NCAA Women’s Final Four Match-ups: Louisville vs. Mississippi State

 

 

Louisville vs. Mississippi State, March 30th @7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

 

Mississippi State must take full advantage of their experience in this match-up.  Last year’s test against South Carolina in the championship game in which they fell short; should be a eye opener for this up coming game.  Mississippi State’s 6’7″ Center Teaira McCowan is arguably the most dominant center playing.  McCowan can be a nightmare when matched up in the post.  Rebounding will be key for MS has McCowan should be able to dominate the glass, who averages just below 17 RPG.  Teammate Victoria Vivian will have to continue to control tempo and stay aggressive scoring the ball, she averages over 19 PPG.  MS through the season has taken good care of the ball and their ability to score will be a major factor.  This is what Coach Vic Schaefer stated “This year’s been unfinished business. I think this team has tried to embrace that and done a great job with that. We have not run from the target on our back all year. We’ve talked about, hey, you’re going to get everybody’s best shot. For what you did last year, you’re going to get everybody’s best game plan. Everybody’s going to be excited to play you. We had a really good nonconference schedule.  But then as the year went on, that target got joined by another target, which was the undefeated target, to go 32-0, and they’ve handled that like a champ. So really difficult to handle both of those things, and for these kids to do what they’ve done is quite remarkable.  We didn’t run from wanting to win a Southeastern Conference Championship. We put a picture of their trophy, big picture, laminated it, put it on their lockers. I wanted them to see that every day. We won the Southeastern Conference. I mean, that’s so hard to do.
So this team has embraced challenges, starting with.”

Louisville Cardinal’s will take their third trip to the Final Four and must concentrate on getting 5’10” G Asia Durr up and running.  Her quickness will be needed to be competitive. Her abilities, energy and heart of a champion attitude will have to be displayed early. The 1st team All American, Durr has taken the Cardinals to this point and her team looked ready has I watched them practice Thursday morning.  Discipline will be key and avoiding attempting unauthorized three pointers early will be relevant.  Keep an eye on Senior Forward Myisha Hines-Allen (3rd team All-American) and Arica Carter.  Coach JEFF WALZ stated when asked about defending Mississippi State “Teaira is probably stronger as a low post player. Marie, I love the finesse of her game. She could post up at times. She had a nice little step back. So their skill set was a little bit different. We’re going to have to do everything we can, it’s no secret, to try to get Teaira as far away from the basket as we can, make her score over us, but then you’ve got to turn and box her out.  What she does so well is she might miss it, but then everybody else takes a step to the basket. Well, she takes a step with you, and she just rebounds the ball over you. It’s not a foul. She’s just taller and stronger, and she rebounds it and puts it back up and in. We’ve got to limit the number of offensive rebounds and second-chance points that she’s able to get.”

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