The Horned Frogs and Longhorns will meet with a spot in the Final Four serving as just one piece of bragging rights at stake. “We could have met in Corsicana (Texas) and saved money playing ’em, but nonetheless, I think it’s great for our state,” Longhorns coach Vic Schaefer said.
The two Texas programs are enjoying historic seasons. The Longhorns tied their school record for wins (34) with Saturday’s Sweet 16 win, and the Horned Frogs reached their first Elite Eight after defeating Notre Dame. Texas and TCU feature elite offenses, though they score in different ways. TCU relies on its spread pick-and-roll, trying to create playmaking avenues for star Hailey Van Lith. She was prolific in TCU’s Sweet 16 victory over the Irish, scoring a game-high 26 points in its 71-62 win. Van Lith has become an ideal pick-and-roll partner for center Sedona Prince, who will be another focal point for the Longhorns’ stout defense.
Prince scored 21 points and added six rebounds against the Irish, despite picking up a third foul early in the third quarter. How she fares against Texas centers Taylor Jones and Kyla Oldacre will go a long way in determining who moves on.
The Longhorns play aggressive, physical defense and force nearly 21 turnovers per game, which ranks 16th best in the nation. The Horned Frogs, however, average only 12.1 turnovers. The turnover battle will be another factor to watch.
Texas scores almost entirely because of its effectiveness inside the paint. The Longhorns are last in the nation in 3-point attempt rate, though they did make 3 of 7 against Tennessee. How the Horned Frogs choose to defend Texas wing Madison Booker will be another key question. TCU likely will lean on guards Donovyn Hunter and Agnes Emma-Nnopu to defend, but Booker is taller and longer than both Horned Frogs players, which creates another possible mismatch.
The pick: Texas
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