Women’s NCAA Sweet 16 Breakdown Upsets, Predictions & Transfer Portal Drama

Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 is HERE and we’ve got you covered. 

In this episode of The Mid Majors Podcast, Tacarra and Courtney break down:

• Sweet 16 matchups and predictions
• Transfer portal chaos and key player moves
• Mid-major impact and roster changes
• Coaching strategies and defensive matchups

If you love women’s college basketball, March Madness, and real unfiltered analysis, this is the show for you.

Key Topics:

• Transfer portal movement and impact on mid-major programs
• Sweet 16 preview: Notre Dame vs Vanderbilt, LSU vs Duke, South Carolina vs Oklahoma
• Player breakdowns and standout performances
• Coaching strategies and tournament adjustments
• Defensive player of the year conversations (Hannah Hidalgo + more)
• Game strategy: slowing down elite scorers and controlling tempo

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

The sweet 16 is about to be sweet. Let's talk about it. Welcome to the Mid Majors podcast where the real hoop talk happens, unfiltered and unapologetic. I am one of your hosts, Takara. With me, I got my girl Courtney, and we are the Mid Majors. It's a lot going on today, child. It's a lot going on today. The baby's lost and said, you know what? I'm out of here. Baby, they don't wait, they don't waste no time no more, okay?

SPEAKER_01 0:36

They don't. They don't bags was already packed.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Bags was packed.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Bags was packed.

SPEAKER_00 0:42

Addie Brown went in, no contact. Already done talk to my people, honey. Okay. Jada in there too. A bunch of them are. Yeah. From uh Iowa State. Mm-hmm. If you if you Audie Crooks, how are you feeling? Because she's supporting. I mean, you gotta support them. But do you think that they leave it because she's getting all the money? I don't know, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:07

I feel like I f I feel like they might be in the portal like for like culture reasons, like they want to win reasons. Cause you only gonna get so far there. Yeah. I think they just want more for their basketball career. Um and money too. Maybe that's a possibility. But yeah. Um, I'm not I'm not mad at it. I'm not mad at it.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Me neither. Um, if you're new here, please subscribe. Go subscribe, go like the video. We're gonna get into the sweet 16 today. Matchups. We're gonna get into the portal too. Cause honey, like I said, the babies didn't waste no time. Honey, they just lost and they already on their way. Uh let me uh the girl from George Mason, Walton, the mid-major player, she did what she should do.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

She's I know I'm trying to uh what page are you on?

SPEAKER_00 2:01

Um, hold on. It's so many of them. I'm gonna send you the main one. Uh I'ma send you the main one with a bunch of them. But uh she should did what she should have did. She's she's gotta go. Here it is. Um, let me see.

SPEAKER_01 2:14

I was I was shocked to see uh um Xiaomi McMiller.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

You know, with that one, this the second one. I mean, but it it's the same thing. You know, you're not gonna you're only gonna get so far. But but then again, also, too, she got another new coach. Somebody said, Oh, did she?

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Yeah, she did. She did just get another coach, yeah. That's true.

SPEAKER_00 2:34

Right, uh, the lady who was the coach for The Dreams just left uh Chicago. Yeah, yeah. Got a new coach. I was shocked to see Zam. Like I said, Jam fresh off of loss had to go.

unknown 2:46

Who?

SPEAKER_00 2:47

Jones. NC State, Zam. Shut up. I missed that one. Yeah, Zam's in the portal. She's up out of sis. I'm telling you, the babies is getting their stats up and they on their way. I missed that. If you see it, send it to me. Yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:03

Because there's somebody else from NC State in there, too.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

I couldn't, I mean, it was hard to keep up today. Like I said. Wow. We still waiting on Cooper. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

It's yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 3:18

Two players from George Mason left. Uh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Dang, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

I wasn't expecting that one. Yeah. Um, like I said, the mid-majors, I mean, it it's it's it's gonna be really hard for us. And and I really hate it for our mid-major programs. Like, it's a bunch. Like, even the ones like we go into the SOCON, right? A lot of the SOCON players is is leaving. I mean, it's gonna be it's gonna be hard. It's gonna be hard for us. Like, I mean, I really have no words. I don't really know what they're gonna be able to do. I hope that they can figure something out. I don't know, but like it's a lot of mid-major babies who's up out of there.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Prison they look.

