The NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 rankings have already been tossed upside down with dominating performances and brilliant bracketology by underdogs and heavyweights alike. Maryland’s Terrapins showed incredible mental toughness. Despite trailing by 17 points in the third quarter and giving up 60 points in the paint to Alabama, they dug deep to pull out a shocking win. Meanwhile, Tennessee's first-year coach Kim Caldwell has instilled a philosophy of relentless pressure and strategic substitutions, guiding her team through the challenges. This was a historic win for Kansas State! As a result, they became the first team to win a true road game in this tournament, providing one of the most exciting games over the opening few days.
Oklahoma too has been on a roll, moving in to its first Sweet 16 since 2013. Known for their rebounding prowess, the Sooners maintained their regular-season excellence in the tournament, solidifying their position among the elite. The Connecticut Huskies have decimated their competition, carrying a ridiculous combined score of 103 points. That total domination of the competition has vaulted them to the top of the Sweet 16 power rankings. In their last game against Arkansas State, Paige Bueckers played a secondary role as the team dropped 103 points.
Oregon State put themselves in a hole with a challenging match against North Carolina. They were only able to muster up 25 points in the Round 1 second half. NC State went on to defeat the Tar Heels in the semifinals of the ACC tournament. Despite scoring just 12 points in the final frame, they held on for the victory. NC State demonstrated their shooting prowess, as they set a program record with 15 three-pointers. This impressive feat led them to their sixth Sweet 16 appearance in only seven years.
As long as the Gamecocks hold onto their top seed position and keep winning, they loom as a mighty force. LSU’s explosive trio of Flau’Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow, and Mikaylah Williams provided one of the most exciting acts so far. For crying out loud, they scored 27 unanswered in a big 3rd quarter! Duke struggled to find the hoop with their lowest scoring output since mid-February against Notre Dame, mustering only 59 points.
Tennessee, slated to compete next in the Sweet 16, is committed to their strategy of unyielding pressure and frequent substitutions to maintain player stamina throughout games. In a recent tight contest, Texas Longhorns emerged victorious with a score of 80-76 despite a modest scoring contribution from forward Madison Booker.
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