Birmingham Region 2: Gamecocks on edge, ready to defend

We have Gamecocks and Blue Devils positioned on the top seed lines while Tar Heels and Terrapins are relishing in hosting at their home arenas. There are Hoosiers, Utes, Commodores, Mountaineers and Ducks hunting for victories to keep their March Madness hopes alive. 

Who will have enough to survive and advance? Can the reigning national champions get to Tampa to give themselves a chance at repeating? Will we hear “ROLL TIDE” for more than one day? It has all the makings of a regional set up for chaos – time to dive in and see what Birmingham 2 has in store for us.

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

Top seeds on alert

South Carolina is the No. 1 seed but not without a slice of drama. The Gamecocks are looking to become the first team to repeat since UConn won four straight from 2013 to 2016. Head coach Dawn Staley’s team comes into the NCAA Tournament with a record of 30-3 and an SEC Tournament title, beating also No. 1 seed Texas (Birmingham 3 Regional) 64-45 in the finals. While Staley voiced her displeasure to the media at her team not being the overall top seed in the field, the NCAA Selection Committee pointed to a head-to-head loss to UCLA (77-62 on Nov. 24) and a 29-point loss to UConn on Feb. 16, 87-58 that tipped the scales in the Bruins’ favor. South Carolina has one of the most balanced rosters in the nation, with six players averaging over eight points per game for an offense that posted 80.8 points per game during the season. 

The Gamecocks will begin their quest for a second-straight national title when they open with No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech, who enters the tournament with a 26-5 record and winners of both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and conference tournament.

No. 2 seed Duke comes into the Big Dance as possibly one of the hottest teams in the nation that is peaking at the right time. The Blue Devils boosted themselves into the two-line with their ACC Tournament title victory (76-52 over NC State on March 9) and five wins over Top 10-ranked opponents this season. Head coach Kara Lawson’s team enters with a record of 26-7 and has been relentless on defense all year, forcing opponents into over 20 turnovers per game on average. If Duke is to get to their fifth Final Four in program history and first under Lawson, their road starts with No. 15 seed Lehigh (27-6). The Mountain Hawks secured their automatic bid into the field by winning their fifth Patriot League Championship in program history and their first since 2021, defeating Army 74-62 on March 16.

First-round intrigue – No. 5 vs. No. 12

There are a host of games in round one of the Birmingham 2 Regional that intrigue us but keep your eyes on No. 5 Alabama versus No. 12 Green Bay. The Crimson Tide have lost their last two games coming into the tournament, including a 63-61 setback to Florida on March 6 in their only SEC Tournament game. First-team All-SEC guard Sarah Ashlee Barker is Alabama’s top scorer, averaging 17.5 points per game. They will face No. 12 seed Green Bay, who captured the Horizon League regular season title and conference tournament crown. The Phoenix are riding a 22-game winning streak into the Big Dance with a veteran squad, led by senior Natalie McNeal, their top scorer (14.9 per game) and rebounder (7.3 per game). Head coach Kayla Karius, in her first season back at her alma mater, has the Phoenix holding opponents to 55.8 points per game, which is 17th in the nation. Alabama posted just shy of 75 points per game in SEC play – this sets up for a knock-out, drag-out battle to see who can advance to the Round of 32 in College Park, MD.

Best potential Round of 32 matchup

No. 3 seed North Carolina is relishing the opportunity to host first and second-round games in Chapel Hill, but to get a taste of the Sweet 16, West Virginia could very well be in their way. If UNC can take care of No. 14 Oregon State and the Mountaineers handle their business against the winner of Columbia/Washington, this showdown will be one to see. West Virginia comes into the field with the best defense in the Big 12 all season (55.8 points per game) and has one of the most dynamic backcourts in the country with senior JJ Quinerly and junior Jordan Harrison. Head coach Mark Kellogg’s team was on the cusp of knocking off Iowa last season in the second round so a hostile road environment will be nothing new to his team. Senior Alyssa Ustby returned to the lineup for UNC in the ACC Tournament, where they won two and then lost in the semifinals 66-55 to NC State. How will the Tar Heels handle the chaotic pressure of West Virginia? Intriguing minds cannot wait to find out.

