The Elite Eight tips off Sunday with only No. 1 and No. 3 seeds but representatives from each of the Power 6 conferences. If you were building a final eight with the best possible narratives for each matchup, it’s hard to produce a more compelling set of teams than those left in Albany and Portland.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the four matchups and break down what to expect over the next two days.
(All times Eastern)
Sunday
No. 3 Oregon State vs. No. 1 South Carolina
Albany 1 | 1 p.m. | ABC
Two things stood out for the Beavers in their Sweet 16 win: an abundance of turnovers against Notre Dame’s aggressive defense that was counteracted by the interior dominance of Raegan Beers. Beers will face a significantly bigger South Carolina frontcourt, led by Kamilla Cardoso but also featuring the interior defense of Ashlyn Watkins and Sania Feagin. None of them boasts the pure physicality of Beers, but the Gamecocks’ collective size should frustrate Beers more than the Irish did in the Sweet 16 matchup. On the other hand, South Carolina doesn’t pressure the ball quite like Notre Dame, which will allow Oregon State to run its offense a little more smoothly.
America’s team.
🎙️ @TaliaVono pic.twitter.com/fJha9sHjKg
— Oregon State WBB (@BeaverWBB) March 30, 2024
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