The Ball-Knowers™ viewing guide for the last regular season weekend in women's basketball
It's the last regular season weekend in women's college basketball and fortunes can be made or broken starting tonight...
You’ll definitely be seeing some more “viewer’s guides” from us here at No Cap Space as we head into Tournament season but before we get into the knockout rounds we have a packed slate starting this Thursday night. So we’ll go conference by conference and sprinkle in some mid-major matchups too…
***ALL TIMES IN EST***
Thursday
Thursday is an insanely busy slate so there are plenty of must-watches on this list , especially in the ACC. But these four carry the most interest to me from a matchup or implication perspective…
Washington State vs. No. 18 Utah
Where/When To Watch: 5:00 pm, Pac-12 Network
What’s At Stake: Washington State remains a shade off the bubble and has two chances on the road this weekend against No. 18 Utah and No. 13 Colorado. It’s one of the hardest road trips in women’s college basketball so if you sneak the first you’ve got your signature win before conference tourney play and don’t have a must-win in Boulder Saturday.
Player to Watch: Eleonora Villa (Wazzu) , Dasia Young (Utah)
Vibe Check: Villa has done her best to step into the void left by Charlisse Leger-Walker’s injury and Utah’s 20-8 record is deceptive. The Cougs need a big game from center Bella Murekatete or it may be quick work for the Utes.
Texas A&M vs. Tennessee
Where/When To Watch: 7:00 pm, SEC Network
What’s At Stake: Tennessee is living in the bracket for now and Texas A&M could use a road win to cement a case. There’s desperation on both ends to win this one. Because for the Vols, South Carolina is waiting on the other side of this matchup. Two losses to end the season at 16-12 could keep them out of the Big Dance.
Player to Watch: Janiah Barker (Texas A&M) , Rickea Jackson (Tennessee)
Vibe Check: Not great vibes for either! The Vols have lost three of their last five while A&M is coming off two double digit losses in their last three. All I know is this: I’m ready to see Rogers in the Tournament. Her career warrants one trip and I hope she gets it.
Arkansas vs. No. 1 South Carolina
Where/When To Watch: 9:00 pm, SEC Network
What’s At Stake: For South Carolina, it’s another game to test yourself against quality competition but there is nothing at stake other than another undefeated run in the regular season. Arkansas, on the other hand, is a next four out in ESPN’s most recent bracketology release. Much like Washington State, you get SC at home and Ole Miss on the road. You’ve gotta win one to convince a committee.
Player to Watch: Samara Spencer (Arkansas) , Raven Johnson (South Carolina)
Vibe Check: I mean…it’s South Carolina. Home or away you’re typically trying to fight Thanos with a plastic knife. The Gamecocks average margin of victory through February is 27 points. So what I’m saying is…if you keep it below 20 that might be a victory.
No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 11 Oregon State
Where/When To Watch: 10:00 pm, Pac-12 Oregon
What’s At Stake: There’s not much other than seeding up for grabs here. Stanford is two games up in the Pac-12 race and the Beavers are right on their heels. There is a world in which the Cardinal lose here and Oregon pulls off the impossible upset while the Beavs sweep the Bay schools. But that’s heavily dependent on the health of OSU center Raegan Beers, who has been out with an injury in their losses to USC and Washington.
Player to Watch: Timea Gardiner (Oregon State) , Nunu Agara (Stanford)
Vibe Check: This really comes down to the health of Beers. You can guarantee Gil Coliseum will be rocking but the Beavers have shown they are a different team without their game breaking frontcourt star. If she’s healthy, watch out. If not, Oregon State guards will need to tap into the same energy that saw them beat UCLA at home a few weeks ago.
Friday
Harvard vs. Princeton
Where/When To Watch: 5:00 pm, ESPN+
What’s At Stake: After Columbia’s upset of Princeton, the top of the Ivy League standings are knotted at 10-1 between the Lions and Tigers. While CU takes on Brown in Providence, Princeton hosts Harvard, the Ivy’s third best team. A loss would open the door for Columbia to take the regular season title. As we mentioned last week, I wonder if, for the sake of a two-bid Ivy, that would be better for everyone since Princeton’s resume on paper is enough to get them in on their own merits.
Player to Watch: Harmoni Turner (Harvard) , Kaitlyn Chen (Princeton)
Vibe Check: Harmoni Turner is a player that, had she gone to a place like Stanford we’d talk about her as a top guard nationally. Most know Kaitlyn Chen but she’s a must-watch player and Princeton’s engine. The Tigers blew out the Crimson in January, 72-49, so hopefully this might be a little more compelling.
Georgia Southern vs. Marshall
Where/When To Watch: 6:00 pm, ESPN+
What’s At Stake: Marshall has already locked up the Sun Belt regular season title so this game is more about learning about some cool players and programs. As friend of No Cap Space Mark Schindler has discussed, Marshall runs an insanely, three-ball heavy style of offense. While Georgia Southern has one of the most underdiscussed stars in women’s college basketball in Terren Ward, whose status is uncertain after she didn’t suit up for the Eagles game against Old Dominion last week.
Player to Watch: Terren Ward (Georgia Southern) , Abby Beeman (Marshall)
Vibe Check: This might be a Marshall blowout, especially if Ward doesn’t go. But Beeman and Roshala Scott are worth the show. The Herd are a fun watch and a relative unknown given their non-con’s didn’t feature many star teams. So get to know them!
