Even when it’s not explicitly said, a part of the NCAA Event Choice Committee’s job is to make a tv present, to place groups on paths that may 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 bought despatched to TCU’s sub-regional.
Bear in mind, the committee tried this final yr too. When former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith was then taking part in for LSU, the Cardinals bought despatched to Baton Rouge. However the second spherical matchup by no means occurred as Louisville bought upset within the first spherical by Center Tennessee State.
The committee’s second — and remaining — attempt at making this occur lastly labored: Van Lith and her second-seeded Horned Frogs will face No. 7 Louisville on Sunday in Fort Value, Texas.
So, for the primary time ever, Van Lith will face the crew she helped take to the Last 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 extremely great place. I’m excited to play. You already know, this sport a a lot larger than me and what I bought occurring.”
She added: “TCU is trying to go to the Candy 16 for the primary time ever. That’s loads larger than no matter else the narrative is. I’m simply excited to go play. It’s going to be nice sport time. Most likely going to get a primetime slot. I find it irresistible.”
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 faculty in three years, Van Lith is having arguably the very best season of her school profession and is a giant purpose why TCU is considered as a Last 4 contender. She’s averaging 17.7 factors and a career-best 5.4 assists per sport, whereas additionally grabbing 4.3 rebounds per sport and capturing a career-high 45.7 p.c from the ground.
The fifth-year 5-foot-9 guard from Wenatchee, Washington — who additionally gained an Olympic bronze medal this previous summer time with Group USA in 3×3 basketball — can be seventh nationally in win shares. She’s considered one of simply 5 gamers within the nation — and the one one taking part in within the NCAA Event — who’s averaging at the very least 17.5 factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per sport. 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 evening.
Van Lith averaged simply 11.6 factors per sport at LSU whereas capturing a career-low from the ground. At TCU, she’s discovered the suitable match for her skillset.
“I feel after I selected TCU I used to be actually on the lookout 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 in addition a system that may problem me to open up new components of my sport, like I’ve with taking part in the one a little bit bit.”
Louisville has a younger roster with eight true freshmen, however there’s a number 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 pals performs for Louisville nonetheless. Most likely going to be a bridesmaid at my marriage ceremony if I ever get married,” Van Lith mentioned, smiling. “We did go to a Last 4. That’s life altering. A variety of feelings there, so it was a optimistic… Yeah, me and Merissah, room 112.”
Cochran nonetheless has quite a lot of respect and admiration for Van Lith too, however is aware of that on Sunday they gained’t be former teammates and pals — simply rivals.
“Hailey was an amazing teammate. I want her the very best. However on the finish of the day we bought 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 desires to compete as a lot as I need to compete in opposition to her,” Cochran mentioned. “See? It’s no unhealthy blood. All love. I’m wishing her the very best.”
Louisville coach Jeff Walz wasn’t prepared 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 Group’s USA’s U-18 crew that gained the FIBA Americas Championship.
Walz responded to the query this fashion:
“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 girls’s basketball program and has for everything of his tenure as head coach. It’s why, with eight freshmen or no freshmen, they’re all the time a troublesome out. Their depth and self-discipline has helped them make 4 Last Fours underneath Walz’s watch.
On Sunday, his Cardinals will attempt to punch their thirteenth ticket to the Candy 16. TCU can be taking part in for the possibility to advance to the NCAA Event’s second weekend for the primary time ever.
Van Lith is aware of all too properly what she and the Horned Frogs are up in opposition to.
“Being in that program, I do know that they positively are going to have a chip on their shoulder. After I was there we all the time had a chip about us. You already know, in all probability why I additionally play like that also,” Van Lith mentioned. “So we’re going to have to come back out and be intense and match their depth. We’ll see if we’re as much as it.”
