Reseeding Sweet 16: South Carolina still No. 1

Welcome to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament, where the games are sweet, the players are hungry and, according to the data, viewers can’t get enough of women’s basketball.

There wasn’t much madness in the first two rounds of the women’s tournament, save for second-seeded Ohio State getting beat at home, which was definitely a shocker. And yes, technically Baylor winning at Virginia Tech was an upset according to seeds, but given than the Hokies were missing the three-time ACC player of the year, a lot of people expected that outcome.

Does a lack of upset action mean we’re due for chaos the next four days? One can only hope – unless you’re rooting for the overall top seeded South Carolina Gamecocks.

We can argue at a different time if that’s fun.

For now, let’s reseed the tournament based on which teams are left.

1. South Carolina

You’re not surprised, are you? The Gamecocks haven’t forgotten they were upset last year and in fact they still seem upset about it. They’re taking it out on anyone in their way – look out, Indiana – and seem eager to prove there won’t be a repeat of last spring.

2. Southern Cal

The Trojans have survived everything this season, from the toughest conference in America to a stifling zone Monday night designed to slow super freshman JuJu Watkins. But USC, playing in its first Sweet 16 since 1994, is much more than one player, and the Trojans will be ready to show that versus Baylor.

3. UConn

Geno Auriemma, who has coached a few impressive players in his time, said it best: The Huskies have got the best player in America in Paige Bueckers, and it’s hard to argue with the numbers. They’ll go as far as she can carry them.

4. Texas

The Longhorns have yet to play like they’re missing an All-American, even though Rori Harmon is one of the most impactful players in the country on both ends of the floor. It helps that in Harmon’s absence, UT crowned another All-American in freshman Madison Booker. So far, Booker’s postseason inexperience hasn’t been an issue.

5. LSU

You don’t have to like them, or their coach, to know the Tigers are plenty talented. Led by double-double queen Angel Reese, the defending national champs still haven’t played a complete game this season against top competition – is that coming in Albany?

6. Iowa

It’s Caitlin Clark and everyone else – there’s maybe one other future WNBA player on this roster in sophomore Hannah Stuelke, but that’s it. But Clark is so spectacular, described as a generational player by nearly everyone who watches her, that she might be able to lead Iowa back to the Final Four.

7. North Carolina State

In a loaded ACC, the quietly excellent Wolfpack are often overlooked. We should probably stop doing that, given that N.C. State has five players who score in double figures, with any of them capable of taking over a game.

8. Oregon State

The Beavers, picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 this season, have that always coveted inside-out attack and, according to the numbers, are the second-best defensive team left in the tournament, behind only South Carolina. They were rolling in mid-February before sophomore center Raegan Beers broke her nose and missed a few games, stalling their momentum. Can they get back to that level of play?

9. Colorado

As the joke goes, bring your football pads to match up with this team. The Buffs are tough, physical and make you work hard for every basket. They are also battle tested and have one of the best on-ball defenders in the country in Jaylyn Sherrod. But is it enough?

Dorance Armstrong, C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Neville Gallimore, LT Tyron Smith, RB Tony Pollard and WR Michael Gallup all walk out the door.

Maybe “America’s Team” can make gains whenever QB Dak Prescott’s unwieldy contract gets extended beyond 2024. Barring that, the NFC East champs can definitely find reinforcements in the draft, and at least one offensive lineman (either 24th or 56th overall) seems like an imperative. Good thing there’s a deep group to choose from.

● Denver Broncos: If offloading QB Russell Wilson, WR Jerry Jeudy and FS Justin Simmons isn’t hitting ControlAlt-Delete on your roster, then what is?

No team would cop to punting on a season, but the Broncos — their secondround pick is property of the New Orleans Saints as part of the trade for HC Sean Payton — need to at least get a consequential player (perhaps a

10. Gonzaga

Can we stop calling the Zags a midmajor team already? GU has one of the best and most experienced lineups in the country behind forward Yvonne Ejim and twin guards Kayleigh and Kaylynne Truong. If they knock off topseeded Texas, will they finally get the respect they deserve?

