Three of the teams in the Greenville 2 Region weren’t even ranked in the AP’s preseason Top 25. LSU, a No. 3 seed, is the only team in this bracket that was ranked at the start, at No. 16. No. 2 seed Utah, No. 4 Villanova and No. 9 Miami all received votes in the first poll, but it’s fair to say no one would’ve put together a Sweet 16 regional like this — even if it is three-quarters chalk now — back in November.
But that’s what the games are for — to prove voters wrong and bring the Madness to March.
The teams
No. 9 Miami vs. No. 4 Villanova
2:30 p.m. (ET) Friday, ESPN
No. 3 LSU vs. No. 2 Utah
5 p.m. (ET) Friday, ESPN
Who’s the biggest surprise appearance?
Miami had to take down No. 1 seed Indiana at Assembly Hall to punch a ticket to Greenville, South Carolina. And if that’s not difficult enough, then consider that the Hoosiers appeared to be playing with a certain feeling of destiny this season. Indiana was considered one of the most balanced teams in women’s college hoops, and it seemed as though this would finally be the season Teri Moren’s crew knocked down that Final Four door. But first, the Hoosiers would need to get through a Miami team peaking at the perfect time.
The Hurricanes, who usually hit five 3s a game and shoot 33 percent from deep, got hot…
