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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb took on three of the four participants in the Final Four of the season this season. Here, she breaks down the matches of the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament for the Associated Press:
It may be the most competitive Final Four we've had in many years, with no clear favorites. Unlike last year, one of these four teams could cut the net on Sunday and it would not be a total surprise.
BAYLOR-OREGON
From the fans' point of view, I'm really excited about this game as it features two amazing teams with very contrasting styles. What we are looking at is the strength and power of Baylor's internal game against the giant of an Oregon offense. The question is: how are each of them going to protect themselves? Oregon has the ability to spread the soil and handle the pick-and-roll way beautifully, under the guidance of Sabrina Ionsecu, surgeon on the ground. I expect the Ducks will try to move Baylor's big players in the pick-and-roll, and challenge themselves to then have to match the five players on the field.
The question everybody had to deal with is: how to protect Baylor's internal game? There is no easy answer. Our game plan was to try to beat their guards. I'm sure others have had the same idea. And throughout this tournament, they did it! Chloe Jackson, Juicy Landrum and Didi Richards improved their score, making Baylor a true contender for the national title.
What will Oregon do? They had a great game plan against Mississippi State with a sagging defense on Big T, and I'm sure they'll make it difficult for Baylor.
I guess Baylor did not see an offense as good as Oregon's all year. Stanford leads the offensive at Princeton and their ability to disperse and run the big players has caused Baylor some problems. Oregon handles different stuff, but their offense is literally a symphony orchestrated with a very good game of guard.
I was really impressed by Baylor's ability to do things that others can not do defensively. Because of their depth and size, they could play Kristine (Anigwe) more upright than anyone else in the country: this allowed their guards to put pressure on everyone else. Faced with Oregon, the question will be whether they can actually protect the pick-and-roll, allowing them to stay at home thanks to Oregon shooters. Easier to say than to do! I am excited to see what is Kim's (Mulkey) game plan.
She was there before and won a national championship, which is the first time Oregon has played on the biggest stage. There is a lot going on at the Final Four given the pomp and circumstance surrounding the event. It can be embarrassing, but honestly, once you get on the field, it's really 94 feet and just basketball and the coaches will have their teams well prepared.
When you have a very concentrated competitor like Sabrina, despite the inexperience of this stage, I just do not think she will let her team be anything other than what she is capable of being.
OUR LADY-UCONN
Well, stories are not lacking to talk about this game. This should be a really fun and dramatic game. Geno Auriemma said the other day that if you're in Connecticut, you know you'll have to cross Notre Dame to win a national championship. If you are at Notre Dame, you know that you will have to go through Connecticut. .
These are the two heavyweights of the sport. I think they both have a lot of heavyweight players who can do a lot of things, but this may be due to the unnamed kids (Napheesa) Collier, Arike (Ogunbowale) and Jackie Young. It may be the "support people", so to speak, who make the difference – and they both have incredible support roles made up of All-American players.
It was Christyn Williams who was the key the first time they played. She and Megan Walker are the opposing coaches who say you have to try to get beaten. You can not let the other "Big 3" dominate. What's crazy is that they were both out of high school and they were both the number one in the class. Everyone wants "role" players like these!
Things are a little different for UConn this year and we do not talk much about it. What I mean is that two years ago, when they lost to the state of Mississippi, I think Geno expected them to lose a match or two at some point this season. It was the season after Stewie – he did not think that they would stay undefeated, and yet they did it until the Final Four. Same thing last year, they were unbeaten and had not faced many deficits until they played Notre Dame in the national semifinal.
This year's team may not be at its best over the past three years, but it may have a better chance of winning these two games explicitly because it has already lost this year. They have more mental assets than they have in the last three years: they have lost, they are not afraid to lose, they have taken part in tight games and they seem to have a chip on their shoulder .
Our Lady, on paper, has the most experience and talent. The five players in the field change the game and are very busy. In addition, Muffet McGraw trained them well. It's a good combination. On paper, they may have to be the favorite of the experience they have acquired. They have an incredible collection of talents and clearly Arike (Ogunbowale) is not afraid to take and make the big move.
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More college basketball AP: https://apnews.com/WomensNCAATournament and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
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