These are two teams that you are going to want to see in the opening round. They both play on day 2, Saturday. You don’t want to miss it, because well, I don’t think they’re moving past Saturday. They shoot it a bunch, they score it a bunch and they’re a part of the new era of women’s basketball.

FGCU 29-4 (16-0)

Atlantic Sun Conference Champion. 

The Eagles shoot it. And I mean they shoot it! Taking 30.2 threes per game, which is the 3rd highest amount in the country only behind Marshall and Cal Baptist. Two tournament teams that we will get too. Karl Smesko has these girls rolling, winning their last 23 games and capturing the Atlantic Sun Championship with a 29 point win against the 3 seeded Central Arkansas. The Eagles went 2-3 against tournament teams this year with wins over North Carolina and Drexel. Their 3 losses came from the hands of Caitlin Clark, Juju Watkins, and Kara Lawson. Three pretty big names in the Women’s game. Can they guard? Well according to stats they are the 9th ranked defense giving up only 54.5 ppg. The Eagles conference games could have been a reason for this as the ASUN is ranked 25/32 in conference RPI. How do these guys score? Well like I said, they take a lot of threes, but, the Eagles spread it out and ball screen you in the halfcourt. Watch their 3 guards navigate the ball screens in the halfcourt all game against Oklahoma. Cairns, Jefferson and Persson all have over 90 assists on the season because of their up pace game and excellent ball screen offense in the half court. I’m not sure if they will be able to pull it out against Oklahoma but they are definitely a team that you are going to want to see if you keep up with the times of basketball.

Cal Baptist

28-3 (18-2)

Western Atlantic Conference Champions

We like threes here, and so does Cal Baptist! But you better watch their opening game because I don’t see them becoming the first ever 15 over 2 upset against UCLA. The Lancers average just about 10 made threes per game. Now they are a fun team that has had experience against the Pac 12 but UCLA is a different monster. They may need 15-17 threes in this one to keep it close. The Lancers take 30.2 threes per game and make 9.9 per game which puts them in the top 5 in both categories. Another part of the game they do well? Share it. The Lancers are 8th in the country in assists per game(19.2) and they don’t turn it over much. Their well balanced attack gives them a great chance of scoring, although most of UCLA’s focus will be on Chloe Webb, who is averaging 21.1 ppg. Good enough to be the 14th best scorer in the country. Cal Baptist does have 5 other players that average double figure scoring but watch these guys first game. Unless you’re a night owl on the east coast, there is not much opportunity to see the Lancers in action.