Lady Vols Basketball Stays Committed to Full-Court Press in NCAA Tournament Under head coach Kim Caldwell, the Lady Vols basketball team has relied heavily on a full-court press strategy throughout the season. The approach involves constant trapping, jump passes, and aggressive transition play to disrupt opponents and create turnovers. However, this year, the system has occasionally led to turnovers and missed opportunities due to miscommunication and overextension. Despite these challenges, the Lady Vols remain steadfast in their commitment to the press, especially as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament. Star forward Janiah Barker emphasized the importance of maintaining the system, noting that it serves as both a defensive and offensive catalyst. “Sometimes our press is our defense and our offense,” Barker said. “It’s what fuels us, what gets us going. When we’re having fun, getting steals and layups easily, that’s what really gives us energy and boosts our confidence. If we get beat in the press, we lose our confidence. So we need to stay fully committed to it and accept it as our identity.” Caldwell, however, has expressed frustration with the team’s execution of the press in recent games. Tennessee has struggled with consistency, losing seven of its last eight contests and 10 of its past 12 appearances heading into March Madness. The issue isn’t confined to a single aspect of the strategy; instead, the team has faced problems with cohesion. Caldwell noted that players sometimes abandon the system mid-game, leading to a loss of identity. “We haven’t been pressing with a purpose,” she said. “We need to get back to flying around, guarding, and having an identity. We weren’t guarding in a press, in a half-court, and we weren’t doing much of anything.#ncaa_tournament #nc_state #lady_vols #kim_caldwell #janiah_barker
Lady Vols Freshmen Aim to Make Noise in March Madness Rematch Against NC State The Lady Vols’ freshman class, still finding their footing in college basketball, faced a mix of nerves and excitement as they awaited their NCAA Tournament seeding on Selection Sunday. Mya Pauldo described the moment as a “ball of nerves,” while Deniya Prawl felt detached, watching projections of Tennessee as a No. 8 seed and other teams fill the seed line. Despite the uncertainty, the freshmen were determined to make their mark. Tennessee, seeded No. 10, wasn’t in danger of missing the tournament for the first time in program history, but the young players were unsure what to expect from their first Selection Sunday. Jaida Civil called the experience “crazy,” admitting she didn’t fully grasp the significance at first. However, seeing their names called and continuing the legacy of the program brought a sense of pride. The nerves quickly turned to excitement when the Lady Vols learned their first-round matchup: a rematch against No. 7 seed NC State at the Crisler Center on March 20. A win would set up a potential second-round clash with either No. 2 seed Michigan or No. 15 seed Holy Cross. The Lady Vols (16-13) have a history with the Wolfpack, having lost their season opener 80-77 on Nov. 4. Coach Kim Caldwell emphasized the need to prove themselves, and the players echoed that sentiment. Civil expressed a strong desire to revisit the game, hoping to correct their earlier performance. She grinned when acknowledging the extra motivation behind the rematch. “I feel like that’s going to be the one to bring us back to where we were with our winning streak,” Mia Pauldo said. “I think the NCAA knew what they were doing with that one.” Pauldo added, “I was super surprised and I’m not going to lie, I like it, because we get to get our get back.#nc_state #lady_vols #mya_pauldo #deniya_prawl #jaida_civil
Path to Phoenix: Local women’s teams take on tournament field The women’s NCAA Tournament will once again feature North Carolina as a central hub, with Duke and UNC hosting the first and second rounds. NC State and High Point, other local teams, will face challenges on the road this weekend as they navigate their paths to the Final Four in Phoenix. Each team’s journey promises historic matchups, opportunities for upsets, and a mix of familiar foes and new threats. Here’s a breakdown of their potential routes to the national championship. Duke, seeded third in the Sacramento 2 bracket, will face No. 14 Charleston in the second round. The Blue Devils aim to avenge a season-opening loss to Baylor, which ended with a 58-52 result. Taliah Scott’s 24-point performance and Duke’s 29% shooting from the floor were key factors in that defeat. If Duke advances, they could rematch LSU, which dominated them in the ACC/SEC Challenge with a 31-point second quarter. A deeper run might bring a showdown with UCLA, the tournament’s top seed, which