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And then there were eight.
With the Sweet 16 games over and done with, we now have our Elite Eight teams set. UConn, USC, TCU, and Texas all advanced on Saturday, joining Duke, South Carolina, LSU, and UCLA in the next round of games.
Here is the roundup on all the games and how Saturday’s quartet emerged victorious:
TCU earns first Elite Eight berth
After a rough exit last year with LSU, Hailey Van Lith reminds us all that the best revenge is living a good life. She took her talents to TCU, and while some scratched their heads and didn’t consider them an elite program, they earned a No. 2 seed and are now in the Elite Eight, reaching this stage of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
They did it by defeating No. 3-seed Notre Dame 71-62. In this game, HVL had 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists. She led the Horned Frogs in scoring and boards, while tying for the most dimes on the winning side.
She was sensational in this game, and not to steal away from her moment, but one of the biggest highlights from this game happened off the court. After another HVL 3-pointer, her dad and Jalen Suggs were celebrating in the stands, and their emotion and enthusiasm perfectly matched the intensity of the moment.
HVL is now the first player to lead three different programs to the Elite Eight.
Paige Bueckers sets new career-high
How does your first 40-point game happening during a Sweet 16 win sound? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Paige Bueckers, who helped No. 2-seed UConn torch No. 3-seed Oklahoma, 82-59.
The win is huge as it advances the Huskies and keeps Bueckers’ dream of winning a national title alive. It’s the only thing missing from her iconic collegiate resume, and it’s looking like she’s peaking at the perfect time. She is now just two wins away from the ultimate glory.
Winning for JuJu Watkins
Many considered No. 1-seed USC’s tourney run over when JuJu Watkins tore her ACL, but those hadn’t watched enough Trojan basketball this year. They are a tough, disciplined team, and while Watkins is their star, they have other players who can step up in her absence.
There was a path toward victory, and USC followed it, beating No. 5-seed Kansas State, 67-61. They ended the game on a 6-2 run to pull away late and earn their Elite Eight berth.
Kennedy Smith led the Trojans’ charge with 19 points, but she also got help from starters Rayah Marshall and Avery Howell. Marshall scored 10 points and had a team-high nine rebounds, and Howell had 18 points and a game-high four steals.
They have a brutal game against UConn coming up, but on Saturday, they overcame a tough situation and emerged from it, surviving and advancing. This late into the season, that’s all that matters.
No one is bigger than Texas
So far, all the No. 1 seeds are alive and well, including Texas. The Longhorns beat No. 5-seed Tennessee 67-59 to advance to the next round. They got it done how they always get it done—with Madison Booker.
She had 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in the win. While the other starters not named Booker played well for Texas, the reserves stepped up big. Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston both scored in double figures, combining for 25 points.
Texas might not have the biggest names or the most compelling storyline, but what’s beautiful about the sport of basketball is that noise does not matter. If they keep winning, they can beat everyone. In case the No. 1 seed by their name didn’t scare you, these wins should put whoever was still skeptical on notice. Texas is legit, and good luck to whoever has to try beating them.
On Monday, TCU will be the next team to try in a Lone Star State showdown.