SPEAKER_00 4:02

Yeah. I mean, as they should.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Because, you know, we I say it all the time. Yeah, as they should. I said shit. I could I could have fitness something.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Oh, when I especially I looked at today, I looked at the rankings of like the the impact that them that some of them kids was gonna make at the next school, like 92%. And like I said, some of them ain't even some of them's not even first team all conference in a mid-major in a mid-major program. You I'm I'm in the OVC. I'm first team all conference three two years in a row, going into my junior year, going in my senior year. I you got to. I mean, I I'm not mad at them. Like I said, I hope it gets worked out. I hope we figure something out. I hope my school figures something out for our sake. But you know what I'm saying? I just I don't know. Um, but uh, y'all let us know who's shocking y'all the best. We'll keep uh being updated on this as far as like I said, the babies is up out of here. Like I said, I can't say that I blame them. Uh Cal Baptist, didn't they just come off a loss? They did. They did. They done lost a couple too, honey. But uh let's let's get into the sweet 16. Let's also get into they got the finalists for the Naismith Awards. We'll get in that too at the end. So y'all make sure y'all stick around for that. But make sure you go subscribe if you haven't already. Make sure you go like the video. Um, so we are gonna do a watch party Friday, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. Like I said, I did not expect Notre Dame to get past Ohio State, but yes, they did, and yes, they can, honey. So uh who are we going with? That's gonna be a hell of a matchup. This is probably the matchup that I am most excited to see all year. Same.

SPEAKER_02 5:46

Same.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

Because Notre Dame don't have anybody that can guard Michaela Blakes, and Vanderbilt don't have anybody that can guard Hannah Hidalgo.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

So But I think who do you think, who do you think Hannah's gonna be on? You think she's gonna like be on Galvin?

SPEAKER_00 6:02

I would heat Galvin up. I would heat her up too. I would heat Galvin up. I think that they get the more advantage from her guarding her. Should oh, should I mean she's really gonna, it's gonna have to be a committee, a committee as far as taking care of the ball because she'll she'll heat her up.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

Yeah. And I remember I said that, you know, when they play LSU, when uh Vandy played LSU, and I thought Malaysia had really good spurts where she was pressuring Galvin, and she threw that thing away a couple times. So um I definitely agree with that. Um, it'll be a good game. Who do you have winning for that game? Shay. Same. I got I got Vandy taking.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

And notice I said Shay, because I'm I'm talking about, which nothing against Nielle. But I'm going with um, I'm going with team I think that's gonna be prepared. I'm going with Scout Report. I'm going with, I think that Bandy can really control the rebounds against Notre Dame. Uh I mean, I think that a determining factor, I think Galvin's going to be a big factor of this game and how the game goes as far as her taking care of the ball and what she brings, I'll say that. But I think it's gonna be it, I think it I think it can come down to guard play. Guard play?

SPEAKER_01 7:15

I think I think Notre Dame has to get their bigs involved for sure. I think if I was looking at Van D in just a way that I could attack them, I feel like their post, if I'm picking between Gal Van and Michaela Blake's and and their inside presence, that's where my focus would be. Yeah. Like we're gonna post up, we're gonna pound the paint, we can get y'all in foul trouble. You get some of those other bigs off the bench that may not get a lot of rotations, a lot of play. Yeah. You know what I mean? Um, because I think Notre Dame's bigs, the bigs that they do have, um, I can't think of that young lady's name. She had a great. Yes. Yes. I feel like she has like her skill level is a little bit more dynamic, right? Like she's just not on the post. Like she's gonna take you off the dribble off that mid-range. So now you're gonna pull Sasha Washington out, and I think if she attacks the basket and they attack that inside presence, maybe get them in foul trouble, they I feel like they'll have a better chance of like pulling the game out away.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

Yeah. If we think about if you think about the role players of the both teams, who has the better role play? I would say Vandy. Really? I I don't know how to feel.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

I feel like it's just more if I had to pick more. This is what I I think the question is, which team's role players are the most consistent? Uh we'll say that. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Passat coming off a good game. It she's hard to guard too. I don't know who's gonna guard her with that size for for Notre Dame.