handed Duke its worst loss of the season (89-59). Without star center Lauren Betts, UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker combined for 43 points. If Duke continues its payback mission, they could face a formidable Final Four group including No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Louisville, or No. 4 West Virginia. UNC, seeded fourth in the Fort Worth 1 bracket, will open against No. 13 Western Illinois. A win would set up a potential clash with No. 5 Maryland or No. 12 Murray State. The Tar Heels’ path intensifies in the Sweet 16, where they could face UConn, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. UConn, led by Sarah Strong (18.5 PPG) and Azzi Fudd (17.7 PPG), has dominated its recent games, winning six straight by at least 30 points. If UNC beats UConn, they might face No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Ohio State, or No.#duke #high_point #uconn #nc_state #unc
2026 NCAA Tournament Picks: Predictions for Every March Madness First-Round Game The NCAA Tournament’s first-round games are set to begin, and analysts have provided detailed breakdowns of how each matchup might unfold. These predictions focus on team strengths, defensive strategies, and individual player impacts to project outcomes. The First Four games kick off Tuesday, with several high-profile matchups expected to shape the bracket. In the No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard matchup, Howard’s defensive versatility gives it an edge. The team’s switchable wing defenders, including Bryce Harris and Alex Cotton, could neutralize UMBC’s star guard DJ Armstrong. While UMBC has the best player on the floor, Howard’s cohesive defense is projected to secure the win. The No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State game highlights contrasting styles. Texas’ drop coverage is expected to challenge NC State’s shooters, but the Wolfpack’s recent performance against Texas in November suggests they could find ways to counter. Despite Texas’ slight edge in recent matchups, NC State’s balanced attack and shooting efficiency make it the favored team. Lehigh’s dominance over Prairie View hinges on the presence of Nasir Whitlock, a key player who could tilt the game in favor of the Leopards. Similarly, SMU’s depth and defensive adjustments, particularly against Miami (Ohio)’s Eian Elmer, are seen as critical factors. SMU’s ability to control the paint and limit turnovers is expected to give it the upper hand. The No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena game is a mismatch in terms of size and talent. Duke’s seven-man rotation, featuring players like Cayden Boozer and Paolo Banchero, overwhelms Siena’s roster. Despite Siena’s individual talent, Duke’s physicality and depth make it a near-impossible matchup for the mid-major squad. Ohio State’s matchup against No.#texas #ncaa_tournament #umbc #nc_state #howard
Most Probable First-Round Upsets in 2026 NCAA Tournament The 2025 men’s NCAA tournament saw only five double-digit seeds advance in the first round, with two of them being 10-seeds, which are not classified as Giant Killers. The Elite Eight was the most predictable in history, featuring all top-three seeds, and the Final Four had only two 1-seeds. Despite this, March Madness remains defined by upsets, and analysts are now identifying potential candidates for this year’s tournament. Using ESPN’s BPI projections, the Giant Killer model highlights matchups with the highest upset probabilities. However, it’s important to note that probability does not guarantee outcomes, and the likelihood of multiple upsets this season is low. NCAA tournament betting lines are at record highs, and the model gives no team seeded 11th or lower a 40% chance of winning in the first round. Only one No. 12 seed, the perennial upset pick, has a 20% chance to advance. The model also indicates that last year had more high-probability upsets, with four matchups exceeding 40% and eight above 25%. For those looking to differentiate their brackets, here are the most likely candidates for upsets. The matchup between (11) VCU and (6) North Carolina has a 39% chance of an upset. North Carolina’s performance has been impacted by the absence of star freshman Caleb Wilson, who is out for the season due to a broken thumb. Without Wilson, the Tar Heels’ efficiency numbers dropped, particularly on the offensive glass and in 2-point field goal percentages. VCU, however, has been dominant, winning 16 of its past 17 games. The Rams’ balanced attack and aggressive playstyle, combined with their eight regular rotation players hitting at least 18 3-pointers this season, make them a formidable opponent. Another high-probability matchup is (11) NC State vs.#north_carolina #ncaa_tournament #byu #vcu #nc_state
