Take aways from the Final 4 - women and mens

[stllvf]

If the adage of every possession counts was ever to be proven correct it was demonstrated throughout the elite 8's to the finals for both men and women. And the number of controversial calls or non-calls in the last minute added to deciding the outcomes. A second cliche/adage is basketball is a series of runs and that was demonstrated. The record book shows who were the winners and perhaps who was the best women and mens' teams.

2019 definitely had four women's teams in the final four who deserved to be there and perhaps two more who also had the ability. Question is women's basketball reaching a parity within a number of top teams? 2020 should be the same.

 

[rickyb712]

a trophy

 

[VolBall09]

If the adage of every possession counts was ever to be proven correct it was demonstrated throughout the elite 8's to the finals for both men and women. And the number of controversial calls or non-calls in the last minute added to deciding the outcomes. A second cliche/adage is basketball is a series of runs and that was demonstrated. The record book shows who were the winners and perhaps who was the best women and mens' teams.

2019 definitely had four women's teams in the final four who deserved to be there and perhaps two more who also had the ability. Question is women's basketball reaching a parity within a number of top teams? 2020 should be the same.

Definitely feel there has been more parity in the game the last couple of seasons. The women's game is a little easier to predict because the talent isn't quiet as deep as on the men's side. More and more we are seeing really excellent players at smaller schools having big impacts on the women's side, which we never saw before. Two great examples are Cierra Dillard at Buffalo and Reyna Frost at Central Michigan. Those two women could flat play. You never heard about them coming out of high school, but their on court presence did amazing things for their teams, carried them to upsets, and change the complexion of the NCAA tournament the last couple of years.

Having programs develop players like than and beat Power 5 teams on a visible platform like the NCAA tournament does great things for mid-major basketball and raises the overall level of competition. Other players and programs see that, and believe they can do it too. I believe it will be more and more common for lower seeds to advance to the Sweet 16 on the women's side.

Once you get to the Sweet 16 the cream tends to rise to the top and the best teams in the country announce themselves.