SPEAKER_01 8:46

That's true, but Passat sometimes relies on that three-point shot. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Like, um, so it honestly, like, obviously you will want her shots to be falling, but if not, girl, come on into that mid-range. Let's attack the basket. Let's see a couple go in. We're not about to live and die out here. You're like three inches taller than the girl that's guarding you, more than likely. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. So let's use that to our Use your body.

SPEAKER_00 9:11

Use your body. Um, Hannah, Hannah's gonna have to, Hannah's gonna have to really play smart without fouling. Right. I'll say that. Uh if if if Michaela Blake's is knowing how to use her body early as far as getting people in foul trouble, that's gonna be something to look out for. But um, it's gonna be a good game. Like I said, we will be doing a watch party for it. Y'all let us know in the comments who y'all think, who y'all got. Uh, but moving on here. Let's see. We've got you, let's see. UConn, North Carolina. Yukon. Yeah. Moving on. Yeah, moving on. Even though, I mean, even like I said, North Carolina has had a really good run. I think that they're doing really well. Uh, please, please surprise us. We're we don't want to count anybody out. We want everybody to have a fair chance. Yes. I mean, they're gonna have to give them all.

SPEAKER_01 10:07

Like we said last game, to beat UConn, you're gonna have to play a full 40 minutes plus five. Plus five. Both sides of the court, give it everything you got. You gotta put your body on the line, everything. You gotta give it all you got. So.

SPEAKER_03 10:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:23

Hey. That's what I wanna see though. I'll you know, if if if I happen to go past the game in Notre Dame and not Notre Dame, but if North Carolina is maybe like down like 12, 13. That's a good game.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

I'm I'm I'm gonna tune in. I mean, UConn is a 30-point favorite. Right. I mean, if that says anything. Right. U UCLA Minnesota. UCLA is a 19-point favorite. I mean I don't, girl, I'm pissed that they're playing at seven.

SPEAKER_03 10:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:57

Put them on last. Give a give them a chance. Give them a chance, I guess. They said they always play late. That's probably Corey.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

I know. I'm like, Corey probably was like, we are not playing at 10. Put somebody else on there.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

Yeah. Put somebody else. And the per and the people that they do have going on at 10, which we will be doing a live watch party. We're gonna take a little nap in between. We got Duke and LSU. Who we got for that one?

SPEAKER_01 11:22

I'm excited for that game.

SPEAKER_00 11:24

I'm excited for it too.

SPEAKER_01 11:25

I'm excited for that one.

SPEAKER_00 11:27

This is gonna be a good game. I think this one, if you talk about teams that's playing the best basketball right now, playing good basketball, the last game they both played was pretty solid. I mean, Duke put it on Baylor, LSU put it on Texas Tech like no other. But you know, they just whooped up on that conference. That conference just got whooped up on the Big 12.

SPEAKER_02 11:48

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:49

Uh they that conference just got whooped on all tournament. Um I'll say that. But I that's gonna be. That's a tough one.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

That's a tough one. That's a tough one. Um see for me, for this game, you really like the the HOA is gonna have to step up tomorrow. And and I mean that in a leadership way. Facts. Not even like a scoring way, but in a leadership way. I think this is the type of win that LSU needs to potentially push them to the final four. I agree. They need this type of like momentum, I agree, um, this type of confidence to push them to the final four. I agree. But I think for LSU, they have to have that leadership. They have to. All that yelling at each other, rolling your eyes at your teammates, mad because they didn't catch it, and all that shit, that that gotta stop.

SPEAKER_03 12:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

You know what I mean? Like it's next play, my bad. Let's go. You know what I mean? We locked in.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

If we think about matchups, if we think about player to player, who's got the better roster as far as who can do what? It's definitely LSU. Oh, yeah, for sure. For sure.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Because we're talking about athletes.

