Tomorrow is the day Texas Women's Basketball has been waiting for since 2003. They will play in the Final Four against the South Carolina Gamecocks for a chance to advance to the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship game.
Texas worked their butt off to beat the Cinderella TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight. Vic Schaefer was emotional that the ladies got this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Final Four. Now is their chance to seize the opportunity and advance to the national championship.
However, advancing to the national championship won't be easy for the Longhorns. They are going up against Dawn Staley and her battle-tested basketball team. They are a tough team to beat any day of the week. The Longhorns were able to beat them once this season and lost the other two games against them. Can the Longhorns tie the season series and head to the national championship?
Previewing the Gamecocks
The Gamecocks haven't had the easiest roads to the Final Four this season. They went against tough teams like the Indiana Hoosiers and the Duke Blue Devils. Now they are going up against one of the best defensive teams in the SEC.
Gamecocks junior forward Chloe Kitts is one of the leading players the Longhorns have to keep away from the rim. She is a rebounding machine and helped the Gamecocks avoid the upset to the Blue Devils in the Elite Eight. She averages 10 points and eight rebounds a game.
Gamecocks freshman forward Joyce Edwards is another player the Longhorns must keep at bay to advance to the national championship. The Longhorns had a hard time containing her in the SEC Championship game. She averages 13 points and five rebounds a game.
I do not doubt that Schaefer has her on the scouting report for tomorrow's game. She is a tough player to guard and could spell trouble for the Longhorns if they don't always have someone on her.
Previewing the Longhorns
The Longhorns have some starters who need to show up against the Gamecocks. This year, they beat them. Longhorns Sophomore forward Madison Booker is one of those players the Longhorns need in the Final Four. Booker is one of the many players that has helped the Longhorns get to the Final Four for the first time since 2003.
Her offense has helped carry the Longhorns in some of these tournament games this year. She is one of the players who needs to show up tomorrow.
Longhorns Senior center Taylor Jones is another player the Longhorns need to beat the Gamecocks. Jones's main objective will be to guard Kitts and grab offensive and defensive rebounds. The Longhorns can't afford for her to get into foul trouble.
She is one of the best defensive interior players the Longhorns have on their roster. The Longhorns have a tough challenge ahead of them tomorrow night. They have beaten the Gamecocks and can do it again if these two players show up.