The bracket is finalized. The 68 teams have been revealed.
You can print your bracket here and play along. Here’s my full bracket and early thoughts on what should be a fantastic road to the Final Four.
Spokane 1
The path is paved, UCLA. It’s yours for the taking
The committee is supposed to give the least difficult Final Four road to the No. 1 seed, and UCLA got just that. The Bruins’ biggest weapon is 6-foot-7 center Lauren Betts, and though there are some particular matchups (both against her and ones that spread the floor) that could challenge UCLA, the Bruins won’t be seeing any of those before Tampa.
Even in the Elite Eight — which many coaches consider to be the toughest hurdle of March Madness — UCLA would face third-seeded LSU, a team that has a dominant rebounder in Aneesah Morrow, but not exactly a match for Betts’ all-around game. The best option the Tigers have to go toe-to-toe with Betts (in terms of her height) is 6-6 sophomore Aalyah Del Rosario, but the former top 10 recruit has only averaged six minutes a game this season and wouldn’t be able to hang with Betts on either end of the floor.
Does this pick give me the tiniest bit of the ick? Yes, yes it does. Do I still have flashbacks to sitting courtside in Albany last season and watching as the…
