Kim Mulkey Eyeing First Final Four Trip at LSU
Miami has been living dangerously, winning the three tournament games by a total of eight points. It started with a 17-point comeback against Oklahoma State in the first round before holding on against the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. Miami once built a big lead and staved off the nation’s leading scorer Maddy Siegrist and Villanova to reach the Elite Eight.
With the women’s program reaching the Elite Eight for the first time and the men’s basketball team stunning top-seeded Houston to reach the regional final for the second season in a row, Sunday could go down as the best day of basketball in the university’s history.
MIAMI BASKETBALL IS ELITE.
🔸 @CanesHoops upsets 1-seed Houston to move on to the Elite Eight
🔸 @CanesWBB advance to its first Elite Eight in program historyWhat a day 🙌 pic.twitter.com/9BHUaufVD7
— ESPN (@espn) March 25, 2023
LSU had no problems with Hawaii and Michigan before rallying past second-seeded Utah in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
Both teams suffered early exits in their conference tournaments with Miami losing in the ACC quarterfinals and LSU falling to Tennessee in the SEC semifinals.
Miami is 5-5 against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 poll this season with LSU 3-1 against ranked teams.
LSU is listed as the double-digit favorite according to the women’s college basketball odds.
When looking at the women’s college basketball news, LSU has been without guard Ryann Payne since mid-November. Latasha Lattimore has been sidelined since early December for Miami.
LSU is sixth in the coaches’ poll and is ninth in The Associated Press poll. Miami is not among the seven ACC teams to receive votes in the most recent Associated Press poll.
According to the women’s college basketball lines, (WNCAAB) LSU (+800) is third in the odds to win the Women’s College Basketball national title. Miami comes in at +10000 in the championship odds.
Also check on these WNCAAB betting lines.
Roberts Stepping Up dor Hurricanes
The Cavinder sisters, who came in from Fresno State, and former Utah forward Lola Pendande and fifth-year guard Destiny Harden are the veterans on the Miami team. However, it was sophomore guard Jasmyne Roberts who stepped into the spotlight in the Sweet 16 win over Villanova.
Roberts, one of two Florida natives on the Miami roster, had a career-high 26 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Roberts is averaging 18 points per game in the three games in the NCAA tournament after managing a total of 11 points in Miami’s two games in the ACC tournament.
She had five points in the final 38 seconds to secure the victory for the Hurricanes. The Las Vegas Women’s College Basketball odds have Miami as the underdog. However, that is something Miami has been used to in this tournament.
Big 3 Deliver For the Tigers
LSU had quite the escape in the Sweet 16. Utah’s Jenna Johnson, a 75% shooter from the foul line, had two free throws with four seconds to play with the Utes down by a point.
Utah grabbed the offensive rebound before Sa’Myah Smith’s steal and two Alexis Morris free throws clinched the game for the Tigers.
Maryland transfer Angel Reese (25.3 points, 17 rebounds), Missouri transfer Ladahzia Williams (14.3 points, 6 rebounds) and Morris, in her second season at LSU after stops at Baylor, Rutgers and Texas A&M, have combined for more than 50 points per game in the tournament for a team putting up 68.3 points per game.
Miami vs Louisiana State Head-to-Head
Louisiana State leads the series with Miami 3-1. However, the Hurricanes won the most recent meeting 76-71 in 2014.
LSU won games in 1985, 1986 and 2007.
This will be the first NCAA tournament matchup between the teams.
Miami’s only game against a team from the SEC was an overtime loss to Florida in December. This will be the first meeting with a team from the ACC this season for LSU.
Miami vs Louisiana State Game Information
- Game: Miami (22-12) vs Louisiana State (31-2)
- Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
- Day/Time: Sunday, March 26, 7 p.m. ET
- Miami vs Louisiana State Live Stream: TBS.com
Miami vs Louisiana State Betting Lines
Miami vs Louisiana State Picks & Prediction
There are a couple of intriguing storylines for LSU.
Williams is the only Florida player on the roster for Louisiana State and she is coming off a season-high 24-point effort in a win over Utah.
Veteran point guard Morris can end her college career by playing in the Final Four in her native Texas.
Miami eliminated a Villanova team led by the nation’s top scorer Siegrist and now faces Reese, who is in the top five nationally in both scoring and rebounding.
LSU is second only to SEC rival South Carolina in scoring margin and rebounding margin. Miami was eighth in the ACC in scoring margin. Miami’s run to the Elite Eight has been fun to watch as the Hurricanes are in the Elite Eight for the first time.
The Hurricanes could have their hands full with Reese, one of the top post players in the country. The Maryland transfer is one of the reasons why LSU is favored according to the women’s college basketball picks.
Miami is listed at +375 on college basketball betting lines while LSU is a hefty favorite at -650.
The implied probability attached to the Las Vegas women’s college basketball lines gives Louisiana State a 86.67% chance to win, with Miami at 21.05%.
