However, hold off on the ink that has typically solidified these favorites in your Final Four bracket. Pencils abound, these teams could easily get scratched en route to New Orleans as more teams than ever are very capable of winning big on any given night. As tourney time is upon us, look for Big 10 foes Purdue (2004 conference tourney champion) and Penn State to stake their claim as the nation’s best, as well as Vanderbilt (SEC tournament champion), Stanford (Pac 10 regular season and tournament champion), Big 12 leaders Texas, Kansas State and Oklahoma (Big 12 tournament champion) and upstarts such as Houston, LSU, Georgia, Boston College and North Carolina.  

East Region 

Senior sharpshooter Kelly Mazzante (21 ppg; Big 10 all-time leading scorer) and her Penn State teammates are coming off of a tough loss to Purdue in the Big 10 tournament championship. However, the Nittany Lions were awarded the top seed in the east for a great run through a brutal regular season schedule. Along with that #1 seed though, comes the tough task of a possible regional final match-up with defending NCAA champion UConn and Diana Taurasi.

The Connecticut Huskies have experienced some unfamiliar territory late this season, losing a couple of times, to Villanova in the regular season and then again to Boston College in the Big East tournament, giving them a total of four, yes that’s right, four losses on the season. If UConn is to become the first NCAA women’s team to make five consecutive Final Four appearances in a row, Taurasi will need to get some help from teammates Ann Strother, Barb Turner and Jessica Moore down the stretch.

One of the nation’s most prolific scorers will finally get her chance in the spotlight with an NCAA tournament berth in 2004. Chandi Jones and the Houston Cougars are the #3 seed in the East after a stellar 2004 regular season campaign. Jones has scored in double figures in all 132 collegiate contests in which she has played, totaling over 2,500 career points, including a 36 point outing in the Conference USA tournament championship game. A great match-up in the making could pit Jones vs. Taurasi in the regional semis.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, the region’s fourth seed, has spent the bulk of 2004 in the shadow of Duke’s super seniors. The ACC’s future is now as UNC freshmen sensations Ivory Latta and Camille Little have helped lead their team to the national stage, in a good position to battle for a Final Four berth. This young Tar Heel team has an unmatched combination of quickness and athleticism, along with a big early season victory over region #1 Penn State.

Look for other regional teams to cause some problems for the top-four seeds. Notre Dame (#5), Colorado (#6), Virginia Tech (#8) and UC Santa Barbara (#11) are no strangers to the NCAA tournament and have plenty of experience this season against the nation’s best teams. 

Mideast Region 

Could this finally be the year that Alana Beard and the Duke Blue Devils can claim a national title after being so close throughout Beard’s entire collegiate career? The only element missing from Beard’s impressive resume is an NCAA championship. Beard has graced the women’s basketball faithful with another one of her typical “Player of the Year” campaigns, doing it all for the Blue Devils in 2004. With an improvement and an increase in fellow senior Iciss Tillis’ productivity, an impressive defense, and following a dominant run through the ACC tournament, Duke appears to be running on all cylinders as tournament time approaches.

Look out for the Kansas State Wildcats and senior Nicole Ohlde (K-State and Big 12 all-time scoring leader) as they have some things to prove after a disappointing loss in the Big 12 tournament and an early exit in last year’s NCAA tournament. Junior Kendra Wecker (17 ppg, 8 rpg) is one of the most versatile and athletic forward in the country and can score from anywhere on the floor. The Wildcats will need great defensive efforts and steady contributions on the perimeter from junior long-range bomber Laurie Koehn and floor general Megan Mahoney to allow Ohlde to go to work in the paint, where she can dominate opponents.

The Boston College Eagles are the latest conqueror of the UConn dynasty, having upset the Huskies in the Big East tournament, en route to the 2004 title. Junior guard Jessalyn Deveny (16 ppg, 6 rpg) leads the Eagles and has established herself as a target of all opposing defenses. BC has momentum on its side right now and will need to take advantage of it to overpower the size and athleticism of the likes of K-State, a possible opponent in the later rounds.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have experienced its share of adversity this year, watching an early season #1 ranking slip away following the departure of pre-season All-American candidate Jia Perkins (medical reasons) and low-post Cisti Greenwalt (ankle injury). However, this group has attacked that adversity head-on with big play from players such as point guard Erin Grant, freshman Alesha Robertson, and 3-point specialist Natalie Ritchie. If the Lady Raiders can find some interior scoring they’ll stick around in the Mideast region.

