The final four are set! UConn and UCLA punched their tickets to Phoenix on Sunday, as the Huskies took down Notre Dame in Fort Worth, Texas, before the Bruins battled Duke in Sacramento, California.
Texas is also heading to the desert after its win over Michigan on Monday night, and South Carolina had a thrilling second half against TCU to reach its sixth straight Final Four. If that combination sounds familiar, you’re not alone — these are the same four teams that reached the Final Four last year.
ESPN has all the action covered, with Kendra Andrews, Charlotte Gibson, Alexa Filippo and Michael Voebel on site for both regionals. Below, they break down the keys to each team’s victory on Monday, as well as their strengths throughout the tournament.
Go to: How did Texas beat Michigan? How South Carolina beat TCU Relive the event
Final fourth opponent: vs. UConn (Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
How South Carolina Won: The Gamecocks are no strangers to high-pressure games with titles on the line, and they’re no strangers to the Elite Eight. That experience was crucial after the Horned Frogs took an early lead — before the first quarter was over, South Carolina showed TCU who was in charge. Not even TCU star guard Olivia Miles can shut down the Gamecocks. While Miles tried to outsmart the Gamecocks’ defense with her strategic passing and high basketball IQ, the Gamecocks never fell in love with her. The difference makers in this game were freshman Agot Maker and sophomore Joyce Edwards. Despite their struggles against Virginia, the duo took over in the second half of this game. Edwards finished with 24 points, and Maker finished with 18 points.
The No. 1 factor that helped the Gamecocks reach the Final Four: South Carolina plays to its strengths. And tonight it was Maker and Edwards. Before the game came to a close, Edwards had a double. She finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Gamecocks to some of their biggest offensive opportunities of the night. Meanwhile, Maker continues to shine on the biggest stages of her career. In this NCAA Tournament, Meeker scored the highest games of her career – against TCU, she finished with 18 points. The young players were the difference in the game against TCU, and if South Carolina continues to lean on their strengths and feed off their players who are putting in strong performances, they may be unstoppable in the Final Four.-Charlotte Gibson
Final fourth opponent: vs. UCLA (Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
How Texas won: The Longhorns jumped ahead 22-9 after the first quarter and never looked back. They led by 13 points at halftime and used a 21-6 run to close out the third quarter that really put the score out of reach.
Coach Vic Schaefer’s teams have always had a strong defensive identity, but the Longhorns’ offense was also dominant early in Monday’s game, when Texas made 11 of 12 field goal attempts to start the game. The Longhorns saw offensive lulls as the game progressed, but their defensive efforts remained excellent. The Wolverines shot just 23%, including 2-for-15 from 3, and committed 15 turnovers. Michigan’s sophomore stars Olivia Olson, Sela Swords and Myla Holloway really struggled in their first Elite Eight tournament, finishing a combined 9-of-40 from the floor and committing nine turnovers. Schaefer probably couldn’t have asked for more from his team in Texas.
The number one factor that helped the Longhorns reach the Final Four: Schaefer said Texas is playing its best basketball of the season following the Longhorns’ Sweet 16 win. That’s just over six weeks after he called the team “heartless” and “probably the softest team I’ve had in years” following its 86-70 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 12.
South Carolina’s Elite Eight is still in the works, but is it time to consider Texas the best team remaining in the field? The Longhorns’ combination of experience, depth, defensive tenacity and offensive firepower could lead Texas to its first national title since 1986. -Alexa Filippo
