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GREEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s basketball team has played more than 1,500 games in its 52-year history.
But it never has faced Alabama until now.
The No. 12 seed Phoenix (29-5) will play the No. 5 seed Crimson Tide (23-8) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Saturday in College Park, Maryland.
Alabama might wish in a few days that it had received a better draw, considering UWGB isn’t a normal No. 12. Not with a veteran team that stacks up to almost anybody in the nation when it comes to experience.
“I think it is going to help us just stay calm and be ready to go,” UWGB senior guard-forward Maddy Schreiber said. “Just enjoy another time to be able to play all together.”
Will it be enough for the Phoenix to pull off the upset? It could be difficult to predict that to happen against a Crimson Tide team making its third straight appearance in the Big Dance and fourth in the past five seasons.
The Phoenix has done an excellent job taking out the opponent’s top scorer this season, but the Crimson Tide has four players averaging double-digits. All of them stand 6 feet or taller.
Sarah Ashelle Barker is a 6-foot senior guard averaging 17.5 points. She is joined by 6-2 senior guard Zaay Green (15.7 ppg), 6-foot seni or guard-forward Aaliyah Nah (15.1 ppg) and 6-4 sophomore forward Essence Cody (11.0 ppg).
That’s a lot to contain, although UWGB’s path to success will be through its defense.
Alabama is entering the NCAAs having lost two straight games, including putting up just 61 points in a loss to Florida in the opening round of the SEC tournament.
“Just playing Green Bay basketball,” Schreiber said. “I think we just have to remain playing who we are and being who we are.”
Several bracketology experts had picked UWGB to get a No. 13 seed and play Ohio State to kick off the tournament on the Buckeyes’ home floor.
But by getting a No. 12 seed, the Phoenix avoided such a scenario in the opening round.
That could be big.
While it is 6-19 all time in the NCAAs, it has gone 5-9 on a neutral court.
“I think it can help a little,” senior guard Callie Genke said. “But, honestly, I think we are ready to play wherever we are. Obviously, the fan base will probably be a little less and that always helps. Our fans always travel amazingly, so that will be exciting to see.”
While the Phoenix proved to be the best team in the Horizon League, it didn’t always play as well against some of the better teams in the country.
It lost to Kansas State by 47 points to start the season. It got beat by 20 against Creighton.
Perhaps it’s difficult to take much from those games. While the team is stacked with veterans, it still was adjusting to life under first-year coach Kayla Karius in the early part of the season.
The Phoenix hasn't lost again since that defeat to Creighton on Dec. 14. It is riding a 22-game winning streak entering Saturday.
Homecoming: Former Green Bay Preble star Carley Duffney will return to roots with UWGB
It’s clear UWGB is a different team now, but it remains to be seen how far it has come against some of the best of the best.
That includes Alabama, which is ranked No. 21 in the nation.
It is tempting to pick the Phoenix to pull off the upset, but in the end, Alabama likely has a bit too much firepower and size for it to happen.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB women vs Alabama prediction, pick for March Madness first round
Continue reading...
But it never has faced Alabama until now.
The No. 12 seed Phoenix (29-5) will play the No. 5 seed Crimson Tide (23-8) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Saturday in College Park, Maryland.
Alabama might wish in a few days that it had received a better draw, considering UWGB isn’t a normal No. 12. Not with a veteran team that stacks up to almost anybody in the nation when it comes to experience.
“I think it is going to help us just stay calm and be ready to go,” UWGB senior guard-forward Maddy Schreiber said. “Just enjoy another time to be able to play all together.”
Will it be enough for the Phoenix to pull off the upset? It could be difficult to predict that to happen against a Crimson Tide team making its third straight appearance in the Big Dance and fourth in the past five seasons.
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Can UWGB compete with Alabama’s size?
The Phoenix has done an excellent job taking out the opponent’s top scorer this season, but the Crimson Tide has four players averaging double-digits. All of them stand 6 feet or taller.
Sarah Ashelle Barker is a 6-foot senior guard averaging 17.5 points. She is joined by 6-2 senior guard Zaay Green (15.7 ppg), 6-foot seni or guard-forward Aaliyah Nah (15.1 ppg) and 6-4 sophomore forward Essence Cody (11.0 ppg).
That’s a lot to contain, although UWGB’s path to success will be through its defense.
Alabama is entering the NCAAs having lost two straight games, including putting up just 61 points in a loss to Florida in the opening round of the SEC tournament.
“Just playing Green Bay basketball,” Schreiber said. “I think we just have to remain playing who we are and being who we are.”
UWGB gets Alabama on a neutral floor
Several bracketology experts had picked UWGB to get a No. 13 seed and play Ohio State to kick off the tournament on the Buckeyes’ home floor.
But by getting a No. 12 seed, the Phoenix avoided such a scenario in the opening round.
That could be big.
While it is 6-19 all time in the NCAAs, it has gone 5-9 on a neutral court.
“I think it can help a little,” senior guard Callie Genke said. “But, honestly, I think we are ready to play wherever we are. Obviously, the fan base will probably be a little less and that always helps. Our fans always travel amazingly, so that will be exciting to see.”
UWGB struggled against some top teams this season
While the Phoenix proved to be the best team in the Horizon League, it didn’t always play as well against some of the better teams in the country.
It lost to Kansas State by 47 points to start the season. It got beat by 20 against Creighton.
Perhaps it’s difficult to take much from those games. While the team is stacked with veterans, it still was adjusting to life under first-year coach Kayla Karius in the early part of the season.
The Phoenix hasn't lost again since that defeat to Creighton on Dec. 14. It is riding a 22-game winning streak entering Saturday.
Homecoming: Former Green Bay Preble star Carley Duffney will return to roots with UWGB
It’s clear UWGB is a different team now, but it remains to be seen how far it has come against some of the best of the best.
That includes Alabama, which is ranked No. 21 in the nation.
UWGB vs. Alabama prediction in March Madness
It is tempting to pick the Phoenix to pull off the upset, but in the end, Alabama likely has a bit too much firepower and size for it to happen.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB women vs Alabama prediction, pick for March Madness first round
Continue reading...