SPEAKER_00 13:08

Other than Toby, Toby, Toby, she, she, Toby's solid. Yeah, Toby's solid. You know, if they they just gotta be physical with her, um, gotta be physical with her. Can't get in foul trouble. Now, uh, Duke concerns me about foul trouble. Uh, we're gonna see. I think this is a game too where you gotta see early how to what the refs is on.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

It'll be this is a coaching game, too. I'm excited to see her. For sure, for sure, for sure. I'm excited to see that. And you think Kara don't have a uh bone on her shoulder? Facts. Whatever. What's the ship? A bone on her shoulder. Yeah, what the fuck? That's heavy. And then she got a bone on her shoulder.

SPEAKER_00 13:44

And do you think that do you not think that her team is gonna have her back after that? Absolutely. Because that's a real thing, too. That's something you can play off of. Remember last time? Plus, you do got some mean players on their team. They do. And I like that about them. Like they're they're mean.

SPEAKER_01 14:02

I really like Ashlyn Jackson. Is that me?

SPEAKER_00 14:04

Yeah, she's mean.

SPEAKER_01 14:05

I like her. Hold on, what did my uh one of my friends like that? I was like, she wants all the smoke.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

Ashley Jackson wants, she she walk around all smoky and shit. She wants all the smoke, all the found.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

She does. Last game it was 93 to 77. The game was, it was, it was a rough one. Um let me go back and look. Ashley, she balled last game. Loge had 18 points. And if you think about Michaela had Michaela had 14 and 7 assists. Amaya Jorner had a good game. Think about it. Z, we got really nothing from Z last game. Z had zero. Jada got playing great. You got nothing really from Jada. You got 16 from Lay. Grace Knox and so the post really had a good game. Grace Knox had 12. Kate Cobalt. Kate Coball's playing good ball right now. The post is where they had a good game at last time. Um, Toby had 14. Toby was in foul trouble. And that's something I think that could happen with her. But um, I tell you what, I ain't gonna lie. On my bracket, I had Duke. I I like LSU for this game. I do. If LSU, they come and they play like we know that they can. And I'm sick and tired of at this point, I'm tired of saying, if you come and play, you play, play.

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Play.

SPEAKER_00 15:22

Play. Play. Play. That's how you play.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

You know what I'm saying? Like, leave it all out there.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Exactly. You ain't got no choice. Are you gonna be home or in the portal?

SPEAKER_01 15:31

You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 15:31

The next day. In the portal. You either gonna be home or in the portal. Yeah, the next day. But um, so y'all let us know. Let us know the matchup. Let me know what y'all think um about that one. Saturday, we have not decided what we're going live for Saturday. It's a lot of good ones on Saturday. Let me pull it up. A lot of good ones.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

Louisville and Michigan. That's gonna be a good game. That's gonna be a good one. Michigan. Yeah. Michigan's playing good right now, too.

SPEAKER_00 16:02

I like I like Michigan. I think when we talk about consistent players, I like Michigan. Because I feel like Ziggler from Louisville is one you don't know what you're gonna get. You can either get 13 points or you can get zero.

SPEAKER_02 16:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:14

Um, uh, what's the name? Zebo's daughter's playing good for Louisville right now. Yeah, she is. She she's playing good for yeah, uh, McKinley. McKinley. McKenzie. Is it McKinsey? McKinsey. McKinley. Let me look before I mess up this girl's name. Okay. Um I thought it was Maya. No, McKinley. McKinley Randolph. Okay. McKinley. Uh what the hell they still got Skylar Jones on the roster, baby. That's no mo. Um, but yeah, I like I like Michigan over that game. Uh, Kentucky, Texas. I like Texas right now, all the way through. I like Texas to go for. Oklahoma, South Carolina.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

South Carolina.

SPEAKER_00 16:57

I like South Carolina. Virginia, TCU. I like what Virginia's got going on right now, but I can't go against that monster that TCU got. But if I think about a whole consistent team, I don't know. I I I like the leadership for uh for Johnson for B uh for Virginia, but I like Olivia Miles for TCU when it comes to showing up and playing. I don't know about the others sometimes. That's how I feel too.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Um, I you know, I didn't have Virginia getting this getting this far. Um, but I think they have a good veteran group um of girls.

SPEAKER_03 17:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

Um, and they're playing great right now, they have the momentum, and I think this is a totally beatable game for them.

