Even when it’s not explicitly acknowledged, a part of the NCAA Match Choice Committee’s job is to make a tv present, to place groups on paths that could be compelling must-watch matchups in March Insanity.
That’s why we would see Duke vs. North Carolina within the Candy 16. That’s why JuJu Watkins and USC are on a collision course to face Paige Bueckers and UConn within the Elite Eight. And that’s why Louisville received despatched to TCU’s sub-regional.
Keep in mind, the committee tried this final 12 months too. When former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith was then taking part in for LSU, the Cardinals received despatched to Baton Rouge. However the second spherical matchup by no means occurred as Louisville received upset within the first spherical by Center Tennessee State.
The committee’s second — and closing — attempt at making this occur lastly labored: Van Lith and her second-seeded Horned Frogs will face No. 7 Louisville on Sunday in Fort Price, Texas.
So, for the primary time ever, Van Lith will face the crew she helped take to the Closing 4 as a sophomore in 2022.
However Van Lith isn’t feeding into the frenzy across the matchup.
“I perceive the media, I perceive the narrative that’s being painted. Doesn’t essentially align with the place I’m at mentally and emotionally,” she mentioned Saturday. “That’s okay. It doesn’t matter if folks don’t have the identical notion as me. I’m in a very great place. I’m excited to play. You understand, this recreation a a lot larger than me and what I received happening.”
She added: “TCU is seeking to go to the Candy 16 for the primary time ever. That’s so much larger than no matter else the narrative is. I’m simply excited to go play. It’s going to be nice recreation time. In all probability going to get a primetime slot. I like it.”
Certainly, TCU vs. Louisville will tip-off at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday on ESPN, proving that it’s a matchup worthy of the mothership therapy.
At her third college in three years, Van Lith is having arguably the most effective season of her school profession and is an enormous cause why TCU is considered as a Closing 4 contender. She’s averaging 17.7 factors and a career-best 5.4 assists per recreation, whereas additionally grabbing 4.3 rebounds per recreation and capturing a career-high 45.7 % from the ground.
The fifth-year 5-foot-9 guard from Wenatchee, Washington — who additionally gained an Olympic bronze medal this previous summer season with Crew USA in 3×3 basketball — can be seventh nationally in win shares. She’s one in all simply 5 gamers within the nation — and the one one taking part in within the NCAA Match — who’s averaging no less than 17.5 factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per recreation. Along with her main the best way, TCU gained the Huge 12 this season for the primary time.
It’s a bounce-back season for Van Lith, who struggled to discover a constant function final season on a star-laden LSU roster that fell within the Elite Eight to Iowa. One may make the case that Van Lith was frolicked to dry a bit by her coaches in that defeat as they refused to make actual changes to protect Caitlin Clark, leaving Van Lith one-on-one together with her for many of the night time.
Van Lith averaged simply 11.6 factors per recreation at LSU whereas capturing a career-low from the ground. At TCU, she’s discovered the proper match for her skillset.
“I feel once I selected TCU I used to be actually searching for a system very similar to our system right here. Only a ton of spacing. Distinctive personnel that opens up the ground for me the place I is usually a playmaker, what I do greatest,” Van Lith mentioned. “But additionally a system that may problem me to open up new elements of my recreation, like I’ve with taking part in the one a bit bit.”
Louisville has a younger roster with eight true freshmen, however there’s a couple of gamers nonetheless there who performed with Van Lith, together with Olivia Cochran and Merissah Russell. Van Lith mentioned she’s nonetheless very shut with Russell.
“Certainly one of my greatest buddies performs for Louisville nonetheless. In all probability going to be a bridesmaid at my marriage ceremony if I ever get married,” Van Lith mentioned, smiling. “We did go to a Closing 4. That’s life altering. Numerous feelings there, so it was a constructive… Yeah, me and Merissah, room 112.”
Cochran nonetheless has a whole lot of respect and admiration for Van Lith too, however is aware of that on Sunday they gained’t be former teammates and buddies — simply rivals.
“Hailey was an amazing teammate. I want her the most effective. However on the finish of the day we received to outlive and transfer ahead. On the finish of the day, that is basketball and it’s competitors, so I’m certain as properly that she needs to compete as a lot as I wish to compete towards her,” Cochran mentioned. “See? It’s no dangerous blood. All love. I’m wishing her the most effective.”
Louisville coach Jeff Walz wasn’t keen to play together with hype being drummed up for the matchup both.
He was requested what works so properly with Van Lith and Sedona Prince being on the identical crew. For context right here, Walz coached Prince in 2018 on Crew’s USA’s U-18 crew that gained the FIBA Americas Championship.
Walz responded to the query this manner:
“I imply, like what do you imply? They’re each nice gamers. What the hell? I imply, it’s not like they’ve reinvented the sport right here,” Walz mentioned. “It’s (not) like two shitty gamers we simply made nice. They’re actually good gamers.”
Walz’s persona permeates all all through Louisville’s ladies’s basketball program and has for the whole lot of his tenure as head coach. It’s why, with eight freshmen or no freshmen, they’re at all times a tricky out. Their depth and self-discipline has helped them make 4 Closing Fours underneath Walz’s watch.
On Sunday, his Cardinals will attempt to punch their thirteenth ticket to the Candy 16. TCU shall be taking part in for the prospect to advance to the NCAA Match’s second weekend for the primary time ever.
Van Lith is aware of all too properly what she and the Horned Frogs are up towards.
“Being in that program, I do know that they undoubtedly are going to have a chip on their shoulder. Once I was there we at all times had a chip about us. You understand, in all probability why I additionally play like that also,” Van Lith mentioned. “So we’re going to have to return out and be intense and match their depth. We’ll see if we’re as much as it.”
