Lady Tigers to learn NCAA plans on "Selection Monday"
BATON ROUGE -- After posting a 20-9 overall record and a winning record in Southeastern Conference play for the 12th straight season, a 12th consecutive trip to the “Big Dance” awaits the LSU women’s basketball team. The Lady Tigers will learn of their 2010 NCAA Tournament destination as a likely at-large selection at 6 p.m. CT Monday on ESPN’s “Selection Monday Special.”
LSU is vying for its 20th overall NCAA Tournament berth, and the Lady Tigers are 37-19 all-time in 19 previous appearances. A 12th straight trip would be the third longest streak in the SEC.
LSU has reached at least the second round of the tournament all 11 of those seasons. Five of them have ended at the Final Four. No school in America has reached more NCAA Division I Final Fours since 2004.Last season, LSU defeated Green Bay in the first round before losing to eventual national championship game participant Louisville in the second round at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Lady Tigers have played their last two first and second rounds in Baton Rouge, but this season LSU will be on the road for the first time since heading to Austin, Texas, in 2007.Eight pre-determined sites will host first and second round games on March 20 and 22 and they include: Stanford, Calif.; Berkeley, Calif.; Durham, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Seattle, Wash.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and Tempe, Ariz. The eight other sites will host games on March 21 and 23 and they include: Ames, Iowa; Austin, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Minneapolis, Minn.; Norfolk, Va.; Norman, Okla.; Notre Dame, Ind.; and Pittsburgh, Penn.Winners advance to the four regional sites to be played March 27-30 at either Memphis, Tenn.; Sacramento, Calif.; Dayton, Ohio; and Kansas City, Mo. The 2010 NCAA Final Four will be played on April 4 in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special at a Glance
March 15, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN360.com; Extended coverage, 8 p.m. ESPNU
--Exclusive interview with NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Jane Meyer;
--Live interviews and reactions from coaches, including Connie Yori of Nebraska, one of only two undefeated teams in the country;
--Opening tease to the show: Darius Rucker’s “History in the Making.”
Selection Monday on ESPN.com
--Expert analysis from Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel, including their picks on the toughest region, best first-round game, Women’s Final Four and more;
--Expert analysis from Graham Hays and Mechelle Voepel, including their picks on the toughest region, best first-round game, Women’s Final Four and more;
--Predictions and analysis from women’s basketball bracketologist Charlie Creme, who will also take a look ahead at the worst- and best-case scenarios for all 64 teams;
--Live chat at 9:30 p.m. ET with NCAA Div. I Women’s Basketball Committee Chair Jane Meyer.
ESPNU Coaches Spotlight: Women’s Tournament Edition
The three-hour special ESPNU Coaches Spotlight: Women’s Tournament Edition on Tuesday, March 16, at 3 p.m. on ESPNU will attempt to interview 32 coaches and discuss other top stories. Beth Mowins and Cara Capuano will interview the coaches during the show, while Abby Waner will be the in-studio analyst. Lawson and Peck will join the show from Bristol.
Women’s Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com
Sign-up has begun on ESPN.com for the 14th annual ESPN Women’s Tournament Challenge. The Tournament Challenge game is free and allows contestants to submit up to 10 entries. Fans complete and submit a bracket of hypothetical tournament outcomes. Points are awarded for each correct pick, with point values increasing as the Tournament progresses.
Sign-up has begun on ESPN.com for the 14th annual ESPN Women’s Tournament Challenge. The Tournament Challenge game is free and allows contestants to submit up to 10 entries. Fans complete and submit a bracket of hypothetical tournament outcomes. Points are awarded for each correct pick, with point values increasing as the Tournament progresses.
The Women’s Tournament Challenge winner will receive 3,000 ESPN Winner’s Circle points, which are redeemable for prizes on the ESPN Winner’s Circle Web site. Entries for the Women’s Tournament Challenge will be accepted until just before tipoff of the first game Saturday, March 20.