SPEAKER_00 17:45

Facts.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

You can't get a better matchup than this. You can't.

SPEAKER_00 17:49

If you think about all the teams that play Saturday, you can't get a better draw than them at all.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Um, shoot, even looking at Friday, y'all still got the y'all got the best matchup. There's no reason why like that that is a beatable game. Um, and I feel like Virginia knows that. I feel like the coach is probably telling them that, like, we can beat them. Like, you know what I mean? Like, we can beat them. So um, if I had to pick for this game, I would I'm gonna go with Virginia, but Olivia Miles is still going to Olivia Miles. I have no doubts in my mind about that, but it's the same thing you said, like collectively as a whole, finishing the game, especially seeing the way Virginia played in that last game. I'm not mad.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

You know, I'm not mad about it at all. Yeah. Not mad about it at all, but you picking them. Um, I like them too. I think I'm I think I'm gonna go with them too. Y'all let us know who y'all like in that one. I like them too. If we talk about Texas and uh talk about Texas and Kentucky, what was that? I don't remember that matchup. Didn't that I know they played. I don't remember.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

And I probably took notes somewhere.

SPEAKER_00 19:05

64 to 53.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

So it was a low-scoring game. Yeah, and what how many how many shots did Madison take that game?

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Let's let's probably lose one of those. Let's take a look at it, honey.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

She took six shots.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

That ain't gonna happen Saturday.

SPEAKER_01 19:20

Exactly. That's not gonna happen. But do we see it the way Madison is doing right now? Right. Okay, that that I don't, yeah, Texas all day.

SPEAKER_00 19:30

Kentucky shot terrible from the free throw line. That that's a t they'll shoot terrible from the free throw line. Um, Claire Strike didn't do her best. I mean, she had 14 and 7. Now, she's gonna have to be physical in that game, honey. Without all of them, all of them. She's gonna be physical.

SPEAKER_01 19:46

Tony Tony Morgan, girl, yeah, I'm gonna need I'ma need you to a girl. Yeah. You need to leave the game. The whole game, not at least they don't have. Leave it all out there the entire game. And also, like, girl, attack the basket. Yes. I know, I know sometimes like the this UK team, they're not like one of those, like, if you think about the SEC, they're like one of those SEC teams that's just not like, they want to like run some offense. You know what I mean? Almost like Alabama. They want to run the offense. And sometimes I catch Tony like in transition, and it's like, go, just go. And then she'll like, okay, I'm gonna run it back out. And it's like, go. What are we doing? Yeah. So I would I would like to see her be more free in the open court and in transition to try to make something happen for her teammates.

SPEAKER_00 20:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:36

I think for Kentucky to stay in the game and be in the game, they're gonna have to knock down shots. I agree. Because for me, that's always how they stay in the game a lot of times. Um, for some of the better teams, it's their shot making ability. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:49

We'll see how it goes. Asia Boone had a good game, but she she's not playing her best right now. I'll say that. Uh Hesse's doing pretty decent. Kick Key is doing really well for Kentucky right now. She is. Um I tell you, Kentucky had 23 turnovers at last game. So that definitely cannot happen. Yeah. Uh that definitely Tony Morgan got it. That's that's true. That's true. They're gonna turn that thing over.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

You said that's true.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

And if you think about on paper, I mean it said Madison Booker didn't have the best game. Rory didn't have the best game. Um, I mean, I think that we look at I think we talk about a different team. I think that Texas is Texas is rolling right now. I like I like the way the Texas.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

Like what what would be like your game plan against like Texas?

SPEAKER_00 21:44

My game plan against Texas, uh, that's a great question. Right? The way when it comes to stuff like that, the way I look at things when it comes to like a game plan against a team, I feel like when you get to like certain people, like what's Somebody asked, like the game plan against Yukon, what what is it? Is there one? You get what I'm saying? What do you I think I think for right now with the way that Texas is playing, I think that you you let's hope that they don't show up. I mean, I hate to say it that way. Um to be honest with you, I just think that they're playing their best basketball. They played all year right now. Um, I think what I'm always gonna go with Madison Booker offensively. I'm always gonna go with her because I think that she's gonna fail you if you go at her. Um, I think I'm gonna force, I think I'm always going to force Rory to score. Yes. I think I'm always gonna force Rory to be the big offensive threat and just try to lock up on everybody else. I think if we talk about matchups, I just don't think that Kentucky can match up with Texas.

