Championship Tournament Outlooks: | | |
While UCLA clearly holds the upper hand in Indianapolis, the Big Ten competition might prove more intricate than initial assessments suggest.
Below is a comprehensive guide to the upcoming Big Ten women’s basketball tournament happening this week.
Lauren Betts and UCLA Secure Top Seed
UCLA is potentially the strongest contender to defeat UConn in the NCAA tournament, though their path through the Big Ten will be far from effortless.
This season, UCLA achieved an almost flawless 28-1 record and will commence the Big Ten tournament in Indianapolis ranked second nationally. Their only defeat occurred in November against Texas. Following that, they remained unbeaten in Big Ten conference play, concluding the season with 22 consecutive victories. A No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament is highly probable for them.
Lauren Betts recorded 16.3 points and an impressive 8.8 rebounds per game this season, a figure unmatched in the league, making her exceptionally challenging to contain during the tournament. Kiki Rice also contributed significantly, scoring 15.2 points per game with a field goal percentage exceeding 50%.
However, their journey wasn’t without tight moments. In early February, the No. 3 seed Michigan nearly upset them, falling short by just three points after Syla Swords missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer. Ohio State also managed to keep their game against UCLA to a single-digit difference. Furthermore, No. 2 seed Iowa, despite suffering a defeat by over 20 points to UCLA, concluded their season with a six-game winning streak, which notably included an 18-point triumph over the Wolverines.
It’s certainly conceivable that another team could claim the Big Ten tournament championship in Indianapolis this week. Nevertheless, achieving this would require flawless execution when facing the Bruins, along with potentially some favorable circumstances.
Key Information for the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament
Dates: March 4-8
Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indianapolis
Broadcast Channels: Peacock, Big Ten Network, CBS
The official bracket for the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament has been finalized. (Big Ten)
Big Ten Women’s Basketball Fixture and Outcomes
All timings Eastern Time
Wednesday, March 4 – Opening Round
Match 1 | 12th Seed Nebraska versus 13th Seed Indiana | 3:30 p.m. | Peacock
Match 2 | 10th Seed Illinois against 15th Seed Wisconsin | 25 minutes after Match 1 | Peacock
Match 3 | 11th Seed Oregon versus 14th Seed Purdue | 25 minutes after Match 2 | Peacock
Thursday, March 5 – Second Round
Match 4 | 8th Seed Washington against 9th Seed USC | 12 p.m. | BTN
Match 5 | 5th Seed Ohio State versus Winner of Match 1 | 25 minutes after Match 4 | BTN
Match 6 | 7th Seed Michigan State against Winner of Match 2 | 6:30 p.m. | BTN
Match 7 | 6th Seed Maryland versus Winner of Match 3 | 25 minutes after Match 6 | BTN
Friday, March 6 – Quarterfinals
Match 8 | 1st Seed UCLA versus Winner of Match 4 | 12 p.m. | BTN
Match 9 | 4th Seed Minnesota against Winner of Match 5 | 25 minutes after Match 8 | BTN
Match 10 | 2nd Seed Iowa versus Winner of Match 6 | 6:30 p.m. | BTN
Match 11 | 3rd Seed Michigan against Winner of Match 7 | 25 minutes after Match 10 | BTN
Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals
Match 12 | Winner of Match 8 versus Winner of Match 9 | 2 p.m. | BTN
Match 13 | Winner of Match 10 against Winner of Match 11 | 4:30 p.m. | BTN
Sunday, March 8 – Championship
Match 14 | Winner of Match 12 versus Winner of Match 13 | 2:15 p.m. | CBS