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Team to watch

Maryland is riding the high of being awarded a top-four seed and the opportunity to host at home. The Terrapins grab the No. 4 seed after surging in their last 10 games, winning four in a row to close the regular season before a 98-71 loss to Michigan on March 7 in the Big Ten Tournament. Head coach Brenda Frese’s team sits at 23-7 on the year after tying for third with fellow No. 4 seed Ohio State in the Big Ten race. If the Terrapins are to make a run into the second weekend, they will need 6’2 senior Shyanne Sellers to step up. She had just two points in 19 minutes in the loss to Michigan and must give Maryland that double-scoring punch with junior guard Kaylene Smikle (17.7 points per game). Maryland will face No. 13 seed Norfolk State in the first round and then look to the winner of Alabama/Green Bay in the second. The motto for the Big Dance this season is the same one they have gone by for years in College Park – “fear the turtle.”  

Names to know in B2

Chloe Kitts, 6’2 junior – South Carolina: A year ago, the Oviedo, FL native made a name for herself in the Big Dance, including posting a double-double in the national championship victory over Iowa. This season, Kitts has started every game for the Gamecocks, averaging just over 10 points per game and leading the team in rebounding at 7.9 boards per game. Her clutch performances in the SEC Tournament earned her the Most Valuable Player award. Keeping Kitts off the glass is a must for opponents but when she does attack, you better not foul her – she is shooting over 82% from the line on the season.

Gianna Kneepkens, 6’ junior – Utah: While the Utes are in the tourney for the fourth consecutive year, Kneepkens returns to the Big Dance after missing all but eight games last season due to injury. The sharp-shooting guard led Utah this year in scoring at 19.2 points per game (top 5 in the Big 12) and shot over 45% from behind the 3-point line. She is a three-level scorer who can finish through contact and will knock down mid-range jumpers in the open floor. If the Utes want to get past Indiana in the first round, they will need a big day from Kneepkens.

JJ Quinerly, 5’8 senior – West Virginia: Quinerly has navigated a host of twists and turns in her four years in Morgantown. The dynamic guard from Norfolk, VA has played for three different coaches in her career at West Virginia and has made the most of it. She was named Big 12 Defensive Player of Year for the second straight season and led West Virginia in scoring at just under 21 points per game. Her defense feeds her offense and that of the Mountaineers. Keeping Quinerly contained has been a task most in the Big 12 have not been able to do her entire career. 

Mikayla Blakes, 5’8 freshman – Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt’s success this season and their No. 7 seed in the tournament is largely due to Blakes who smashed records left and right all year. She is the top-scoring freshman in the nation at 23.2 points per game and is also second on the team in assists for the Commodores this season. She set the true freshman scoring record with 53 points against Florida on Jan. 30 and then broke the all-time freshman scoring record with 55 against Auburn on Feb. 16. The Somerset, N.J., native is a playmaker on all three levels – if she gets going it could be a long day for teams in the Birmingham 2 Regional.

Toby Fournier, 6’2 freshman – Duke: Big expectations came with the forward’s arrival to Durham, and she has delivered for the Blue Devils. Fournier has not started a game this season yet leads the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game which is also tops amongst ACC freshmen. She’s second on the team in rebounding and her athleticism and versatility as a scorer makes her a matchup problem. She can post up guards and forwards and then will step out on the perimeter and blow past defenders off the bounce to finish at the rim. And if you are looking for showtime moments in March, the Ontario, Canada native can deliver with a dunk.

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

Disruptors of the dance card

West Virginia comes into the NCAA Tournament as a six-seed with a 24-7 record and in the AP Top 25 all season. Throughout the year, it felt like the Mountaineers were under-ranked and over-looked. They finished the year 5-2 over the last seven games, including two wins over K-State, who is in the field of 68 as a No. 5 seed. Last season, the Mountaineers had to travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for first and second-round games and they are back on the road again to Chapel Hill, NC. This is a blue-collar team that gives non-stop effort for 40 minutes for second-year head coach Mark Kellogg and they will embrace the challenge yet again of being a road underdog. Some may say that John Denver is not true dance music, but they love Country Roads in West Virginia. 

The road to Tampa – Who makes It there?

We know that trying to pick the No. 8 versus No. 9 game in the NCAA Tournament is difficult but trying to predict who can best navigate the road to the Final Four in every region is almost impossible. The number of potholes and roadblocks that will be thrown at every team in the Field of 68 are too many to count. It is the teams that can stay true to what got them to this position in the first place and who embrace the challenges that can survive and advance. Here is our best prediction of what happens in the Birmingham 2 Regional:

First-Round Winners: South Carolina, Utah, Green Bay, Maryland, West Virginia, UNC, Vanderbilt, Duke

Sweet 16: South Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Duke

Elite Eight: South Carolina, Duke

Final Four Bound: South Carolina