SPEAKER_01 22:49

I don't either. I think if I wanted to slow Madison down, because that's your best bet, right? We always talk about contain. That's all you can do. Um, I would be trying to be physical with Madison. I don't think she necessarily likes that physicalness of the defensive pressure so much all the time. Um, and I would also try to get in her head if I could. Like, because sometimes Madison can get a little frustrated and she'll go and do a stupid foul in two seconds, 90 feet from the basket. She'll she'll do something like that. So um I definitely would be really aggressive with her on defense if I could, um, just to like slow her down. Uh I don't know, get her off a little bit. I don't know. Just try to get her off her game a little bit. I I mean, uh I might I might try to like switch up some defenses, you know, defensive sets and stuff. Um, but yeah, it'll be a good game. But I still got Texas.

SPEAKER_00 23:41

With Texas, I think with Texas, you gotta I think right now with the Texas team we're seeing right now, you can't let Texas make the first move. I think maybe go to Claire Strach early on the post. I mean, even though I said she don't want much contact. I think you have to go with them early in the post and try to get them in foul trouble. I mean, I'm gonna go at Carlton, I'm gonna go at Cunningham, or you know what I'm saying, to try to get them in foul trouble. Because I think that there is a mismatch when it comes to Claire Strack on what she can do. If she gets set up, if she gets set up correctly as far as offensively, if you get her where she can face up against those people, I think that she can, I think that they have an advantage there. But um, everywhere else, I think Kentucky will fail you too, honey.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

I mean they will, but they have that length, they do, but so does Texas. Will it will it deter them on the offensive end? Texas, the length.

SPEAKER_00 24:39

No, I think Texas got size. They do. I think Texas has size. I think Texas, I think Texas got, if we look at the bench, I think that's gonna play a factor too. If we look at the bench of Texas and how many people they got coming off the bench, and then I don't know who they start in lineup is like the last few games, but I mean you got Judd that can come in, you got Preston, you got Crump, you got Old Acker coming in. I think, you know, I think that that they just got too many numbers for Kentucky right now because they only gonna play six. Yes. So if you get in foul trouble, I think that it's a wrap. So I just don't see that one being a really good. Like I said, it was what, a nine-point game? It was an 11-point game. I wouldn't be what what what what favorite is Texas? Are they the they a 15-point favorite? So I and I think that that's about right. Um, I think that's about right. Oklahoma, South Carolina. We didn't even get into that one, honey. South Carolina's an 18-point favorite. How you how you beat a team? And you still It was a fluke, child. Sure was, man. Sure was. But let us let's be quiet. Because I said there was gonna be a cakewalk, and then I'll be damned if they didn't come and uh Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

I mean I ain't gonna say it's gonna be no cakewalk, but I still got South Carolina pulling it out.

SPEAKER_00 25:54

If I'm if I'm Oklahoma, you better go through Reagan Beers. You better go through Reagan Beers, and that's it's the beginning of the game. You better go at South at South Carolina's post. You gotta go at Joyce. You gotta go with Joyce, you gotta go with Oakott. But I will say I do like the aggression when it comes to Oklahoma, when it comes to like their their post, I mean their guards. I think that they're really aggressive. They are I like their I think that they're very aggressive. I like their I like their guards, but if it comes to talent-wise, no, they're not as talented as South Carolina, but not a lot of people are. So I mean that's not a story to tell. You know what I'm saying? Not a lot of people are, period.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

I think I think you're right about that. Uh sometimes Oklahoma, they just they look out of control sometimes, especially in that guard space, because they they are aggressive, they are fast, and we question a lot of their their uh shot, shot selection, right? And I feel like that's like you're you're rushing, it's uncontrolled. Like, what are we doing? Let's slow down, let's get a good shot. Um, and I think it's gonna be stuff like that. Um, now that we're in this part of the season, we're talking about a veteran South Carolina team that's been here, done that, they know how to lock in and get it done. Um I think South Carolina's gonna capitalize off those those little small mistakes that that Oklahoma does. But also, I think Reagan Beers has to stay out of foul trouble. If she can't stay out of foul trouble, they owe you. I feel like they don't even stand a chance.

