same as their previous matchup, so we’ll see if that game happens. If it does, it is going to be a good one.
The PAC-12 conference tournament looks like No. 2 Stanford’s to lose, with No.7 UCLA, No. 5 USC, and No. 13 Oregon State right behind them. Both No. 18 Colorado and No. 22 Utah had started the season in strong positions with big expectations. However, the season has not panned out as they would have wished, and each team has a lot more than pride to play for.
The BIG TEN Tournament could have familiar foes squaring off
The BIG TEN tourney starts today, and all eyes will be on the Target Center in Minneapolis to see if No. 3 Iowa and the Caitlin Clark Road Show can snatch the conference title from No. 4 Ohio State, the No. 1 seed in the conference. I really don’t see anyone else in the way of either team. But as I said before, surprises are always possible, if not exactly welcome. Regardless, it should be a great tournament as it is sold out.
I’m not forgetting about all the other conferences. Sadly, they don’t get the coverage that the so-called Power Five and the BIG EAST do, and that’s where most eyes are focused. Is it fair? No, it isn’t. I’ve never been a fan of the term “mid-major.” It speaks of a tier system, but they are all Division One teams, and as such, are worthy of better coverage, regardless of their conference. More on that at a later date.
It is going to be an exciting time between now and the Final Four. So get ready to spend some time watching your favorite teams vie for position. As I stated before, I’m going to cover the BIG EAST and the MVC tournaments. After that, well, we’ll see.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports.
