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Good morning! Be nice, Ja Morant.
Refresh, Pt. 1: It’s JuJu’s world, but UCLA’s town
We briefly mentioned this yesterday, but now is the time of year when college basketball re-enters our national consciousness. As football season wanes, we are exactly two months away from the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Time for a refresh, and we have quick dossiers on both the men and women today. We’ll start with the side that intrigues me most right now, with insights from our insider Sabreena Merchant:
Let’s get right to it, Sabreena. Who’s the best women’s team in the country?
💬 UCLA. There are three unbeaten teams (UCLA, LSU and Ohio State), but only the Bruins boast a convincing victory over defending champion South Carolina, the lone loss the Gamecocks have taken in the last two seasons. The nation’s No. 1 recruiting class two years ago is all grown up, with juniors Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice leading the way. Transfers Janiah Barker and Timea Gardiner help give the Bruins one of the most versatile and athletic frontcourts in recent memory. This roster is big and menacing defensively and the deserving top-ranked team.
OK, but…
