How to Watch the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
If you haven't heard of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, you're not alone. Whether you are a fan of the Wildcats, the Buffs, or any other team, there are a few things you need to know about this week's tournament.
Texas-Virginia Tech
The Texas Longhorns and Virginia Tech Hokies are a pair of veteran-laden teams that could have a long and impressive run in the NCAA Tournament. If you're not going to be in Milwaukee on March 18, you can still watch the game online for free without cable.
In fact, Texas and Virginia Tech's first-round matchup will be a great way to see the Big 12's best teams on the big stage. Neither team has been great at college basketball this season, but they are both veterans and both have great defenses.
Virginia Tech won the ACC Tournament for the first time in school history. It also has one of the better three-point shooting teams in the nation.
Texas is a bit stingier than its Big 12 rivals, but it isn't bad at shooting from behind the arc. Its starting five is one of the most athletic in the country. They aren't afraid to put it in the paint, either.
However, they won't be able to translate their ACC success to the NCAAs. Considering the fact that their record in conference play was 10-8, the Longhorns will probably be the underdog.
Despite the fact that it's the same name as a popular TV series, the Texas vs. Virginia Tech NCAA Tournament game will be shown on TBS. AJ Ross will be on hand as the sideline analyst.
Texas and Virginia Tech are both well-coached and defensively competent. Neither team is a scoring machine, so the Longhorns have to do their part. That means maximizing the effectiveness of every possession. And they'll have to avoid turnovers on the offense, which are notoriously easy to get out of.
This isn't to say that they won't have their moments. They've played some tough games recently.
Villanova Wildcats vs Kansas Jayhawks
In the upcoming NCAA Tournament Final Four, the Villanova Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks will face off in New Orleans. The winner will play the Duke-North Carolina winner for a spot in the national championship.
These two teams have met several times in the last four years. While Kansas has won three of those games, Villanova has won four. All but one of those games were decided by five points or fewer.
Both teams are led by guards, and both have a balanced scoring attack. Villanova is on pace for its best free-throw shooting season in college basketball history.
Villanova has won two games in the NCAA Tournament's history against the Kansas Jayhawks. They won at home and in Philadelphia. Their last meeting came in December.
After a slow start, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to take a lead. Kansas had an answer with a quick 3-pointer by Jalen Wilson. But Martin answered with a 3-pointer of his own, putting the Jayhawks up 17.
Ochai Agbaji leads the Jayhawks with 12 points. He has a good three-point shot. He can also get points by stealing the ball and hitting deflections.
KU's length could present an issue for Villanova's style. Despite the loss of Justin Moore, the Jayhawks still have Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji.
Martin, a transfer from Arizona State, has had a stellar tournament. He had 20 points in the Round of 32 win over Creighton.
Martin has been a great pickup for Kansas. His 16.8 points per game is tops in the Big 12. With Martin, Jalen Wilson and David McCormack, Kansas has a balanced attack.
Both teams are on a roll. KU is a 4-point favorite against the Wildcats. This could be a thriller in the 2022 Final Four in New Orleans.
FSU vs CU Buffs
The Colorado Buffs will be looking to make their first appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Monday night against the fourth-seeded Florida State Seminoles. CU defeated Georgetown 96-73 on Saturday to set the stage for this matchup.
In their rout of Georgetown, the Buffs drained seven threes, including five from Jabari Walker. Those threes alone would have been more than enough to send the team to the Sweet 16 in the modern tournament era.
However, McKinley Wright IV and the rest of the Buffs failed to do the same. Their 71-53 loss to the Seminoles was a disappointment. They had a promising season, but their first game in the Big Dance in eleven years didn't go as planned.
The Seminoles have a long, athletic frontcourt and strong backcourt. Combined, they average 21.8 points per game and are 15th in the nation in three-point shooting.
On the flip side, the Buffs have an all-around great floor general in McKinley Wright IV, who leads the team in both scoring and assists. Moreover, he leads the Pac-12 in steals, and he is a likely second-round pick in the NBA draft.
The Buffs' starting point guard, Jeriah Horne, wasn't his usual self on the court. He had a quiet first half, but finished with a four-for-12 performance and 13 points.
Unlike the last time these teams faced off, Colorado's first half was more successful from the field. They shot 9-for-29, compared to Florida State's 5-for-23. That's a huge difference.
A nine-point lead at halftime seemed like a good thing, but the team let the lead slip away during the second half. Instead, the Seminoles went on a 19-6 run. This allowed the Buffs to get within 36-35 with 11:54 to go.
Washington State women's basketball team
Washington State is one of the top teams in the Pac-12 Conference. They also have a solid group of players back on the floor. This is a team that has a good chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Washington State women's basketball team is looking to break into the top tier of the tournament. They will have a difficult road ahead of them. However, with a bit of luck, they can take the first step towards an NCAA Tournament win.
A team that has been in the Pac-12 for two years, the Cougars are looking to take their stature in the conference to the next level. Last year, they finished second in the conference and tied for the second best record in the conference.
They have some talented young players that are making their mark on the program. Junior guard Bella Murekatete led the way with her performance. She averaged 10.3 points, 1.7 blocks, and 7.3 rebounds per game. Her play also earned her the Pac-12 Co-Most Improved Player of the Year award.
Other key players include senior guard Krystal Leger-Walker and sophomore guard Charisma Osbourne. Both players average 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
While Washington State is seeking its first NCAA Tournament win, they aren't the only ones in the Pac-12 looking to get there. The USC Trojans Women's Basketball team is also in the hunt. Their final game will be against the Cougars.
Another Pac-12 team to keep an eye on is the UCLA Bruins. Despite their recent struggles, the Bruins are still a favorite to win this one. In their last three games, they have gone 3-for-3 against the spread.
Final Four
The NCAA Final Four is a big event. You can watch the NCAA Final Four on television or you can stream it on your computer. If you're a sports fan, you've probably got a favorite team, or at least a few favorites. Hopefully, you've also got some good friends around to enjoy the action.
To watch the NCAA Final Four, you'll want to use the right streaming service. There are a number of options, including Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV. Each offers a free trial of the tournament.
The aforementioned Sling TV offering is a great choice for anyone who doesn't have cable. With a Sling TV subscription, you can watch every single game, including the Final Four, without paying a dime. In fact, you'll get 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage, which is a nice bonus.
While the aforementioned YouTube TV and truTV will give you access to the majority of games, you can also watch the games on your local CBS station. Luckily for you, the network has an app to make it easier to stream all your favorite games.
The NCAA Final Four has been a fun and rewarding experience for fans of college basketball. You may have picked the wrong teams for your bracket, but there's no reason to let that stop you from watching some of the action.
Watching the NCAA Final Four on TV is no small feat, but if you're a cord cutter, you don't have to suffer the pain of missing your team. Thanks to the various streaming services, you can watch the Final Four on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Plus, you can even split the cost with a few friends.