Saturday
TCU vs. No. 24 West Virginia
Where/When To Watch: 1:00 PM, Big-12 Network/ESPN+
What’s At Stake: TCU, at long last, is back and healthy. West Virginia is sliding with three straight losses. Both teams need this win in different ways: to build momentum with a halthy Sedona Prince back in Fort Worth and to stabilize what has been a magical and unexpected first season in Morgantown for Mark Kellogg.
Player to Watch: Sedona Prince (TCU) , JJ Quinerly (West Virginia)
Vibe Check: I’m trending TCU here. Mark Campbell has unlocked Sedona the way that everyone thought would happen in Eugene with Oregon. It was a brutal midyear stretch for the Frogs but a run here could take them into the conference tournament with some heat.
Maine vs. Albany
Where/When To Watch: 1:00 pm, ESPN+
What’s At Stake: This is the America East regular season championship game. Both the Black Bears and Great Danes are 12-2 in conference and will likely meet again in the conference tournament final for a spot in the 68 team field. Anytime you can see consequential basketball in the regular season, you gotta watch. Just ask those that tuned into Oklahoma - Texas on Wednesday.
Player to Watch: Adrianna Smith (Maine) , Kayla Cooper (Albany)
Vibe Check: The vibes for this are just high. Expect a great and competitive game. Learn some new names, watch some new teams and see what it means to these kids to win their conference even if it isn’t a high major. This is what it’s all about.
Eastern Washington vs. Montana State
Where/When To Watch: 4:00 pm, ESPN+
What’s At Stake: Eastern Washington has a tough road trip to the Montana schools with Northern Arizona just a game back for the Big Sky regular season title. So both matchups against the Grizz and the Bobcats are going to be make or break. This time last year, the regular season title came down to the last week between NAU and Sacramento State so keep an eye on how the Big Sky race unfolds this weekend.
Player to Watch: Jamie Loera (Eastern Washington) , Katelynn Limardo (Montan State)
Vibe Check: Another game to celebrate ball and learn about a conference and set of teams that you might hear in the future. L earn Joddie Gleason’s name because it may come up in Mountain West or Pac-12 head coaching searches in the next year or two.
No. 8 UCLA vs. Arizona
Where/When To Watch: 8:00 pm, Pac-12 Network
What’s At Stake: Arizona has a huge slate here between UCLA and USC. Either one of them and the Wildcats are right back in the tournament picture. It’s been a whacky year in Tucson with departures and social media palace intrigue, but a lot of credit to Adia Barnes. She has kept her team competing and is one Top 25 win away from a resume that says ‘peaking team in March’. UCLA is back to their dominant selves with Lauren Betts firmly re-entrecnched in the lineup. These games are good tourney tune ups.
Player to Watch: Londynn Jones (UCLA) , Jada Williams (Arizona)
Vibe Check: It’s a tall task for Arizona in both games but the road win over Stanford last week shows the Wildcats have the juice when they’ve had so many top tier losses this year. Don’t be surprised if they steal one this weekend.
Sunday
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Iowa
Where/When To Watch: 1:00 pm, FOX
What’s At Stake: Ohio State locked up the outright regular season Big Ten title but this game is simply a celebration of the year we had in the heartland. The Buckeyes have a game to prove they’re a real national title threat behind Jacy Sheldon. Cotie McMahon and a surging Celeste Taylor. Caitlin Clark is chasing Pete Maravich’s points record (although still a ways off Pearl Moore’s all time record) and the Hawkeyes are playing some of their best basketball.
Player to Watch:
Vibe Check:
No. 22 Louisville vs. No. 17 Notre Dame
Where/When To Watch: 2:00 pm, ESPN
What’s At Stake: Virginia Tech has the ACC locked up (at least on paper) so there isn’t much on the line other than seeding in the conference tournament. Both the Cardinals and the Irish are 11-5 in the standings so this game just might be a good one more than anything else. Jeff Walz’ crew won the reverse matchup 73-66. Notre Dame could use the pick-me-up or a momentum booster depending on their Thursday game against Virginia Tech.
Player to Watch: Sydney Tayler (Louisville) , Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame)
Vibe Check: I want to say Notre Dame will probably win this but Jeff Walz is the one who knocks. So bet against him at your own peril. Both teams could use it to bolster a seeding discussion and maybe have a Top 16 case in the case of the Irish.
Maryland vs. No. 14 Indiana
Where/When To Watch: 3:00 pm, Peacock
What’s At Stake: Maryland is another team fighting for their life on the bubble and Indiana has kind of hung under the radar nationally. Which is weird because the Hoosiers brought back everyone sans Grace Berger and are 23-4. Does anyone believe in Teri Moren’s crew this March? A question worth asking. But putting a potential end to Maryland’s tournament hopes in convincing fashion might change some minds.
Player to Watch: Jakia Brown-Turner (Maryland) , Sydney Parrish (Indiana)
Vibe Check: I’m pretty surprised Maryland is even still in contention for March. There aren’t any marquee wins on their schedule and some of the big losses have been total beatdowns. Still, the Terps are here again and this win is needed with a capital N. That said, I’d be shocked if Indiana didn’t roll at home in the regular season finale.