Advertisement

Women’s NCAA tournament - Sweet 16 buy or sell

Cassandra Negley
WNBA and women's college basketball reporter
1

Ros Gold-Onwude, Isis Young & Cassandra Negley take a look at some of the notable teams and players still alive in this year’s tournament and discuss if they are to be believed entering the super regionals.

Video Transcript

[AUDIO LOGO]

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: And then there were 16. We're narrowing the field down, and we're going to take a fun look at the teams that have advanced by playing a Sweet 16 edition of America's favorite game Buy or Sell. OK, ladies, I-- we have been here all day and night, so I am going to tee you up with a statement, and you tell me if you're buying or selling.

First up, LSU. They had an uninspired effort in the first round. But in the second round, they rallied behind Flau'jae Johnson's energy to advance to the Sweet 16. Are you buying or selling that LSU has figured it out, and they found their mojo?

ISIS YOUNG: Sell, sell, sell. I don't think they found their mojo. I think they got lucky by fouling out players from Middle Tennessee State. If those two starters had stayed in the game, it would have looked completely different. And it looked different-- they actually were winning when they had their starting five. I'm selling it. I don't think LSU has figured it out, but I love that Flau'jae brought this team back together and pulled out the win.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Right.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: Do I buy that they found what they're going to rally around this March? Sure, I would buy stock in that. But I'm absolutely selling. I agree, completely. This game looks completely different if those two bigs are in the game.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: OK. So, you guys, once again, are not believing in LSU. This has been a theme through the tournament. Keep an eye on these two y'all.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: [INAUDIBLE]

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: OK. OK, on to the next question. Of the remaining sweet 16 teams, Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo has been the best performing freshman so far. Buying or selling?

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: I'll buy. I'll buy Hannah. She had 33 points, six rebounds, 15 assists, 10 steals, 7 turnovers so far in the tournament. Big game for Notre Dame leading the point. I mean, I'll buy any freshman in this--

ISIS YOUNG: I know. You really can't go wrong.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: It's so much star power.

ISIS YOUNG: Yeah, you can't go wrong. I'm buying as well. My reason is she's had 10 steals in the tournament already. And again, I just think her defense is really what you have to watch out and plan for, so I'm buying that.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: OK, you like both sides of the court. I mean, of course immediately I was like, oh, my God, but what about Audi Crooks? She didn't make it to the Sweet 16 for all of you thinking that at home.

ISIS YOUNG: We love Hannah.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: We do love. OK, lots of young talent to watch. But let's go back to a new statement with the team to identify, UConn. They've had to evolve all season after major injuries depleted their roster and threw young players into the fire. But after watching the first weekend of play, are you buying or selling? UConn, they do have enough to get to the Elite Eight.

ISIS YOUNG: I'm buying. I'm buying. I'm buying. I think that the Huskies have it. I think that they can beat Duke, which is their Sweet 16 match-up. I think they'll have enough to score against Duke. I think Ashlynn Shade has been terrific, magnificent, amazing, all the superlatives you can give to Ashlynn Shade on how she's been able to score the basketball.

I do think, though, for them to be very, very good and get to the Elite Eight, Aaliyah Edwards needs to play a bit better. She had a double double, but she'd have five turnovers. I thought that was a bit too much for her in the post.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: I'm buying. I think they've had trouble this year shutting down individual scorers. They kept Dyaisha Fair to 20 points, so kudos to them.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: OK. UConn has had a journey where they're improving as a team, finding the right momentum, and heading into perhaps a deep playoff run. We shall see. Last one for our game of Buy or Sell. After watching the first two rounds, are you buying or selling that number one seed Texas is the top team in their region, which also has Stanford in it? Ice?

ISIS YOUNG: Oh, I'm buying. I'm buying. That Texas defense is it. It's lethal, it's in your face, it is 94 feet of hell. We saw Cameron Brink struggle in the second round of that game. I think for Stanford the key is going to be keeping her on the floor. She cannot continue to foul out and not be on the floor. As impressive as Kiki Iriafen was, I still think Texas as a team defensively is going to be tough.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: Oh, I'm still buying Texas. They forced so many turnovers in that last game. Kudos to Stanford for eking one out and making it gritty, but I think Texas has too much to knock it out of that region.

ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: OK, well that was fun playing with you, ladies. I'm buying on you.

ISIS YOUNG: Oh.

CASSANDRA NEGLEY: Oh.

[LAUGHTER]

[AUDIO LOGO]