SPEAKER_00 27:30

She had, but she was putting them in a blender.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

She was. Uh she's 18 and 14. She was saying, but I'll be like getting her up out of there. We need her in foul trouble with that.

SPEAKER_00 27:40

She gonna value. She gonna value. Um, I will say, but you got she's one of them posts. Like, I don't think that her post defense is bad, but I think that you gotta know what moves to make. Yeah. You get what I'm saying? I feel like you, like somebody like Joyce, Joyce is somebody who can beat her off a quick first step.

SPEAKER_02 27:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

You get what I'm saying? I think that way. Now, I think that if Oklahoma controls these rebounds like they annihilated them the first game, 54 rebounds to 39, that can't happen for South Carolina, I'll tell you that. But also, too, if I'm Oklahoma, I'm going in feeling good, feeling good. Because like I said, only what, only two teams have beat South Carolina. Texas beat them twice. Oklahoma's I'm I'm thinking about that going into this game. I mean, that's an advantage that I have. That's something I'm going into. I mean, I think I remember Sahara Williams. She had 10 rebounds. She she killed him on the rebounds, too, uh, with Oklahoma. I mean, with South Carolina. Uh, Joyce did not have her best game. Cott did not have her best. They killed him on the rebounds. They just they killed him on the rebounds.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

We remember, I remember that game. Yeah, and they killed him on the rebounds. Bad all the way around. They won't they won't have another game like that tomorrow.

SPEAKER_00 28:54

And they only turned it over 13 times, and Oklahoma turned it over 21 times.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

You know, yeah. Yeah. You know, as for as bad as they played to only lose by the amount that they did. Like, yeah, that just shows you right there. You get what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 29:09

And they got beat the last, they really got beat the last five minutes of the game. Right. Like I said, your girl just took over. Now her, will she have another 26-point game? I I see them locking sis up. I see them taking it personal. Yeah. I see that, I see wishing her the best. I say that. But I I I see them taking it personal. I don't see it happening for her. But Raken Beers is the key. They role players is gonna be the key. Bert Burhost, she gotta have another good game. Williams, ban, I think that they are going to be the key for this game for Oklahoma. Uh-huh. I believe it.

SPEAKER_02 29:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:47

Yeah. But um, that's let us know what y'all think about the matchups. Let's, real quick, before we go, also to uh subscribe if you haven't already. I'm telling you guys again, we need you to subscribe.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Please subscribe.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

Um let's get into the naismith, the finalists of the naismith. We've got Lauren Betts, we got Michaela Blakes, we got AZ, we got Sarah Strong. I like Michaela Blakes again. I still do. I feel y'all. When y'all talked about Sarah, I feel y'all. I think that Michaela Blakes needs this win again. I feel like she's just winning. I feel like if we think about what her being on the list of what, the first two years of how many points scored, look the people above her. You got Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and um, who was it? Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, and Juju, Naismith, Maysmith. You know what I'm saying? I I mean, if you think about, I just like the season that she's having. I truly do. And um, I feel like this is something we did not expect. So I just like it if we go off this year.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

Um So is so do you think she will win it or you would like you like her for it?

SPEAKER_00 30:55

It's hard to say it when you got two UConn people in the running.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

I know.

SPEAKER_00 31:00

I mean, I think that she has a bet I think that she has a better shot than people think that she does. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 31:06

