WBB: What you need to know - Columbia bracket
We've got a handy breakdown of all four teams in Columbia for the NCAA Tournament. Just don't ask us for help with your bracket.
(1) South Carolina Gamecocks (27-4, 14-2 SEC)
Scouting report:
This season the Gamecocks took a step back from the last two years, and still swept the SEC. The problem is not talent, this may be the most talented roster the Gamecocks have ever had. The problem is consistency. Individually, they never got consistent play from Kaela Davis, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, and Allisha Gray. All took over games at times this season, but also disappeared for long stretches.
Player to Watch: A'ja Wilson
Two-time SEC Player of the Year, All-American, former Defensive Player of the Year. She needs Davis, Cuevas-Moore, and Gray to step up if the Gamecocks are going to make a Final Four run, but ultimately it comes down to Wilson.
Tournament outlook:
South Carolina's Final Four hopes took a major hit in just two days earlier this week. South Carolina was red-hot coming off its third straight SEC Tournament Championship. But then on Monday it was placed in the Stockton region, negating its formidable home court advantage. That was not nearly as bad as what happened Tuesday, when Alaina Coates was ruled out for the entire tournament with an ankle injury. Optimists will point out that South Carolina won the SEC Tournament without her. Pessimists will point out the SEC was slightly down this year, and it is hard to imagine South Carolina finding enough size and rebounding to make it past the Elite Eight.
(16) UNC Asheville Bulldogs (19-14, 9-9 Big South)
Scouting report:
The Bulldogs' mediocre record is misleading. They were the preseason pick to win the conference, but were hit hard with injuries, losing two 1,000-point scorers for the season. They had to adjust to the roster turnover on the fly, and they took their lumps in the middle of the season. They went from an up-tempo running team to a squad that tries to shorten the game and only run occasionally. The adjustments worked and they won four straight to win the Big South tournament.
Player to Watch: Chatori Major
Major is quiet; she barely answered any questions during the press conference Thursday, but head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick said the single biggest factor in Asheville turning its season around was Major buying in and taking on a leadership role. She leads Asheville in scoring and rebounding, and shoots just under 40 percent from three.
Tournament outlook:
Outlook not so good. Despite the late season surge and feel-good run through the tournament, Asheville poses little threat to South Carolina.
Gamecock ties:
Kirkpatrick was an assistant at Florida, and before that at Charlotte while Dawn Staley was at conference foe Temple. Assistant Athletics Director Brian Hand spent three years on the Gamecocks beat and still makes himself at home in Colonial Life Arena.
(8) Arizona State Sun Devils (19-12, 9-9 Pac 12)
Scouting report:
Arizona State had a down season, decimated by graduation and injuries. It won the Pac-12 last season, but faced a tough path to repeat after graduating three starters. Then injuries took hold. Only six players appeared in every game. Arizona State has established an identity as a program of being a physical defensive team that rebounds extremely well. Those hallmarks have not abandoned Arizona State, but they are nowhere near as dominant as they had been recently.
Player to Watch: Sophie Brunner
Brunner is a three-time All-Pac 12 selection. She is the third leading scorer and second leading rebounder in program history. She is trying to extend her decorated career.
Tournament outlook:
Arizona State is having the sort of down year that good programs sometimes have. Charli Turner Thorne swore she has a healthy team finally, but not even she believes it. Arizona State is still a physical, rebounding team, and is more than capable of beating Michigan State, but it's hard to see it having enough explosiveness to upset South Carolina.
Gamecock ties:
This is the third straight season the Sun Devils have found themselves in the Gamecocks' region. Two years ago they missed out on an Elite Eight matchup in Greensboro, losing to Florida State in the Sweet Sixteen. Last year as a two seed at home, the Sun Devils were stunned in the second round by Tennessee. The two teams did meet last season in Hawaii, with the Gamecocks winning 60-58.
(9) Michigan State Spartans (21-11, 9-7 Big Ten)
Scouting report:
The Spartans are a run-and-gun, bombs away, offense force. They attempted almost 700 threes this season, making 36 percent as a team. Head coach Suzy Merchant thought they deserved higher than a nine seed, and pointed to Maryland's surprising three seed as a sign that the Big Ten as a whole did not get the credit it deserved.
Player to Watch: Tori Jankoska
Jankoska's numbers look like a misprint: 22.5 points per game, five assists, eight rebounds, and just under two steals per game. She leads the Spartans in each category. She might be the most exciting player in Columbia this weekend, if you're into that kind of thing.
Tournament outlook:
Like most eight/nine games, this is a tossup. But Jankoska is the type of player that could single-handed pull off an upset in the second round and maybe even deeper.
Gamecock ties:
Former Gamecock Shay Colley, who transferred following one semester at South Carolina due to homesickness, is on the Michigan State roster by way of Pittsburgh. After leaving South Carolina, Colley spent a semester at Pittsburgh, then transferred again to Michigan State in June, 2016. Colley is sitting out this season as a transfer.
