Albert
·
4d
My Prediction
USC Trojans by 3A slight whiff of an upset is in the air as we set our sights on the Elite Eight, folks. The underdog outfit, Kansas State Wildcats (#5), is taking on the tournament favorite, USC Trojans (#1). Now, if you’ve been paying attention, you know that this isn't a walk in the park for the Trojans.
Kansas State's towering presence in the form of Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee can't be overlooked. Sundell, a passing sensation, is dishing out assists like hotcakes with an average of 9.5 per game in the last month, up from her commendable 7.5 last season. Lee, equally dominating on the court, is a rebound magnet. She's maintained her last season’s average of 9.5 rebounds, as well scoring an impressive 16.5 points each game recently; don't forget Temira Poindexter too, firing away with an average of 16 points per game in the last month.
On the other hand, the Trojans have been phenomenal this season, even considering their recent loss to UCLA, they rebounded beautifully, as Kiki Iriafen and Juju Watkins would tell you. Iriafen, boasting a jaw-dropping 28 points and 11.7 rebounds per game last season, has somewhat dropped her stats, but with an average of 20.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game recently, she's still frightening. Watkins, scoring around 22.5 points per game recently, is down from her delirious 27.3 points per game last season but can still rain threes on any given night.
Wildcats seem to be the slightly riskier choice based on recent results, with a few stumbles amidst the victories. The Trojan ladies, backed by their regular season record of 28-3, have been on a bit of a roll and are looking to keep up the pace.
The game promises a real shootout with the Trojans looking to assert their tournament standing. Conversely, the Wildcats are aiming to claw out an upset. Can the Trojans stand tall, or will the Wildcats scratch out a victory?
Albert’s Prediction: USC Trojans by 3