11. Notre Dame

The Irish are practically playing on 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 replacement for Wilson?) at No. 12 amid this reset.

● Los Angeles Chargers: A team that has one playoff win in the past 10 seasons and is in the midst of regime change hasn’t been able to manage much more than its salary cap, which has meant the departures of starting WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

However new HC Jim Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz have a Bolt-en opportunity to reimagine this team with five of the draft’s top 110 selections, including the fifth and 37th overall.

The No. 5 spot in particular presents intriguing options, likely the best or second-best non-quarterback or a chance to trade out and reap the rewards of what could be a coveted spot for a quarterback-needy team — which the Chargers decidedly are not.

The presumed turnaround began with Harbaugh’s hiring, but it needs to hit the next gear starting April 25.

● Los Angeles Rams: They’re in a bit of an unfamiliar position with four of the first 99 picks — most notably, their first Round 1 choice since 2016, when they took QB Jared Goff first overall.

They’ll also be in a very unfamiliar position moving forward following the retirement of DL Aaron Donald, almost certainly the GOAT-Ram. You can’t replace him with the first pick, much less the 19th. Yet GM Les Snead and HC Sean McVay shouldn’t necessarily feel compelled to take a D-lineman in Round 1.

Last season was proof positive that a team two years removed from a Lombardi Trophy is most definitely back on the ascent — and this draft should accelerate the climb.

● Miami Dolphins: Their cap situation necessitated a net loss in the talent department during free agency, particularly in the trenches — former Fins DT Christian Wilkins and G Robert Hunt signing nine-figure contracts elsewhere.

Miami also has no third- or fourthround selection, the former forfeited as part of the punishment levied against owner Stephen Ross for illegal tampering.

So a team that hasn’t won during the postseason in more than 23 years really needs to find instant contributors in Rounds 1 and 2.

● Minnesota Vikings: Is there any team having a more intriguing offseason? They didn’t re-sign QB Kirk Cousins and proceeded to turn over a good percentage of the roster.

Then came the trade to acquire a second first-round pick from the Houston 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 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.

Texans, which certainly felt like a precursor to a subsequent move that could ultimately get the Vikes into position to draft a long-term replacement for Cousins.

Yet GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah doesn’t currently have another pick before Round 4 … so, regardless of what he does next, the decision(s) could very likely make or break his tenure in the Twin Cities.

● New England Patriots: Few teams have more draft capital than this former dynasty in transition. New director of scouting Eliot Wolf and HC Jerod Mayo were fairly busy during free agency, though — perhaps surprisingly — re-signed quite a few players to a roster that hasn’t won a playoff game since QB Tom Brady left.

Yet given this group didn’t get results with since-traded QB Mac Jones, would it be wise to drop another young quarterback into the fray with the No. 3 overall pick?

Maybe it’s an opportunity Wolf and Co. can’t decline … or maybe they can switch out with another franchise desperate for a quarterback — Vikings? Raiders? Giants? — bolster their depth chart elsewhere, and circle back to QB down the line.

A fascinating dilemma.

● New York Giants: They upgraded defensively by obtaining and extending Burns and dropping him into the lineup opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Though the line got buttressed, the offense was degraded by RB Saquon Barkley’s departure, leaving quarterback-of-the-present Daniel Jones with virtually no ammunition.

Burns’ cost reduced GM Joe Schoen’s draft currency, putting his decision with the sixth pick into the spotlight. Get a bona fide wideout for Jones? Get a replacement for Jones? Trade?

● New York Jets: They built the newlook O-line they needed, one now featuring talented but fragile Smith. They also got Williams into the fold for a season thanks to (potentially) $15 million and a breakfast sandwich.

But GM Joe Douglas, who has no second-rounder because of last year’s trade for QB Aaron Rodgers, gets one more shot with the 10th selection to gas up a squad that needs to hit the afterburners in 2024. Does he truly go for broke with another pass catcher like TE Brock Bowers?

Perhaps blocking insurance? Could be a job-saving or sinking dilemma for Douglas and HC Robert Saleh.