The stage is set for the Final Four, and the script couldn’t have been written better.
On one side, we have South Carolina facing the undefeated defending champions in UConn.
On the other side, it’s UCLA, in only their second Final Four appearance, facing a Texas team they lost to earlier this season. Not only did the Bruins lose to the Longhorns during the regular season, but the loss prevented a perfect season for UCLA. The rematch tips off at 9:30 p.m. ET in Phoenix (ESPN).
While Texas ruined UCLA’s
undefeated run, the Bruins can now get the last laugh by eliminating Texas from national title contention. Can the Bruins actually get it done, or will it be the Longhorns who punch their ticket to the title game? Let’s dive into what the keys to this matchup will be.
Will Booker or Betts shine brighter?
It’s not just about the stars, but in a single-elimination game, the star who shines the brightest usually leads her team to victory.
Will it be Madison Booker for Texas or Lauren Betts for UCLA?
Booker has been far and away the best player for Texas. She averaged 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists during the regular season. During this tournament run, she has elevated her level. Booker scored 40 against Oregon and has remained the engine that keeps the Longhorns humming.
They’ll need her to have a similar game against UCLA, and if she does, Texas likely will take a second win over UCLA.
Betts has been just as good for the Bruins as Booker has been for the Longhorns. The difference is that Betts does her damage in the paint. She is averaging 17.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game this season and is one of the best in the sport at scoring inside.
Betts was sensational in her Elite Eight performance against Duke, scoring 23 points. And against Minnesota in the Sweet Sixteen, she was arguably even better, scoring 16 points and going 7-for-9 from the field.
Priority number one, two, and three for UCLA has to be getting Betts offensively involved right away. She has to have a monster game if they are going to avenge their loss to Texas. In that contest, Betts had just eight field goal attempts and ended the night with only eight points.
Who are the x factors for the ‘Horns and Bruins?
Even if Booker and Betts play like stars, they’ll need help from their teammates to get the win.
For Texas, Jordan Lee will be an x factor. The sophomore guard has had some great games in this tournament, like her 18-point performance against Kentucky. She’s also had quiet ones, like her four-point night against Michigan. If Lee gets into the paint and wreaks havoc, she’ll be able to tip things in Texas’ favor.
In these kinds of high-pressure games, sometimes a savvy upperclassman can calm things down. Rori Harmon can be that for Texas.
She averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 assists per game during the regular season and knows how to keep the offense flowing. Harmon has seen it all in college hoops and will be ready for the moment. Also, she played well against UCLA in their first matchup, scoring 26 points. If she can replicate that, UCLA will be in trouble.
For UCLA, their perimeter players performing well will be a key to this game. Show me the box scores of Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice and Gianna Kneepkens, and I can tell you if UCLA won this game.
If all three are in double figures and someone shoots over 40 percent from beyond the arc, a Bruin win likely is in order. Now, if that doesn’t happen, then the opposite result is more likely. In their loss to Texas, Jaquez didn’t reach double figures. She scored just four points, and the Bruins lost by nine.
This is it.
All the No. 1 seeds are still in this tournament, but that won’t be true by the end of Friday night. Two will fall, and one will be either Texas or UCLA. The time has come to find out which one it will be.