The Mideast region also hosts teams such as Louisiana Tech (#5), which holds the best record of ranked teams heading into the tournament, Minnesota (#7), who will gratefully welcome the return of pre-season All-American Lindsay Whalen, Ohio State (#6) and Old Dominion (#8). West Virginia, although a dark horse as the Mideast’s #11 seed, could quite possibly be the tournament’s Cinderella. Following the early season loss of two promising post-players, both to knee injuries, the Mountaineers have found a way to win in the tough Big East, led by junior guard Yolanda Paige and the Bulger sisters, Kate and Meg (brother Mark is a pro-bowl quarterback with the St. Louis Rams).

West Region 

The West region quite possibly could be the most explosive region of this year’s tournament, starting with the top-seeded Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns were oh so close last year losing a heartbreaking game in the national semi-finals to eventual national champion UConn. Back this year is the core of that team that has solidified itself as the best starting five in nation with four players averaging in double figure scoring. Senior forward Stacey Stephens (12ppg, 8 rpg) and freshman phenom Tiffany Jackson (12 ppg, 7 rpg) control the paint while guards Heather Schreiber (12 ppg, 6 rpg), Nina Norman (10 ppg, 4 apg) and Jamie Carey (9 ppg) can light it up from anywhere on the floor, in transition and out of the Longhorns’ offensive set. Head coach Jody Conradt is a mastermind and despite her team dropping the Big 12 championship contest to Oklahoma, there is no doubt she will have her team prepared and playing their best basketball throughout the coming weeks.

The Purdue Boilermakers secured the second seed in the West after winning the Big 10 championship over Penn State. Senior All-American candidate Shereka Wright (20 ppg, 6 rpg) is playing her best basketball right now which has rallied her fellow teammates to elevate their games as well. Although not big on size, the Boilermakers make up for it with heart and hustle. Freshmen Katie Gearlds (10 ppg) and Erin Lawless (6 ppg, 3 rpg) play with an intensity well beyond their years, while point guard Erika Valek and long-range bomber Beth Jones provide great leadership.

Andy Landers’ Georgia Bulldogs are coming off an impressive run through a tough SEC tournament which included a huge win over Tennessee before bowing to Vanderbilt in the title game. In spite of having to endure even more problems, leading to another suspension of starting center Kara Braxton, the Lady Dogs have found a way to get it done. At 6’5, forward Christi Thomas (13 ppg, 8 rpg) is a force in Georgia’s attack at both ends of the floor. Georgia’s trio of guards in Alexis Kendrick, Janese Hardrick and Sherrill Baker complement each other very well but will need to score to extend defenses and open up the low post. If Thomas can stay out of foul trouble, Georgia could make a run into the later part of the tournament.

The LSU Tigers are an Elite Eight team from last season’s tournament and have banked their season on the play of their guards that helped carry them late in 2003. Sophomore Seimone Augustus (18 ppg, 6 rpg) leads the Tigers, continuing to build on the early success she achieved in her collegiate career. Temeka Johnson is one of the nation’s most exciting players to watch. She is a lightning quick point guard that can drive, dish and score in bunches. Doneeka Hodges also contributes from the perimeter, where LSU scores the majority of their points. Teams with strong post play will give LSU trouble as the Tigers’ lack experience in the paint. Additionally, head coach Sue Gunter was forced to take a medical leave late in the season which has created some chemistry problems. However, success in the tough SEC helped garner a #4 seed in the West region.

Some of the countries most underrated players can be found in the West region as these individuals have meant more to their team’s success than most others. Tamara James (17 ppg) at Miami (#5), Sandora Irvin (16 ppg, 12 rpg, 4 bpg) at TCU (#6), Shawntinice Polk (16 ppg, 10 rpg) from Arizona (#9), and Katie Feenstra (21 ppg, 11 rpg) at Liberty (#14) have helped carry their respective squads onto the national scene this year. Poised to shine in the NCAA tournament, look for these players to do all they can to progress their respective teams through the tournament. 

Midwest Region 

Pat Summit’s Tennessee Lady Vols were searching for identity early in the season, needing players to step up and fill some big shoes left behind by graduation. Enter junior Shyra Ely (15 ppg, 8 rpg), who can score from anywhere on the court. The Lady Vols will also look to center Ashley Robinson and guard Tasha Butts to continue to contribute. With the absence of veteran floor leader Loree Moore (injury), guards Shanna Zolman and Brittany Jackson must take care of the ball in the half-court set. Both Zolman and Jackson can light it up from the perimeter and will need to find the range if Tennessee is to get back to the Final Four and another shot at the title that got away from them in last year’s championship bout with UConn.