I think that she has an amazing shot. Now, if we talk about the coaches, Nick, Gino, Corey, and Shay is up for coach of the year, and I think that Shay should win that. I think that she should. Mm-hmm. I think that we come to this year. Now, people, y'all mad that y'all mad that Don's not in it. Um, I think that this year, I think Don, like I said, I think when it comes to Don, Don is always like, she likes Joker. She liked LeBron. If it comes to MVP every year, she could be in a running. But the finalists, you know, I feel like Kim Moki too, though. You know what I'm saying? But I think with this year, they got, if you look at the coaches who's in it, you got Vic, who won the SEC, won this won the SEC, won the tournament. You got Gino, who's undefeated. You got Corey, who's lost one game. Then you got Shay, who's doing what we who who what they haven't been to a Sweet 16 in what, 17 years? Yes. Is that what I want to say? Is it 17 years, y'all? So I mean, look at the list. I mean, if we talk about who's doing something out of the ordinary, I I I like Shay Ford. I truly do. Now, defensive, we got the defensive. We got Hannah Hidalgo, Jordan Harrison from West Virginia. We got Sarah Strong, we got Lauren Betts. But Hannah. Do they ever do they ever give that to a guard? I don't know. Who got it last year? Was it Lauren Betts last year?

SPEAKER_01 32:31

I don't know. I would like to see the I would like to see that list just to see if any like guards have gotten it in like the last like five years. Let's look. Let's look. Let's take a look.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

Because I don't remember, honey.

SPEAKER_01 32:46

Test winners.

SPEAKER_00 32:48

And they showing me.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

So uh Lauren Betts was 2025. I say I'm pretty sure Lauren Betts won it last year. Cameron Brink was 2024. Absolutely. Thea Boston. 2023, 2022.

SPEAKER_00 33:01

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 33:02

Yeah. And then 2021 was Natasha Mack from Oklahoma State.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

Absolutely. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:10

Absolutely. So have any guards wanted in the past five years?

SPEAKER_00 33:15

Do they give it to Lauren Betts again? Y'all let us know on that one. We're gonna get y'all's views on that one. I'm going for I'm always I'm going for the guard. I'm going for Hannah Hidaga with 16 steals. Because that's hard.

SPEAKER_01 33:28

That's hard as hell.

SPEAKER_00 33:30

And I don't care. I don't care who she did it against. She I mean, she had what, seven against Ohio State? I mean, to have an eye for the ball that way. I mean she just so quick.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

Like she's gonna anticipate like your next move. Like it's and it's so fast. It is so fast. It's almost like she knows. It's just like boom. Like she's like a cat. It's everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 33:54

And the thing about it, it's like with her, you literally, it like you said, it happens so fast. It's like you literally, yo, you drive into the basket, and she's already at the other end shooting the lane. And if she gets in the passing lane, but it's like legit, she just on ball defense. Just have an eye for the ball like that. That's that's really, really hard to do. She be hungry for that ball. She does.

SPEAKER_01 34:15

Like she does like she it's almost like she knows she's about to steal it.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

Like, but I tell you who else better be strong with the ball. Michaela Blakes better be strong with the ball against her, too. Oh, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 34:24

Because what I will say though is Michaela Blakes is a superstar, right? Yeah. People say that Michaela Blakes gets that special whistle, right? Yeah. So if I'm if I'm Hannah Hadalgoat, girl, don't you be reaching on her. Facts. Foul facts. That's two, you sitting on the bench. Like, I like, and that's one reason why I probably would not want to start Hannah on Michaela right away. Because I just wouldn't want her to pick up any like fouls like that, knowing that she's- I think that she would get in foul trouble early against her.

SPEAKER_00 34:56

Now Galvin, you can heat her up. Yeah, yes. But against Michaela, but I wouldn't know. I don't know. I will put her on the ball. Yeah. But uh, it's gonna be we got some good basketball coming. I'm excited. We have, like I said, we haven't decided as far as Saturday about what we're doing. Like, we got a lot of options on Saturday. So we'll see with that one. Um, I guess we'll just have to figure it out and we'll have to talk about it. Uh, y'all let us kind of know too. Let me look again. It's some good ones. I mean, it's some good ones. All of them's gonna be good. Yeah, plus the latest game come on at 7:30. So we'll we'll see. We'll see how we go how it goes Friday. We got a break in between, but um, y'all let us know what y'all prefer. We can at least do two. I do know that. Yeah, for sure. At least do two. But y'all, um, y'all have a good night. We appreciate y'all. Um, like I said, let us know your picks. Make sure you go hit, make sure you go hit subscribe, make sure you go follow. Y'all, we appreciate y'all. Bye. Bye bye.