Kansas State women vs Portland in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA Tournament opener

[ad_1]

MANHATTAN — The Kansas State women’s basketball team got its wish, and so did its fans.

By claiming the No. 4 seed in the second Albany, New York, regional, the Wildcats (25-7) open the 2024 NCAA Tournament on their home court at Bramlage Coliseum against No. 13 seed Portland (21-12).

The top 16 overall seeds — four in each region — were designated as hosts for the first two rounds. Joining the Wildcats in Manhattan are No. 5 seed Colorado (22-9) and No. 12 Drake (29-5).

Dates for the first-round games, either Friday or Saturday, were to be announced later Sunday night. If the Wildcats get past Portland, they will face the Colorado-Drake winner either on Sunday or Monday.

Here are three things to know about the Wildcats’ first-round matchup with Portland.

Related: Kansas State women’s basketball back in conversation as NCAA Tournament host

Related: How Kansas State women’s basketball got its mojo back despite semifinal loss to Texas

Does K-State owe the Pilots a debt of gratitude?

Heading into this week’s conference tournaments, Gonzaga had been slotted in at a No. 4 seed with K-State on the 5 line. But Portland beat Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game, which may have been responsible for the Bulldogs falling to a No. 5.

Kansas State guard Serena Sundell (4) is chased by Texas’ Shay Holle (10) during their Big 12 Tournament semifinal game last Monday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.

There were other factors no doubt, particularly a good showing at the Big 12 Tournament by K-State, which took eventual champion Texas to the wire in the semifinals.

It could be a battle of the bigs

On paper, Kansas State All-America center Ayoka Lee clearly has an advantage in the post, averaging 20.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, but she won’t be towering over her Portland counterpart.

Pilots center Lucy Cochrane matches Lee’s height at 6-foot-6 and averages 7.5 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds.

Who are the top players to watch?

Lee, a four-time All-Big 12…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kansas-state-women-vs-portland-030916532.html

Author : The Topeka Capital-Journal

Publish date : 2024-03-18 03:09:16

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.