The NCAA committee awarded the #2 seed to the Vanderbilt Commodores following their surprising title in the SEC tournament. Led by freshman center Carla Thomas (14 ppg, 6 rpg), Vandy consecutively defeated SEC powers Auburn, LSU and Georgia en route to the championship. Versatile senior Jenni Benningfield has battled a stress fracture most of the season but should be ready to step up for head coach Melanie Balcomb’s squad. Benningfield is the veteran on a squad the rotates six freshmen and has developed great range to complement her inside game. Look for Vandy to ride their late season momentum to a possible all-SEC regional final.

Sherri Coale and her Oklahoma Sooners have also made a late run to solidify their position in the NCAA tournament as the Midwest’s #3 seed. The Sooners handily defeated Texas in the Big 12 tournament title game, sending the message to the rest of the country that they have arrived. Oklahoma suffered some early season disappointment with a season-ending knee injury Chelsi Welch, last year’s co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year. Veterans Caton Hill (12 ppg, 6 rpg), Dionnah Jackson and Maria Villarroel have all provided great leadership for the Sooners, who are looking to get back to the Final Four after their last appearance in 2002.

The Baylor Bears lost a close semi-final contest to Texas in the Big 12 tournament, but don’t think that coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson’s team is not worthy of the Midwest’s #4 seed. The Bears have one of the most formidable and athletic post games in the country led by sophomore Sophia Young (16 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 spg), junior Steffanie Blackmon (15 ppg, 7 rpg) and senior Dionne Brown (8 ppg, 5 rpg). On the perimeter, Emily Niemann (9 ppg), Jessika Stratton (9ppg, 3 rpg, 4 apg) and Chelsea Whitaker (6 ppg, 4 apg) contribute the bulk of the scoring with their quickness and ability to drill from long range. The guard play will be critical on both ends of the floor, which has been inconsistent throughout the year. If Baylor can take care of the ball and increase the intensity of their defense away from the hoop, then they’ll be able to play to their strengths inside throughout the tournament.

Also trying to break through the Midwest region is the Stanford Cardinal (#6), who lacked respect in the eyes of the NCAA committee after an entire season being ranked in the top 10 and winning both the regular season and tournament titles in the Pac-10. Led by do-everything All-American Nicole Powell, the Cardinal has the talent, coaching and experience to beat any of the tournament’s #1 seeds on any given night. Head coach Carolyn Peck and her Florida Gators (#5) are back in the tournament for the first time since she took the reigns down in the swamp. The Gators and the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers (#7) are battled tested following the completion of their grueling conference schedules in the SEC and Big East respectively. 

 

THE SEEDS 

East 

1. Penn State
2. Connecticut
3. Houston
4. North Carolina
5. Notre Dame
6. Colorado
7. Auburn
8. Virginia Tech
9. Iowa
10. North Carolina State
11. UC Santa Barbara
12. Southwest Missouri State
13. Middle Tennessee
14. UW-Green Bay
15. Penn
16. Hampton

Mideast 

1. Duke
2. Kansas State
3. Boston College
4. Texas Tech
5. Louisiana Tech
6. Ohio State
7. Minnesota
8. Old Dominion
9. Marquette
10. UCLA
11. West Virginia
12. Montana
13. Maine
14. Eastern Michigan
15. Valparaiso
16. Northwestern State

1. Texas
2. Purdue
3. Georgia
4. LSU
5. Miami
6. TCU
7. Villanova
8. Michigan State
9. Arizona
10. Mississippi
11. Temple
12. Maryland
13. Austin Peay
14. Liberty
15. St. Francis (Pa.)
16. Southern

Midwest 

1. Tennessee
2. Vanderbilt
3. Oklahoma
4. Baylor
5. Florida
6. Stanford
7. Rutgers
8. George Washington
9. Depaul
10. Chattanooga
11. Missouri
12. New Mexico
13. Loyola Marymount
14. Marist
15. Lipscomb
16. Colgate

East –UConn vs. North Carolina 

Mideast –Duke vs. Kansas State 

West –Texas vs. Georgia 

Midwest –Tennessee vs. Stanford  

Final Four:

UConn vs. Duke
Texas vs. Tennessee 

National Championship:

Texas vs. Duke 

National Champion:

Texas