Reseeding Sweet 16: South Carolina still No. 1

fumes at this point, having lost another player (forward Kylee Watson) to a season-ending injury just before the NCAA Tournament. They’ve got a spectacular freshman point guard in Hannah Hidalgo, who has yet to well, play like a freshman. Is that coming at some point?

12. UCLA

There’s no question the Bruins, led by the best sophomore class in the country, are deep on talent. But they have a history of underachieving, which makes many leery of picking them to the Final Four. Can Lauren Betts and Charisma Osborne help change that narrative?

13. Baylor

The Bears are here because of terrific late-game execution and the play of Jada Walker, who had a career game in the second round. It doesn’t seem very realistic that scenario repeats itself.

14. Stanford

The Cardinal needed 41 points and 16 rebounds from Kiki Iriafen to survive Iowa State on its home floor, partially because its All-American couldn’t stay on the floor. Stanford can’t advance in the NCAA Tournament if Cameron Brink is on the bench in foul trouble; the Cardinal’s guards aren’t good enough to cover for her.

15. Indiana

The Hoosiers are one of a handful of teams to handle Iowa this year, which is certainly an impressive accomplishment, but does anyone really think they can hang with South Carolina and the Gamecocks’ athleticism?

16. Duke

It’s amazing that the Blue Devils have made it this far, and they’ve got the play of Reigan Richardson to thank for it. But the road likely ends here, given that at 68.8 points per game, Duke ranks 111th in scoring offense nationally. That’s 34 spots behind Oregon State, the other lowest scoring team left in the tournament.