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March is coming to an end and that means so is March Madness. The Final Four of the Women’s NCAA Tournament is set to give us one final show with a matchup between South Carolina and Louisville.
The 2022 Final Four is set.#WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/BMsCyNeKGe
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 29, 2022
South Carolina will take on Louisville in the Final Four on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Making for a heavyweight matchup of two No. 1 seeds in their respective sides of the bracket.
South Carolina Season Outlook
On the year, South Carolina suffered just two losses. They are 33-2 and were first in the SEC all year long. Losses were hard to come by this year for the Gamecocks, and when they did they were stunning. One of these stunning losses came in the SEC Championship at the hands of Kentucky. The Gamecocks look to avenge this loss by bringing home a National Championship.
South Carolina has seen its players and coaches awarded many accolades for their success this season. Most notably, they have the Naismith Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in Junior Forward Aliyah Boston on their team.
https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB/status/1509271272890507271
Boston averaged 16.8 points per game, 12.2 rebounds per game, 1.3 steals per game and 2.5 blocks per game. She leads the Gamecocks in all these respective statistical categories along with field goal and free throw percentage.
Additionally, Gamecock Head Coach Dawn Staley was credited for her work this year by being named the Naismith Coach of the Year.
https://twitter.com/GamecockWBB/status/1509269225189384192
South Carolina has the player of the year and the coach of the year of the entire NCAA on their team. These accolades recognize their greatness and make them look daunting to opposing teams in the tournament. But in the Final Four, every team packs a heavy punch.
Louisville’s Season Outlook
Louisville has shown dominance all year with a record 29-4. Holding the second-best record in the ACC, behind a 32-4 NC State team that was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by UCONN on Monday.
The Cardinals had an early exit from the ACC tournament but have made up for it with a run to the Final Four.
They have been led by Sophomore Guard Hailey Van Lith.
The Most Outstanding Player of the Wichita Regional, @haileyvanlith #GoCards x #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/MQSZK1AVAu
— Louisville Women’s Basketball (@LouisvilleWBB) March 29, 2022
Van Lith was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Wichita Region of the NCAA bracket. In the tournament, she has scored 20 or more points in every round so far. Van Lith leads the Cardinals in scoring this year and her tournament hot streak now leads them back to the Final Four.
https://twitter.com/UofLWBB/status/1508840602619854865
Friday’s Matchup
Both South Carolina and Louisville have breezed through the tournament. In their eight combined games in the tournament, six were won by more than double digits. These teams haven’t been tested yet until now. Two No. 1 seeds are going toe-to-toe and one will fall.
South Carolina is the betting favorite in this matchup. South Carolina was the #1 team in the nation when AP Rankings closed at the end of the season. They had the best record in college basketball with only two losses. They were the favorite to win the entire tournament from the beginning.
Louisville is no pushover and a No. 1 seed in the tournament. But do they have what it takes to take down the Naismith Player and Coach of the Year? We will find out tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN when the madness continues.
